Union know playoff push starts with Saturday's game

Union coach Jim Curtin was directly critical of his team before the home stretch of its season.

"We're close, but it's no coincidence we're not good enough right now," Curtin said at his weekly news conference Wednesday. "That's the message to these guys."

Curtin was discussing his team's latest result, a 3-2 road loss to D.C. United on Sunday after the Union scored twice in the first five minutes. It was another lapse in a season derailed by injuries and missed opportunities. The Union (6-12-4) will look to flip the script when it hosts the New York Red Bulls (8-6-5) at 7 p.m. Saturday at PPL Park.

The Union have 12 games left and are three spots out of the playoffs. Curtin wants to see his team bridge the gap between a good start and good finish, and sees this as a must-win match.

"We have to do anything for three points," Curtin said. "I don't care if we win 1-0 off of an own goal, I don't care if we score off a corner kick, I don't care if it's off a free kick, I don't care if it's the most beautiful goal in the world. We have to get a win at home and that's our mind-set.

"We have 12 games left, six at home and six away, and you guys are all smart enough to realize we have to win a minimum of six. And that'll be something we've never done as a club."

The last time the Union and Red Bulls met, it was in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals July 21. The Union gutted out a 1-1 (4-3 penalty kicks) win despite Conor Casey's red card in the 40th minute. Curtin called it the "No. 1" win in the franchise's six-year history.

The plan was to carry that grit from Red Bull Arena to D.C. United Stadium, but it was lost in the five days between the two matches. Now, the Union will go toe-to-toe with a Red Bulls team that has given up the second fewest goals in the Eastern Conference this season and, maybe more importantly, will be looking for revenge.

"It's not for a lack of effort with our guys," Curtin said.

Whether the Union can start turning effort into results will be critical for its postseason hopes.