Columbus Crew

YES, THIS is a big game. There are still 11 games to play and 2 months to go in MLS' regular season, but take Danny Califf's word that the Union's match with the Columbus Crew tomorrow night is a big game . "It's the most important game of the season so far," Califf said. "It's not too early enough in the season to be saying it. We're approaching it in that manner. " The game in Columbus matters because first place in the Eastern Conference is on the line. The Union, which has never been below second place in the standings all season, is 8-5-10 for 34 points, while the Crew has 37 points from a 10-7-7 record.

Danny Mwanga says he feels no extra pressure, and nobody expected a different response. Still, the Union have acquired German forward Kai Herdling, who is on loan through June 30 with the option to stay the entire season. While Herdling could also be used as an attacking midfielder, the Union are obviously bringing him in to spice up an offense that has scored three goals in five games. At 1-3-1, the Union have plenty of time to right the ship, but how much time does Mwanga have?

The Union, who began training for their first Major League Soccer season in late January, will see the inaugural campaign conclude with Sunday's 4 p.m. matchup in Ohio against the Columbus Crew. Despite an up-and-down season, the Union (8-14-7) have played well down the stretch. In their last nine games, the Union are 4-3-2 and are coming off last Saturday's 2-1 home win over the East Conference champion New York Red Bulls. "We want to continue the momentum," Union assistant coach John Hackworth said in a phone interview.

The Chicago Fire have done the Union a huge favor. With the Fire's 3-2 win on Saturday night over Columbus, the Union have clinched one of the top three berths in the Eastern Conference and thus avoided playing in the wild-card round of the Major League Soccer playoffs. The top three teams in the Eastern and Western Conference earn first-round byes and then the next four highest teams, regardless of conference, earn the wild-card positions. The wild-card games are this Wednesday and Thursday.

The Chicago Fire have done the Union a huge favor. With the Fire's 3-2 win on Saturday night over Columbus in Bridgeview, Ill., the Union have clinched one of the top three berths in the Eastern Conference and thus avoided playing in the wild-card round of the Major League Soccer playoffs. The top three teams in the Eastern and Western Conference earn first-round byes, and then the next four highest teams, regardless of conference, earn the wild-card positions. The wild-card games are this Wednesday and Thursday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A questionable call was decisive in the battle for first place in the Eastern Conference as the Union lost to the Columbus Crew, 2-1, Saturday night. Defender Sheanon Williams was called for a hand ball in the box in the 49th minute. Crew forward Andres Mendoza buried the winning goal on the ensuing penalty kick. "It's physically impossible to see from the angle that the referee was running," team manager Peter Nowak said. "And, to make a call like that in a game like that, it's a little bit too much.

What: Union (7-13-4, 25 points) at New England Revolution (6-14-6, 24 points) Where: Gillette Stadium When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday TV: Comcast SportsNet Coaches: Union, John Hackworth (5-6-2); New England, Jay Heaps (6-14-6) Union on the road: 2-7-2 New England at home: 5-4-4 Goals for: Union 25, New England 33 Goals against: Union 30, New England 38. Previous meeting this year: The Union beat New England, 2-1, on July 29 at PPL Park.

Rafael Nadal won his first of two matches Friday in a test of his sore left knee, defeating fellow Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver , 6-1, 6-4, to reach the semifinals of the VTR Open in Chile. Nadal had not played for seven months until he took the court earlier this week in the Pacific coastal resort city. With a doubles match set for later Friday, Nadal will have played five matches in four days. He's yet to lose a set. Li Na pulled out of next week's Qatar Open because of the ankle injury she sustained in the Australian Open final.

He is finally healthy and rested after competing for the United States under-23 team, and the Union have never needed Freddy Adu to step up more than now. The Union are 0-3-1 heading into Saturday's 3:30 p.m. matchup with the Columbus Crew at PPL Park in Chester. In the four games, the Union have scored just two goals. Adu's acquisition last August came amid much fanfare, but he never hit his stride, as an ankle injury left him at less than 100 percent. Adu had two goals and an assist in 11 regular-season games for the Union.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto assisted on all three Columbus Crew goals yesterday in a 3-1 MLS Cup victory over the New York Red Bulls in Carson, Calif. The 35-year-old Argentinian received the game's MVP award to go with the regular-season MVP trophy he picked up earlier in the week. Columbus coach Sigi Schmid hoisted the Cup in the home stadium of the Los Angeles Galaxy, a team that fired him in 2004. Columbus and New York were original members of the MLS when it began in 1996, and both were playing in the league championship for the first time.