Chicago Fire FC vs. D.C. United: Preview, time, and how to watch
D.C. United bagged three critical points in Toronto last weekend, pulling them up to 11th in the Eastern Conference. Tonight, our eyes will be on the Black-and-Red as they take on 14th place Chicago Fire. Only two points away from a playoff spot, D.C. United will need to tap into the energy of last weekend’s tenacious performance, especially since Chicago Fire has remained undefeated at home against D.C. United since 2015.
Chicago has been winless since mid-July but put enough points away early in the season to be close to D.C.’s count. The Fire will be without Georgios Koutsias and Ariel Lassiter this week, as the pair are on international duty for Greece and Costa Rica, respectively. Lassiter recently joined the Chicago Fire after a stint in Montréal.
It’s the second consecutive week on the road for the Black-and-Red. Let’s see if they can pull off another stunner of a win as the end of the regular season rapidly approaches.
Hear everything head coach Troy Lesesne had to say in the pre-game press conference here.
Let us know your thoughts about tonight’s match in the comments below and be sure to join us live here during the game to chat with your fellow supporters.
Key Player: Christian Benteke
Benteke has been on fire (I couldn’t help myself. I’m sorry.) as he races toward the Golden Boot. It is simply a fact that D.C. United is better off having Benteke on the pitch. Few other strikers in MLS have been as successful as he has in creatively finding space and executing stunning plays, game after game.
Watch Out For: Brian Gutiérrez
Homegrown midfielder Brian Gutiérrez recorded another goal last week against NYCFC, bringing his tally to six this season. The youngster has been incredibly consistent for Chicago this season and will be a boon to the Windy City side as he develops.
Challenges: Both D.C. and Chicago are eager to climb out of the Eastern Conference basement and into playoff contention, making tonight’s match a must-win for both teams.
Previously: In May, D.C. United and Chicago Fire played to a 1-1 draw at Audi Field. The regular season record for D.C. against Chicago is 26-23-21.
Chicago Fire FC Availability:
Out: Chase Gasper (leg), Georgios Koutsias (international duty), Ariel Lassiter (international duty)
Disciplinary: Rafael Czichos
Questionable: Mauricio Pineda (leg)
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Matai Akinmboni (ankle), Conner Antley (knee), Jackson Hopkins (ankle), David Schnegg (leg)
Location: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, IL
Kickoff time: 8:30 pm ET
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
USA vs Canada friendly starting on TBS.
I was at the Spirit game and completely forgot to put up a match thread for this. I’ll get it next time!
If any USMNT game did not deserve a match thread, Twas this one.
And in case anyone didn’t watch and wonders what I mean, I am not denigrating Canada as an opponent- if anything, Schulte kept the game from getting well out of hand within 30 minutes with some big stops, and Canada should have earned this team’s respect and motivated play already. Let’s just say Schulte (and perhaps a piqued Pulisic) were the only players who looked like they might have wanted to, you know, compete in this game instead of wondering why soccer is so difficult
The US lost to Japan this morning in the Pacific Nations Cup group/pool stage 41-24.
After a sublime feel good win for the Spirit and a sluggish and unmotivated 2-1 loss by the USMNT to Canada, let’s go United and make this a fine day on balance!
The US also got stomped by Japan this morning in the Pacific Nations Cup. We just couldn’t keep up with their speed.
Fascinating lineup. It’s listed as a sort of 5-4-1, but I imagine it will shake out closer to a 5-2-3 with Pirani and Stroud pushing high to support Benteke. We’ll see starts from Pirani and Rodriguez, and I seriously hope they can be major players down the stretch, and carry that into being valuable next season
That was a serious stomp on Klich by Jimenez
Damn, promising counter made by Stroud’s tackle high up, but Dajome does the more predictable of Dajome finishes
Yeah, it’s a bad shot by Dajome, but he does a good job of carrying into the space and Stroud/Benteke pull the defenders apart nicely.
I’m more concerned about the ball progression from our center backs right now. It’s been a bit too slow/loose so far.
I’d still like attacking players that weren’t so “once in a blue moon” with their final third technique
As for the backline passing comment, I feel the issue in this game is a lot more about the lack of quality fullbacks to contribute, which I think Herrera and Schnegg are
Bartlett with a skillful pirouette through two players and almost puts Pirani through over the top. He’s honestly one of my favorite value pickups of late
Huh…I thought the Fire were playing home games at Soldier Field, but they’re back at SeatGeek. I hope some of the good juju from OGDC beat the Chicago Hounds here earlier this year is still around.
In fairness to Dajome, that was a good potential assist by him to Stroud. On Stroud, I’m not convinced he’s actually a starter at the end of a solid rebuild, but he is a good enough role player to stay on the roster.
Well said. Hes the floor of a good team. Wouldn’t be mad to have him around for a while.
Deflection serves Benteke, and we’re up!!!
1-0 DC
BENTEKE!
PIRANI! It’s 2-0!
