D.C. United may have clinched a playoff berth, but the postseason is far from settled for the Black-and-Red. The team head to Chicago for their last match of the regular season this weekend—a win over the Chicago Fire on Sunday would put United in the No. 4 spot, while a draw or loss could see them hitting the road for the Knockout Round. To secure home-field advantage, United will have to win their first match on the road since early September. Here is a breakdown of this weekend's opponent from the Windy City.
Recent Matches
The Fire are 1-3-1 in their last five matches. They put together a convincing 3-1 defeat of LAFC at home at the end of September, but went on to lose 2-1 to both Atlanta United and D.C. United on the road. The Fire have been much better at home this year, with just two of their eight wins occurring on the road, meaning that despite their overall record, Chicago should not be underestimated, especially at Toyota Park.
Players to Watch
While Chicago have been eliminated from the playoffs for a few weeks now, Fire players are fighting for their jobs and for pride in their last matches of the season. On the attack, goals have come from a diverse range of goalscorers, including Raheem Edwards and Michael de Leeuw most recently. The back line is where the Fire have struggled the most, but defensive midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will attempt to lead the charge in shutting down United's dangerous attack come Sunday.
Head-to-Head
The Black-and-Red hosted the Chicago Fire on October 7 and defeated them 2-1 in one of United's many "must-win" games of the season. It was an important comeback victory for the Black-and-Red, who conceded a goal to Raheem Edwards at the beginning of the second half but clawed their way back into the contest. Captain Wayne Rooney led the come-from-behind effort, recording a brace by tapping in a rebounded shot for the equalizer and taking the late lead with a PK in the 81st minute.
