D.C. United is surging into the regular season finale Sunday at Orlando, a two-month torrent that, on the surface, would seem to portend good fortune in the MLS playoffs, which begin next week.
But does a strong finish to a long campaign guarantee success in a postseason with little margin for error?
“The fact we are playing well and are fairly healthy, I think gives us a real shot to at least make a run,” United Coach Ben Olsen said. “But still it’s a one-off game [next Wednesday or Thursday]. If you don’t show up, you’re done.