D.C. United knew the 2018 season would come with plenty of challenges with the team facing a long stretch of away matches before moving into their new home at Audi Field on July 14. The daunting road stretch, combined with the lingering disappointment from failing to qualify for the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs, had a lot of critics doubting the Black-and-Red's chances of finishing above the red playoff line in 2018.
During the difficult road stretch were two “home away from home” matches up the road from the District in Maryland - a 2-2 draw with the Houston Dynamo in Boyds, Md., on a snowy March day, and a 1-0 win in April over Columbus Crew SC at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. The four important "home" points gave the Black-and-Red a glimmer of hope, but with their lone road win coming on May 19 against the San Jose Earthquakes and only four points collected in four away draws, D.C. United had an uphill battle to fight when they finally moved into Audi Field.
Anticipation was high as play kicked off at Audi Field against the Vancouver Whitecaps on the evening of July 14. Fans filtered into their new home, anticipating the magical moment of watching their team play in a brand new home designed specifically for soccer. It took only 27 minutes for that magic to begin. Zoltán Stieber set up Yamil Asad on the edge of the box and the Argentine midfielder curled the shot into the top right corner with a first-time attempt. Asad’s goal lit up the entire stadium and set the tone for the Black-and-Red in their inaugural season at Audi Field.
United had been sitting in last place since May 7 and were trying everything to kick start their season. They needed a spark and got their wish in the summer. International soccer icon Wayne Rooney joined the squad on June 28 and his world-class play and attitude radiated to the rest of the team. Rooney's quality brought the best out of Luciano Acosta who flourished with his new English teammate as their attack became one of the most feared offensive units in MLS. 2017 standout Russell Canouse returned to the starting XI after a long injury layoff on July 28 and added tenacity, energy and intensity to the midfield. Homegrown goalkeeper Bill Hamid rejoined the Black-and-Red on loan on Aug. 8, to solidify the defensive unit that had struggled in the first half of the season.
It wasn’t long before these individual pieces of the puzzle came together and the Black-and-Red were soon firing on all cylinders. After beating Orlando (Aug. 12), Portland (Aug. 15), and New England (Aug. 19), United finally jumped out of last place and into eighth on Aug. 20. A postseason spot still seemed unlikely, especially after a crushing 2-0 loss against Philadelphia on Aug. 29 at Audi Field. The Black-and-Red, however, remained resilient; they returned three days later to take down eventual MLS Champions Atlanta United in an impressive 3-1 win.
After collecting two important road points on trips to New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls, and a gritty 2-1 win against Minnesota United, United’s playoff hopes culminated in a huge match against Montreal on Sep. 29. The Impact were sitting above United in the standings and this was the Black-and-Red's opportunity to take ahold of their own destiny in the playoff race. The tension radiated through the building as fans packed Audi Field to the rafters in a game where everyone recognized the significance. Acosta alleviated the tension when he opened the scoring in the 17th minute to give United a 1-0 lead going into halftime. The second half saw a flurry of goals as the team took firm control of the match as they beat their Canadian opposition 5-0 in the party atmosphere of Audi Field.
They didn't qualify for playoffs after that win but momentum was in their favor. Fans had to wait until Oct. 13 when Russell Canouse scored a late game-winner to secure a 1-0 win over Western Conference side FC Dallas and move United into the coveted sixth place spot. With two more matches at home until their season finale in Chicago, the Black-and-Red knew that there was room to keep improving and moving up the standings. A 1-0 win against Toronto on Oct. 17 meant that a playoff spot could be clinched in front of the home fans at the Audi Field inaugural season finale against NYCFC on Oct. 21.
Three points against David Villa and New York City would punch their ticket to the postseason and the Black-and-Red delivered once again. Acosta and Rooney combined for a spectacular goal in the 8th minute and didn’t relent for the rest of the match, playing a part in two more goals on the way to a resounding 3-1 win. Though seeding would not be determined until the following weekend, a sigh of relief - and excitement - rippled through Audi Field, as fans knew that the distant postseason dream was officially on the horizon.
Going into Decision Day in Chicago, United knew they controlled their own destiny, needing just a draw to secure fourth place and a critical home playoff match. The Windy City lived up to its name, creating an environment that made it difficult for both teams to perform at their highest levels. The Black-and-Red defense locked down the Fire attack, allowing just two shots on goal, and United left Chicago with a 0-0 draw and a home playoff match.
With their fourth place finish, D.C. United had done what many thought was impossible. Not only had they made climbed out of the Eastern Conference basement, they had brought the MLS Cup Playoffs back to D.C. for the first time since 2016. United had opened their new home with an unforgettable run, giving long-time supporters a glimpse of the past and giving new fans a reason to stick around with the Black-and-Red family in 2019.
