Chicago Fire vs. D.C. United: Preview, time, and how to watch
D.C. United heads out on the road to face Chicago Fire after a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC in last week’s home opener.
The Black-and-Red are hoping for a repeat performance of their last visit to the Windy City, where they took all three points against the Fire, winning 2-1. According to head coach Troy Lesesne, new signing, striker Fidel Barajas from Chivas Guadalajara is available to travel with the team.
D.C.’s performance against Toronto last week was a solid shift, but in the end, it left them wanting. Lesesne addressed some of last week’s pain points, saying, “We gave the ball away far too often and, where Toronto’s chances came were an attacking transition for them, so that’s something we’re going to continue to address and not back away and get conservative or anything like that. We want to keep trying to progress in that area because I know that in the long run, it’s going to benefit the team.”
Hear everything Troy Lesesne had to say in the pre-game press conference here.
As for the Fire, they were soundly trounced by Columbus Crew, losing 4-2 at Lower.com Field on opening day. Their energy fizzled out against a solid Crew side. While Brian Gutiérrez stepped up for Chicago, securing a brace wouldn’t be enough for Gregg Berhalter’s side.
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 continues to be D.C.’s danger man on the pitch. He started his season tally last week, whipping in a shot against Toronto.
Watch Out For: Jonathan Bamba
Ivorian winger, Jonathan Bamba, is part of Berhalter’s Fire revamp efforts. Making his debut last week alongside Philip Zinckernagel and Jack Elliott, we expect him to give Chicago’s opposition some trouble in matches to come. While Brian Gutiérrez came up big for the Fire last week against Columbus with a brace he is unavailable this week due to suspension.
Challenges: The Black-and-Red will need to shake off last week’s draw with Toronto and tighten up their play to snap back in tonight’s match against Chicago.
Previously: D.C. United bested Chicago 2-1 in September of 2024. The Black-and-Red will hope for a repeat and all three points.
Chicago Fire Availability:
Out: Leonardo Barroso (lower body), Dylan Borso (lower body), Chase Gasper (lower body), Maren Haile-Selassie (lower body), Romingue Kouamé (lower body), Chris Mueller (not due to injury), David Poreba (lower body)
Suspended: Brian Gutiérrez
Questionable: None
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Conner Antey (knee), Jackson Hopkins (ankle), Hakim Karamoko (abdomen), Randall Leal (thigh)
Questionable: João Peglow (thigh)
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Kickoff time: 8:30 pm ET
Referee: Marcos DeOliveira
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
26 degrees and a little breeze for kickoff on the shore of Lake Michigan. Brrr!!! I hope they packed their long sleeve jerseys.
A good place to watch DCU-Chicago tonight in central Maryland is Tampico Grill in Laurel. 🙂
Lineup is out!
Same as last week, except Stroud is in for Murrell.
I’m not sanguine on Enow and Servania as a midfield pivot, but one can only hope they develop some familiarity and teamwork. We need them clogging the passing lanes and preventing counters infinitely better. Pirani also needs to do better in this arena.
From Lesesne, I need to see some sanity in the press.
Vamos United!!!
BENTEKE!
We love to see it!
Unfortunately was just now able to join the match, missed the goal, but glad we’ve got the lead through the talisman!
DC has been by far the better team. Chicago has had a few looks, but DC has been controlling the game overall
Saved by the woodwork.
One day, our left side shall not be a sieve
Damn it
That has to be offside on Bamba for interfering with Kim having a chance to make a play on the ball.
Looked like Bamba backwards cupped our goalie out of the play
Bamba is obviously screening Joon there….
Yeah, but are you DC United?
Every time I think I understand basic rules of soccer an MLS ref proves me wrong.
A more revered club in MLS gets that call.
You mean Inter Messi
Well, yeah, they’re platinum tier “gee, I hope they win” from everyone, but the two LA clubs, maybe even the two NY area based ones.
How the frick is that not overturned on VAR?
Even when we’re the protagonist in open play, we’re still not getting respect and the calls that come with it
Wow. Weird bounce, and Benteke still almost steers in the header
Servania and Enow could not have been more clueless in that Toronto buildup
So since Chicago can get away with an offside screen that directly led to a goal what is DCU allowed to get away with?
Rowles sacrificing a yellow for the team. If only the players in front of him would protect him better
This commentary team is embarrassing
Unfortunately Lloyd Sam is commenting the Revs Crew game.
Smart set piece that Benteke gets a good assist attempt off of with the header, think it was Bartlett that skies the finish with his own
Going from Osorio constantly jawing at the ref last week to Acosta is like that Spider-Man meme. Two decent players who think they are way bigger stars than they really are.
