D.C. can clinch playoff berth against Real

Soccer Betting Lines

09/11/2007 - Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - D.C. United can extend its unbeaten streak to nine games and clinch a spot in the postseason with a win against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday.

United has won seven times during their unbeaten run to move into first place in the Eastern Conference and has the best record in Major League Soccer.

"I give our team a lot of credit in a lot of ways, because they are resilient. They've been through a hard schedule and getting up for games," United coach Tom Soehn said. "I've pushed them pretty hard through this stretch and they responded."

Since losing its first three games of the season, D.C. is 14-3-3. In addition to clinching a playoff berth, United can extend its lead over New England to eight points with a victory.

D.C. is also seeking some revenge for one of its three losses in the last five months. Real Salt Lake won its first game of the season against D.C., 2-1, on June 23. United had a seven-game unbeaten streak, including five wins, before losing to Real earlier this season.

Although that result was the biggest upset of the season at the time, Real has become a much stronger side down the stretch. While it's doubtful Real will be able to make the playoffs for the first time in team history, it has won three of its last six to move within 11 points of the final berth.

Three of Real's victories this season are against teams that would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. In addition to snapping United's previous unbeaten streak, Real ended Houston's 11-game unbeaten streak this season.

Real had its two-game winning streak snapped Saturday against Houston because of a few breakdowns on defense, but played well to nearly erase a three-goal deficit in a 4-3 loss.

"I couldn't speak too knowledgeably about (our defense), so I tend not to, but there's got to be questions about why there are guys running completely free in the six-yard box on our goal," Real coach Jason Kreis said.

Although defense let Real down against Houston, that hasn't been a problem for the team for most of the season. RSL has posted four shutouts and is normally stingy on defense but struggles offensively.

Fabian Espindola, one of three recent Argentinean signings, has helped spark the offense. He has two goals in five games. Real had just 14 goals - one was an own goal - in its first 22 games, but has eight in its last three.

"We realize that we haven't scored enough over the first three-quarters of the season," Kreis said, "so we have been trying to figure out how we're going to get players forward and how we're going to get them forward quickly."

Scoring hasn't been a problem for D.C. this season. United leads the league with 46 goals, which is seven more than New England.

D.C. forward Luciano Emilio leads MLS with 18 goals. He is just five goals shy of the team record of 23 set by Raul Diaz Arce in 1996.

"I didn't know about the record, but if there is the possibility of breaking the record I will try - (but) that is not my main concern," Emilio said. "My focus is to play well for the team in order for the team to win."

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