On Sunday, D.C. United took the field for their final game of the regular season. With a playoff spot already clinched, the Black-and-Red were looking for a victory over FC Cincinnati to ensure home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The two teams went back-and-forth in the first half, with neither side able to breakthrough. In the 41st minute, Joseph-Claude Gyau was issued a red card for a high kick on Ulises Segura. FC Cincinnati went down to ten men. But after reviewing the scuffling that went down on the field after Segura’s foul, the referee handed out another red card to Roland Lamah for an altercation with Felipe Martins.
With FC Cincinnati down to nine men, D.C. United instantly found the back of the net. The Black-and-Red sent the free-kick towards the penalty box, Steven Birnbaum headed it down, and Ulises Segura took the shot. But after consulting VAR, the referee decided that Segura was offsides and the goal was disallowed. D.C. United settled for a scoreless first half.
D.C. United dominated possession in the second half, but they couldn’t quite connect to find the back of the net. Their shot total of 33 shots were either off-target or stopped by Cincinnati’s defense. Ultimately, the Black-and-Red were unable to score and the game finished in a scoreless draw.
With Toronto FC earning a win and D.C. United earning a draw, the Black-and-Red finished in the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Their first game of the MLS Cup Playoffs will be on the road against Toronto FC at BMO Field. The kickoff time and exact date is still to be determined.
