Home finale against Fire a litmus test for United

If there is one thing that can be said about October in Major League Soccer it is to expect the unexpected. With playoff spots on the line and parity in play teams can rise and fall in the standings with relative ease. No club knows that better than D.C. United (14-12-6, 48 points) whose precipitous drop in September was overcome with one simple win two weeks ago. D.C. will look to continue their winning ways in their home finale against the Chicago Fire (8-18-6, 30 points) at RFK Stadium on Sunday (2pm EST Comacast SportsNET DC and Chicago).

The good news for United supporters is that the team does have the advantage over Chicago in terms of the season series. D.C. has won both of their previous encounters this season, although the previous result at Toyota Park in Chicago was just a 1-0 score.

To say that this season has been a bit of a disappointment for the Chicago Fire would be an understatement. After a fullry of big off-season signings expectations were high that the club could make the playoffs for the first time since 2012. But injuries and poor performances have left the side at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and on their second coach of the season.

Despite the side has responded to the change in tactics and attitude under new interim coach Brian Bliss. Instead of throwing multiple players up top and seeing what sticks Bliss has implemented a more conservative approach using Harry Shipp (three goals, eight assists) and Gilberto up top with Razvan Cocis (two goals, three assists) as the play-maker in midfielder. This different style led to a 3-1 victory over the New England Revolution just two weeks ago.

The real concern for D.C. will be Accam on the outside. If there is a particular reason for why D.C. have conceded so many goals early (seven goals in the first ten minutes this season) it would be their lack of marking outside midfielders. In the NYCFC match two weeks ago Mix Diskerud broke past the United defense down the right flank to find David Villa in space. The lack of tracking early in matches has posed a problem for D.C. and is something that Chicago will likely exploit with David Accam (10 goals) at right midfielder.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Jordan-Harrell

With Accam’s speed a real threat the question that United coach Ben Olsen faces is who to start opposite of him. Olsen has taken a bit of a “by committee” approach when it comes to the left midfield position with Nick De Leon, Chris Pontius, and Chris Rolfe manning the position at different times this season. If containing Accam is a priority then Rolfe will likely make the start. Pontius also had a terrific match against NYCFC so Olsen may slot him at right-midfielder and have De Leon come off of the bench.

If United are to come away this match with three points they will to the first match in this series, a 3-1 win at RFK in June for inspiration. Although D.C. gave up a goal early to Fire forward David Accam the team came back largely due to the play of midfielder Markus Halsti. The Finnish midfielder created space for forwards Jairo Arrieta and Conor Doyle to finish their opportunities. Despite midfielder Davy Arnaud appearing to have recovered from a concussion look for Halsti to keep his starting midfield spot opposite of Perry Kitchen.

Photo: Graham Green

What will also be interesting to see is if Olsen continues to use Alvaro Saborio as a super sub late in matches. Coming on in the second half Saborio looked refreshed and refocused. Beyond his game-winning goal his small passes in tight areas with Fabian Espindola were critical to setting up the late goal. The Fire have perhaps one of the best center-backs in Major League Soccer in Jeff Larentowicz. But beyond Larentowicz it is a side that has struggled to maintain their form under pressure. Losing Eric Gehrig to a broken foot does not help.

Given that the Fire have yet to win on the road this season one would expect to be the favorites in this match. But given D.C.’s troubles early in matches and the Fire’s improved play it will not be a cakewalk. If D.C. expect to contend in this yea’s playoffs they will need to prove that they can overcome their early minute form. That starts on Sunday against Chicago.