Wizards-Red Bulls matchup offers drama

Leave it up to the New York Red Bulls and Kansas City Wizards, arguably Major League Soccer's two most disappointing, inconsistent and dysfunctional squads, to be providing us with the league's best season-ending drama.

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Josmer Altidore should flourish under Bruce Arena's guidance.

Last season these same clubs took part in another chase for a playoff berth, with the Red Bulls, known then as the MetroStars, capping their tumultuous season with a clutch victory against Chivas USA. The script was perfect, with Michael Bradley scoring the game winner for the same club that fired his father as head coach just a few weeks earlier. The Wizards, for their part, completed an embarrassing late-season collapse with their ninth straight match without a victory.

As if that ending wasn't good enough, the teams are back this year for a winner-take-all showdown at Giants Stadium. You can thank MLS, with its absurd 8-of-12-teams playoff policy, for having two teams with a combined record of 18-24-20 battling for a postseason berth. It may not wind up being the prettiest game ever played, but in an MLS regular season where drama is tougher to find than competent referees, the playoff-like feel to the match will make it a must-watch.

Thing is, the playoff berth is just one of the interesting aspects of a matchup with more subplots than "Lost." Teams as mixed up as these don't get mixed up simply because of bad draft picks or signings. The Red Bulls and Wizards bring loads of baggage into this match, and if the playoff spot wasn't enough to play for, both teams are playing to put on hold an offseason that promises to be tumultuous.

Here are some of the more interesting subplots to consider when the Wizards and Red Bulls meet in Saturday's all-or-nothing encounter:

Eddie Johnson's fall from grace: The boy wonder who could do no wrong in the eyes of some U.S. soccer fans back in the spring has revealed his true colors some months after reports accused him of being a clubhouse cancer. He took his time returning from the World Cup then sulked after a loan move to Spanish club Real Sociedad fell through last month. His practice habits have been called in question and rumors are abuzz that he has begun to grate on his teammates, leading to confrontations that forced Wizards coach Brian Bliss to suspend Johnson. In short, Johnson has gone from being the league's potential savior to being the MLS version of Terrell Owens.

In fairness to Johnson, the handling of his potential move to Real Sociedad wasn't exactly clean. He was set for the loan, which would have allowed him to make his much-anticipated move to Europe a year early, but the plans were scrapped after the Wizards were sold and the team's new owners balked at the idea of having the sale of one of their most high-profile players be one of their first moves. They did not consider the ramifications of that decision and whether Johnston would be able to handle the disappointment that has soured more than one MLS career.

It would be easy to sympathize with Johnston in this case if (a) he wasn't one of the league's highest-paid players and (b) someone on his own team hadn't handled similar disappointment far better. Josh Wolff was all set for a move to English club Derby County before he had his work permit denied. He sulked, but kept playing and played a key role in the Wizards' recent surge. Ultimately, Wolff showed that he is a pro. Johnson showed that he is still a spoiled kid who hasn't figured out how to be a pro.

You might wonder what Johnson's demise has to do with Saturday's contest considering he is suspended. It is relevant when you consider that the league's best candidate to replace Johnson as the league's best young striker wears a Red Bulls uniform. Josmer Altidore is just 16 years old, but his goal-scoring heroics over the past month have catapulted him from nice prospect to the best striker on the Red Bulls.

Altidore has shown the size, skills and courage to potentially be a star, but perhaps most importantly, he has shown a level head. Altidore is confident but not cocky and he happens to be on the best team you could ask a starlet like him to be on. Who better than Bruce Arena and assistant coach John Harkes to keep Altidore's ego from going the path of Eddie Johnson?

Prequel to a crazy offseason: The Wizards and Red Bulls are under new ownership and both teams know that those new owners are ready to make serious changes this offseason. There aren't many players on either team who aren't at least a little concerned about their professional futures and it wouldn't be a stretch to say that some players could save their jobs for next season with a stellar showing on Saturday.

One person who could ensure employment with a victory is Bliss, who has done an admirable job since replacing Bob Gansler three months ago. Bliss has done a solid job so far, but he needs a playoff berth and respectable showing in the postseason to have a real chance of impressing the team's new owners, who may be eager to choose their own coach to lead the Wizards.

Arena doesn't have such worries. He has all the job security in the world. His players aren't as fortunate. Aside from Altidore, Markus Schopp, Marvell Wynne and Jon Conway, every player on the Red Bulls' roster could be elsewhere in 2007. Some players have better chances of coming back than others, but Arena will certainly consider how his players perform in a truly must-win match.

One name not on that short list of players assured of returning in 2007 is Amado Guevara. The former MLS MVP has played well down the stretch, but he has also been inconsistent at times and has yet to convince Arena that he is the player to lead the Red Bulls in the future. What could Guevara do to secure a return? A star performance against the Wizards, a team he has terrorized in the past, coupled with a strong showing against D.C. United in the playoffs, would do the trick. If Guevara disappears against Kansas City the way he did against New England in the playoffs last year, you can rest assured that he will hit the trade block faster than you can say garage sale.

