Last hurrah for Revs and United

If the 2004 Eastern Conference final seems like it was an eternity ago, it's because in Major League Soccer terms, two years might as well be forever. Teams undergo roster overhauls on such a regular basis that, more often than not, two years can transform a roster completely.

Not so for New England and D.C. United, which have been exceptions to that rule. Both clubs have miraculously navigated the salary cap, injuries, age and defections to Europe to successfully keep together two of the more talented rosters in MLS history.

How successful have they been at staying together? Consider that of the 27 players who took the field in that unforgettable 2004 Eastern Conference final, won by D.C. United on penalty kicks, 21 are still on the same rosters and 19 are expected to play major roles in Sunday's East final.

That continuity is what has made the Revs and United the two strongest teams in the league over the past three seasons, but how much longer can it last? Not much longer, actually, which is what is giving Sunday's match an added sense of drama. New England's collection of superstars looks destined to be broken apart after this season, with Clint Dempsey and Shalrie Joseph looking like good bets to make moves to Europe this winter.

Even if those two midfielders hadn't been pondering MLS exits, New England would still be faced with the dilemma of paying its increasing list of standout players. Revs coach Steve Nicol is about to learn what D.C. learned after winning three of four MLS titles from 1996 to 1999, and what the Chicago Fire learned after its own strong run from 1998 to 2001. That is, MLS' parity-inducing regulations make it impossible to maintain or even build anything close to a dynasty.

D.C. United could face its own issues, with head coach Peter Nowak considering a move, Freddy Adu sizing up a potential departure, Jaime Moreno getting a year older and the salary cap squeezing harder as Bobby Boswell and Troy Perkins prepare to be rewarded for standout seasons.

The likelihood that the core groups on these teams won't stay together beyond this year means this is likely the last chance for either of these talented groups of players to deliver a title. That knowledge should create a sense of urgency that helps turn this game into another classic.

Key matchup: D.C. United midfielder Christian Gomez vs. New England midfielder Shalrie Joseph.

The Red Bulls learned the harsh lesson that so many clubs have learned: You don't lose track of Christian Gomez. The front-runner for MLS MVP honors is one of the few players in MLS who can set up goals and score them with equal aplomb. He finds the weak spots in a defense like a master safecracker and steps his game up even when those around him are in a funk.

So how do you stop Gomez? You need a defensive midfielder who is quick, physical, tactically sharp and capable of jumping into the counterattack when Gomez is being lazy defensively. Joseph just happens to be all those things, which is why he is the league's best defensive midfielder. In three meetings this season against Joseph (Joseph missed the fourth D.C.-New England match as he recovered from hand surgery), Gomez managed just one assist. As for the match Joseph missed? Gomez scored D.C. United's lone goal in a 2-1 loss.

With Dempsey out, Nicol could push Andy Dorman into the attack and start Daniel Hernandez in defensive midfield. Hernandez is just the type of tough, physical and uncompromising player who could get Gomez off his game. Hernandez could also deliver some of the fouls Joseph would be more inclined to deliver if he weren't a card away from missing the MLS Cup final if the Revs win Sunday.

Players to watch: For D.C. United, midfielder Christian Gomez, forward Jaime Moreno, defender Bobby Boswell, goalkeeper Troy Perkins; for New England, forward Taylor Twellman, midfielder Shalrie Joseph, goalkeeper Matt Reis and defender Michael Parkhurst.

The key to stopping D.C. is containing Gomez first and Moreno second. That's easier said than done, but the Revs have two players capable of getting the job done in Joseph and Parkhurst. Revs coach Steve Nicol will call on Joseph and Andy Dorman to pester Gomez. Parkhurst has enjoyed modest success against Moreno, who is a good matchup for him because he fares much better against quick and crafty forwards than pure speedsters.

If New England neutralizes D.C. United's dynamic duo, D.C. must find a way to get its wing players, Josh Gros and Freddy Adu, more involved in the attack. If they can deliver consistent service, Moreno and Eskandarian can test a New England defense that is steady but can be rattled. The Revs must counter by forcing Gros and Adu to work defensively, something Joe Franchino and Steve Ralston are more than capable of doing.

The key to stopping New England is limiting service to Twellman. Defending the Revs gets much easier when you don't have to worry about the unpredictability of Clint Dempsey, who is expected to miss the match with a sprained ankle, but D.C. can't take much for granted considering how horrid its defending was against the Red Bulls. Pat Noonan's return to health gives New England two dangerous forwards, meaning Facundo Erpen will have to rebound from his awful performance last week by shutting down either Twellman or Noonan.

This game features two of the league's best goalkeepers in Matt Reis and Troy Perkins; the one difference is that Reis has more postseason experience. The Red Bulls hardly tested Perkins with quality shots on goal, so the reigning MLS goalkeeper of the year was barely tested. The Revs are well aware of this and will be looking to test Perkins early to see just how prepared he is for this conference final. If the game goes to penalty kicks, you have to like New England's chances considering the Revs were perfect in kicks against Chicago, with Reis saving a pair.

X factors: For D.C. United, Freddy Adu; for New England, Joe Franchino

Two of the smallest players on the field will play the biggest part in determining the winner. Adu is coming off a terrible series against the Red Bulls, having been neutralized by rookie speed merchant Marvell Wynne. Adu's inactivity added to United's attacking struggles last week, and he just might find a seat on the bench if Nowak doesn't think he can handle the physical play Franchino is sure to deliver.

If Adu gets the start, he must work harder to find the ball and then go right at Franchino, who is vulnerable to his quickness and bag of tricks. The question is whether Adu is ready to deliver a star performance.

Franchino is coming off a career game against Chicago, and if he plays anywhere near that well against D.C., Adu could be forced to the bench because of his defensive liabilities. Franchino is hitting crosses well and is good at reading when the Revs are transitioning into the counterattack. If Adu loses sight of Franchino you can be assured that Nowak will bench him quickly rather than risk the Revs burying D.C.

Outcome: In one corner you have the Revolution, a team built for postseason success that happens to be playing some of the league's best soccer. In the other corner you have D.C. United, the best team in the league through the first half of the season, but a club struggling to find its form. New England's midfield is playing better, as is its defense, so expect the Revs to jump out to a strong start and control the game in the first half. D.C. has championship experience and will respond, but its offense has been too inconsistent and too reliant on Gomez in recent months. New England neutralizes Gomez and books a return trip to the MLS Cup. Revolution 2, D.C. United 1.

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.