DC United may be eliminated from the playoffs, but they have the chance to disrupt other teams in their final two matches of the season. They start this afternoon when they play their final road match of the season against the Columbus Crew.

Head coach René Weiler said on Wednesday night that despite knowing their season will end without a playoff trip for the seventh straight year, he thinks the team can put their best foot forward in their final two matches. “Yeah of course, we are professionals. That is our profession,” Weiler said. “We earn our money with football games, and as football players, of course they have to try to win [the] game. That is always the main target.”

It will also be a chance for players to get an opportunity to play. Weiler said that forward Tai Baribo is out for this match due to injury, and goalkeeper Sean Johnson has been ruled out with a knee injury. This means some other players will need to step up and show some production in their absence.

“We have to try to find a starting 11 that are able to compete [against Columbus],” Weiler remarked. “I often speak about opportunities. It will be our next opportunity also for the young players to maybe get some minutes. But at the end…we have to try to play with the best possible team, to get out a good result, and that is always the goal.”

For the Crew, they are in a position to clinch a playoff spot should they get the win against the Black-and-Red coupled with losses or draws by both Toronto FC and Red Bull New York. They want to wrap that up as best they can to either clinch or give themselves the longest runway possible to clinch on Decision Day. DC United can make them delay the celebrations for another week by walking out of there with three points.

DC United @ Columbus Crew

Location: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, Columbus

Kickoff time: 2:00pm ET

Available streaming: Apple TV