AUSTIN — D.C. United’s dim playoff hopes were all but crushed in the first 21 minutes Wednesday at Q2 Stadium. One Austin FC player was left alone in the penalty area for a goal, then another, and just like that, against hosts who had not won in almost three months, Wayne Rooney’s bumbling bunch was staring at another long offseason.
United is not officially out of the MLS race, but with this 3-0 calamity, the end is near.
D.C. (9-14-10) has played more games than all others vying for the last two Eastern Conference berths, and even by beating visiting New York City FC in its finale Saturday, United is almost certain to be overtaken that day or Oct. 21, when everyone else in the 29-team league completes the regular season.
It will take “almost a miracle,” Rooney said.
D.C. sits in 11th place. Nine make the playoffs. Not that United belongs anywhere near there. It’s winless in six matches and victorious once in its past 11 (1-5-5). The last time it qualified for the postseason was 2019, Rooney’s last season as a D.C. player.
“We have had opportunities to seize more points this last stretch and haven’t done it,” captain Steven Birnbaum said. “We’ve been lucky to be in position where we are right now — well, where we were before this game. We knew the importance of this game.”
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Austin (10-14-8) scored in the 11th and 21st minutes against light resistance, then added another midway through the second half to end an eight-game winless streak in league play and 10 in a row in all competitions.
“I spoke to the players before the game about not giving up cheap goals,” Rooney said. “We’ve done that with all three goals, but the goals in the first half were very poor. The first half wasn’t good enough. I could’ve taken 11 players off at halftime.”
Rooney made five changes to the lineup that came back twice in a 2-2 draw at Vancouver on Saturday. At the start, both sides played with the hunger needed to break out of their ruts. Only the hosts, however, were efficient — and they did it against comical defense. Rooney called it “schoolboy defending.”
In the 11th minute, Will Bruin provided the lead with an eight-yard header. The unmarked striker timed his run perfectly as Sebastián Driussi chipped the ball over the defense.
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D.C.’s woes continued in the 21st minute. Alexander Ring crossed to Driussi, who was so alone in the heart of the box, the Argentine forward had time for a second attempt after scuffing the first. Goalkeeper Alex Bono was left helpless again. Birnbaum barked at right back Andy Najar, who should have provided cover on the back side.
“We shot ourselves in the foot,” Birnbaum said. “Can’t give up goals that early in a game like this. It was a must-win, and giving up those were a backbreaker.”
United striker Christian Benteke — who scored four goals in the past two matches to move within one of the MLS lead — wasted two excellent chances.
Desperation set in. Rooney made three changes at halftime. Benteke stumbled again, failing to beat Brad Stuver from close range. He thought he had scored in the 56th minute, but the offside flag had rightly gone up.
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Stuver made two more fine saves before Austin extended the lead in the 64th minute. Matt Hedges outmuscled Éric Davis to Emiliano Rigoni’s corner kick and headed it in from 10 yards. United has conceded 10 goals in its past three matches.
“Wayne is frustrated. Everyone’s frustrated,” Bono said. “Everyone is disappointed. At this point in the season, where everything is heightened and the pressure mounts, those are the moments, as a group, you’ve got to step up.”
Here’s what else to know about United’s loss:
GM search continues
United’s search for a general manager should be complete in a few weeks, people familiar with the situation said.
Most of the finalists have MLS experience and, at least early in the process, San Jose GM Chris Leitch and Houston technical director Asher Mendelsohn were on the list, those people said.
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United has been without a GM since Lucy Rushton was let go last October, leaving roster decisions to Dave Kasper, the president of soccer operations and sporting director, and technical director Stewart Mairs.
The organization wants someone in place soon because that individual will have a voice in whether to retain Rooney, whose guaranteed contract expires in December. There is an option for 2024, but both sides would have to agree to it. Rooney has sought a long-term extension.
The GM would report to upper management, not to Kasper, who is expected to move into a redefined role next season, according to a person close to the situation. In her two seasons, Rushton worked under Kasper.
Roster news
Defender Brendan Hines-Ike (12 matches, nine starts) was placed in concussion protocol and unavailable. His status for Saturday’s game remains undetermined.
International call-ups
United’s official list of international call-ups is still a few days away, but in all likelihood, Najar will join Honduras for Concacaf Nations League matches against Cuba on Oct. 12 and 15, and Davis and José Fajardo will report to Panama for Nations League games against Curaçao on Oct. 13 and Guatemala on Oct. 17.
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