For the second straight week, I'm going against the name of this feature, "When Last We Met." Today, instead of looking back at D.C. United's season-opening 3-0 dismantling at the hands of the Columbus Crew, or even last year's visit to the Buckeye State (also a 3-0 shellacking on The Day Brandon McDonald Lost It), we're going back to the end of the 2012 season. Because those were happier days. United were playoff bound - Lewis Neal's late goal (LEWIS NEAL!) to ensure the win clinched it - and we had new owners who were going to cut through the District's famous red tape with a machete to get a stadium built post haste. Guys like Branko Boskovic and Hamdi Salihi finally seemed to show that they had adapted to MLS and Ben Olsen's system, paving the way for what could only be a fantastic 2013.
Yet to come were the playoff series with the Metros (date-swapping, game-canceling and late-winning included) and the Red Card that Wasn't in Houston. And, y'know, all of the worst season in MLS history. And Lucky #13 for the trophy case.
Back in October 2012, we had no idea where we'd be in April 2014. So watch the video and momentarily lapse back into the blissful ignorance of the past. And then snap back to it. We've got a game on Saturday.