D.C. United face off against Columbus Crew SC on #DecisionDay, the regular season finale, to determine who will be the second seed in the Eastern conference. The game will also decide the season series between these two conference foes; United won 2-0 in May and Crew SC left RFK in September with all three points. Decision Day is the Black-and-Red’s first trip to Columbus this season, and they’ll look to avenge that September loss.
New Streak for United
It was just over three weeks ago that the Black-and-Red fell in the Eastern Conference Standings in the midst of a six-match winless streak. On Oct. 2, D.C. United
a playoff berth with a
, changing the the run of form heading into October. United are now coming off of their second win in a row, a blistering performance against Chicago in which they
for four goals in a 4-0 shutout. The team now has a chance to build serious momentum heading into the postseason with a win on Sunday.
Bye, Bye, Bye
Sunday’s match offers D.C. more than just a shot to enter the postseason on a winning streak. The game has tremendous playoff implications for both D.C. and Columbus. Whichever team wins will get the second-seed in the Eastern Conference and secure a first round bye in the playoffs. The loser's fate will be determined by the other matches' outcomes. On Decision Day, all Eastern Conference games start at 5 PM, except for the New York Red Bulls match against the Chicago Fire, which kicks off at 7 PM.
Crew Minus Two
Kei Kamara and Federico Higuain will not be taking the field for Columbus in this critical Decision Day matchup, as both players are out with yellow card accumulation. The offensive duo combined 30 goals during the season, including an astounding 22 from Kamara. In Columbus’ victory against United in the teams’ last battle, Kamara’s presence loomed large: his goal in the 49th minute proved to be the game-winning strike. United will try to take advantage of these significant absences to secure a two-seed.
Jairo's Return
United forward Jairo Arrieta spent his first three seasons in MLS in Columbus, scoring 17 goals and notching 9 assists. The trip marks the Costa Rican's first return to his former club since he became a member of the Black-and-Red last offseason. Arrieta is tied for second on the team in goals (both he and Fabián EspÃndola have 5) and is second on the team with 16 shots on goal in his first season in D.C. He scored the
in D.C. United's first game of the season and scored a brace
in early June.