Youri Djorkaeff's farewell: If the Red Bulls lose or tie on Saturday it will mark the end of Youri Djorkaeff's storied playing career. The French World Cup winner has endured a tumultuous season that has diminished much of the good will he built up while leading the MetroStars to the playoffs last year. His multiple absences in the second half of the season has angered fans but ultimately, he stuck around because the Red Bulls wanted to have him around for the end of the season. The team could have cut ties with Djorkaeff, who would have gladly retired, but Red Bulls officially rightly figured that keeping Djorkaeff around was worth the gamble and made more sense than cutting him and his guaranteed contract loose.

Djorkaeff didn't stick around for the money, which he needs like he needs reservations to any French restaurant in New York. He stuck around because he still felt a connection with his teammates and he wanted to go out on a high note even as his 38-year-old body has told him repeatedly that it is time to pack it in. He still has the skill to dominate and you shouldn't be surprised to see Djorkaeff pull off one last stellar performance on Saturday. If he does show flashes of the player who starred for so many years in Europe, not only will the Red Bulls qualify for the playoffs, they will also be a threat in the postseason.

All these ingredients should make for a memorable season finale. A world star's farewell, two teams playing for their professional lives, a budding young star's chance to add to his growing reputation and a coach's chance to save his job. It was a long time to wait for some serious drama in MLS, but we can only hope it is a precursor to a memorable postseason.

Game Previews

The last week of the season should provide us with a considerable amount of intrigue as three matches boast playoff implications while a fourth, D.C. against Chicago, offers us a preview of the Eastern Conference final.

Much like the Galaxy, my late bid for respectability fell short courtesy of a 1-5 week. I can take solace in knowing that my poor record assures me of a game prediction allocation, which will help me start the 2007 season with a 10-0 record. Hey, if it's good enough for MLS, then why not for my picks?

Kansas City Wizards at New York Red Bulls

The Wizards need only a tie to reach the postseason and will approach this match accordingly, sitting back and hoping to punish the Red Bulls with their counterattack. The Red Bulls will be as healthy offensively as they have been all season, with Djorkaeff and Schopp expected to start. Will they be patient enough to wait for their chances? More importantly, will the Red Bulls' mistake-prone defense avoid the costly error? Bank on the Wizards to hold the Red Bulls off and qualify for the postseason. Wizards 2, Red Bulls 1.

Columbus Crew at New England Revolution

Can anybody stop the Crew? Consecutive blowout victories against FC Dallas and Chicago have helped restore some pride in a club that looked like it had wasted a rebuilding season. Now Columbus faces the same Revs team it routed 3-0 last month. That loss helped spark a turnaround for the Revs, who are unbeaten since (3-0-2). Unless Steve Nicol rests some of his regulars, the Revs should get some revenge. Revolution 2, Crew 1.

Colorado Rapids at Houston Dynamo

The Rapids have a simple task. Win or tie against the Dynamo and they clinch a playoff spot. If they lose they have to root for Chivas USA to avoid losing to Real Salt Lake. While you can count on Joe Cannon to deliver a clutch performance, Colorado's offense is still anemic. The Dynamo has just one loss at home since May 20, boasting a 5-1-4 record at Robertson Stadium during that time. Look for Houston to hold form at home while the Rapids are forced to hope for an RSL loss or tie. Dynamo 2, Rapids 0.

FC Dallas at Los Angeles Galaxy

Who do you pick when you have two teams with nothing to play for? FC Dallas will likely rest some starters while the Galaxy will probably be looking to end a disappointing season on a high note. Galaxy 3, FC Dallas 1.

Chicago Fire at D.C. United (Sunday, 5 ET ESPN2)

Both of these teams have clinched their playoff spots and seeds but there's hardly nothing to play for. Both teams need a victory to avoid going into the postseason on late-season slides. D.C. has just two wins since the all-star break (2-4-4) while the Fire has dropped two straight since winning the U.S. Open Cup. Neither team gets what they want and both will have to wait for the Eastern Conference final to determine who is the East's best. D.C. United 1, Fire 1.

Real Salt Lake at Chivas USA

If Real Salt Lake goes into this match still alive for a playoff berth it would be hard to bet against John Ellinger's squad. That said, Chivas USA needs to build some momentum heading into the playoffs and would love nothing more than to end RSL's season. Chivas USA 2, Real Salt Lake 2.

Last week: 1-5

Overall: 58-78

Ives Galarcep covers MLS for ESPN.com and is a writer and columnist for the Herald News (N.J.). He can be reached at Ivespn79@aol.com.