Ok, Pirani is starting to cook!
2-0 off an impressive play by Gab!
And Benteke and Klich are also proud papas of that goal
DC dishing out transfer fees for Peltola and Enow just to have Martinez balling in midfield is insane.
But wait, there’s Russell!
I yelled to my wife CANOUSE!?!? When telling her the lineup and bench. So happy for the dude.
I think it was eagle-eyed Sweetbuck that noticed his absence from the injury list a few days ago, but for sure a welcome sight
Well, shit, two goals and two games, and now Pirani is writhing
DC saved by the woodwork.
My life flashed before my eyes with that Santos fuck up and Acosta shot off the woodwork
Stroud with the rare “flick it out and take the throw” play
Aside from that blast from Acosta that was a pretty dominant and professional first half. Just need that to continue.
Is it sad that I just comforted my anxiety about another collapse by thinking “it’s alright, we’re not at home…”
🤦♂️😭
Btw, if Benteke finishes the season ahead of Suarez, I may lose control of the celebration
Boy, Chicago is a bad team. And Brady…he’s a mess. ‘Almost’ looks he’s tanking the game, the way he reacts too late and then short-arms (and short-legs) his save attempts.
There can only be one…
Chicago with some momentum early in the second half, I hate to say it, but we may need a… midfield shape
Midfield shape what’s that?
Precisely
I would not have believed that Rodriguez slide tackle at any other point, but he sure believes
Damn…Gutman with a goalazo to pull one back…
Andrew Gutman: Not good enough to leave MLS, too annoying to stay.
He just scored a bit of a golazo, but there has to be more pressure on the strike
Here comes the collapse and coughing up points…
Who knows, maybe Ted does something for the first time in an epoch?
Whoever on the coaching staff is in charge of set pieces needs to read some books or go to some classes.
KDP coming on for Pirani.
Think the only silver lining to the way this is going, Canouse might be just the thing for this scenario, if he has any minutes in him
Ok. That HAS to be a red right!?!?
Nope not even VAR.
Roles reversed? Absolutely a red, no doubt in my mind.
Its not a DC player. Hence as our brilliant commentary team says its a commonsense no foul, no card play.
I guess Bartlett wasn’t innocent enough on the play for the refs and VAR to see him as a victim. I’ve certainly seen that given
My mind goes back to Stroud’s red in the Leagues cup. Opposing player is trying to foul him and he reaches out. Literally the same thing….
Someone please explain to me how that’s any different than what got Stroud sent off a few games ago (neither worthy of any kind of punishment IMO but the lack of consistency remains irritating).
A Murrell sighting, as well as Badji
Benteke coming off
The Fire have been the better side this half and forced DC on their backfoot, but tactically I think Lesene maybe making things worse. DC’s entire eleven are defending well within their own half. This hasn’t been in DC’s DNA recently, to see games out by parking the bus, maybe they can reverse that trend tonight. Still think there better served trying to find a third and relieve some pressure through simple possession every now and again.
For sure. A lot of it is not having a single professional DM ready to go and available tonight, hence the 5-2-3 shape for the counter, but in terms of absorbing, we’re putting a lot of heat on Rodriguez and Klich to shield
And of course, having a single professional fullback would help a friggin 5 back
Badji with a dumb yellow.
Think we just dodged a Tubbs bullet
Canouse.
CAnouse.
CANouse.
CANOUSE!!!
He’s on!! Interestingly for Tubbs.
No idea what the shape will be
Again…shape what shape?
Shape? We don’t need to frigging shape!
I’m guessing he’ll be sitting in front of a back 4. No idea what’s going on in front of that though
Murrell forces a save.
Maybe not the ideal angle, but if Murrell isn’t able to finish that header, given his other deficiencies, I think he’s not gonna make it in this league
I watch him and I see such potential. Whenever he’s on, he’s the most creative player. He tries shit. The problem is that the end product is always a little anemic.
Completely don’t see that. I don’t think he’s got a bad soccer brain, but his technique in all aspects is not at a great level. At his age, only the brain improves, so that’s a problem.
We were so close
For once, Klich in no way deserves a yellow
Wtf…how’s that a yellow on Klich when Chicago wasn’t behind the hash?
Santos thinks he’s Messi near the end line, chaos ensues. Corner
Holy crap we held on for the win!
Sweet baby Buddha, is this not a playoff plundering squad overall, but we managed to pass the spoon, hopefully
It wasn’t pretty but holy cow DC ARE IN A PLAYOFF SPOT!!! Didn’t think I’d say that this season.
Also, Pirani needing help leaving the bench…not a good look. Hope he’s not too banged up; he’s just hitting his stride.
Also also, DC has only kept 2 clean sheets this season?? Yikes.
Had we kept a clean sheet in our last home game, it would have been only our second. Another way of putting it is, I think we only have one home clean sheet
Canouse speech to applause postgame!!!
For your information, there’s an inflammation in my tear gland