With two Regular Season games remaining, D.C. United needs only one more point to clinch first place in the Eastern Conference. After a 3-1 win over Houston—United’s first-ever win at BBVA Compass Stadium—the Black-and-Red host a Chicago Fire side eliminated from Playoff contention but looking to play spoiler.
“We’re going about it like every other game,” D.C. United defender Taylor Kemp said. “They’ve had a lot of ties and haven’t had a lot of success. We don’t want to let them find any now.”
Scoring his first career goal against Houston, Kemp opened United’s account on the night, followed by Fabián Espíndola’s scoop over Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric and Eddie Johnson’s poised finish.
To have players other than leading goal scorer Luis Silva finding the back of the net is a good sign, as the 25-year-old forward suffered a hamstring pull that will keep him sidelined for 4-6 weeks. After Silva went down in Houston, the United offense had no trouble producing, a confidence building sign heading into the playoffs and into a game against a team who finds ways to tie. The Fire (5-9-18, 33 points) have already set a record for the most draws in a season in MLS history.
“We gave up three goals last game [against the Fire],” Kemp said. “It’s pretty uncharacteristic of us, so we want to try to keep a shutout, and we are certainly capable of doing that. We know we will find ways to score goals if we stay organized.”
A road goal differential of negative eleven also works against the Fire, though they came from behind to force a 2-2 draw in Chicago’s first visit to the District in March. United wants to take care of business at home as it has since, preserving its league-best total of just 11 goals against at RFK and a 10-2-4 home record – tied for the tops in the Eastern Conference.
“We need to lock it up in the back,” Kemp said. “They’re a team that will show some holes here and there, and we should be able to exploit them.”
Support playoff-bound D.C. United on Fan Appreciation Day as the Black-and-Red host the Chicago Fire. Watch on dcunited.com/live, or follow @dcumatchday on Twitter.
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