It sucks that we’re not a good enough squad to make the margins more favorable, but fuck, is it annoying to see the officiating close whatever gap we earn.
Had some great pieces of play in that first half. Some of the passing sequences were sublime. Midfield was a bit too easy to pass through at times on the defensive end. There’s certainly more goals in this game.
Wow, the commentary team doesn’t even mention a DC player till Benteke in the highlight where they show the goal. Fuck em.
Just stating it now, I will be livid if we give Berhalter a victory in this match, moral or actual.
I think the argument on the Chicago goal is that they can’t definitively say whether or not Elliot touched it. If he didn’t touch it then Bamba isn’t offside and could be argued to just be holding his position. Either way we’ve got to get better at defending set pieces.
Elliot is also annoying me a bunch because he’s 90% elbow and is hitting someone with one on every aerial challenge.
My argument is that obstructing the goalkeeper with both arms is just a plain foul
This is a thing which came up multiple times for Tottenham, because opposing teams decided they could push goalie Vicario around, and even into the goal.
If Bamba was just standing still I’d agree. He’s boxing out Joon like he was ready for the rebound.
It’s a moving screen which would be an offensive foul in basketball.
If it’s a yellow on Herrera that should’ve been a yellow on Acosta.
This ref is to be endured and overcome, and I’m glad I’m not on the field expected to show deference
Benteke with a delicious low cross to Stroud in the box. Is not converted, but that was impressive
Peltola on for Servania, Murrell on for Stroud. Latter seems like a health move, I’ve frankly been surprised that Peltola was ever displaced by Servania
Correct offside call on a shot that wasn’t converted
Bamba with another offside screen.
Don’t think that’s the break down this time, how is Guypers free again?
Peltola was ball watching. That’s just unforgivable for a center back, especially on a corner.
Looks like a more legit corner conversion by Guypers
Peltola just decided to stop marking his man for some reason. No excuse to give up 2 goals on set pieces. They are 80% effort.
These guys are Chicago homers. I checked and I’m not listening to the Chicago radio broadcast.
Yep. Wild some of the slant
It’s frustrating too. This is supposed to be a legit setup by MLS. Guess these guys don’t bother doing their homework.
No idea how Badji can’t control that precise cross field service by Benteke, but he forces a big save out of the goalie soon after
Badji with a free header but puts it right at the keeper.
Disappointing that Leal isn’t on the bench, Pirani hasn’t done a ton this half
Did we watch the same game? Pirani had a good game. Not his fault his good passes didn’t result in more goals due to the great game of the Chicago goalie.
Benteke frankly was the better passer second half.
How the fuck does Gutman commit a foul but then Peltola gets called for the same thing?
Maddening.
Zouhir sighting, coming in for Kijima. Think that’s all our windows
Lazy in the air, but that’s still a spectacular save from Chicago’s goalie
Be still my heart, a PK??? For US??
Holy shit, that’s a volleyball spike
Benteke skies it. Karma is dead
Benteke misses the pk….
And it couldn’t have been a more worthy PK call, frustrating as hell
First Caps lose, then GMU loses, then Old Glory loses, and now DCU is about to lose.
You got to be kidding me right now. Talk about a game well and truly lost. Mistakes all over the field.
MURRELL!
Murrell gets on a bike to poundtown
I have been telling you all about Jacob Murrell. He’s special.
He’s had two spectacular goal contributions in the last two games, so in the interest of him continuing to prove my estimation of him is off, let me just say, he can’t do this every game
Hoya Saxa
What the hell did I just watch….
Brady was massive, but let’s not give Benteke a pass. For all the goals he does score, there’s so many other golden chances that he doesn’t finish.
DCU will have to figure out how to protect Kim on corner kicks. Tottenham has dealt with the same tactics against Vicario, and refs just won’t call it. A smaller, skinny goalie will get pushed around unless someone sets up to protect him. Speaking of which, Rowles is useless.
Bless you, Jacob Murrell.
That was a crazy ending after all that, but I’m unfortunately not reaching the heights I’d like after that finish. Fact remains that these opening two games were about as kind a home and away opener as we could wish for, and those two matches have yielded less than three points total despite four goals scored.
We’re going to miss this low hanging fruit later, if we end up anywhere near the playoff race at the end.
If we draw every game, that’s 34 points, baby!
That’s an “if we play teams of the level and Toronto and Chicago at the start of their seasons” kind of “if.” I know you’re joking, but Christ, we need to prove that we can put away SOMEone
I appreciate your optimism!