Chicago Fire versus D.C. United
4:30 PM EST/3:30 PM CST, ESPN +, Toyota Park
The sprint is finally over for D.C. United. On Sunday afternoon in Toyota Park United wrap up a whirlwind 2018 regular season which has seen them play sixteen games over the last three months. But their match against the Chicago Fire poses a different problem and will give the club more than a few answers as they prepare for the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs.
So here is how things stand for United entering into this final match-day. The good news is that D.C. do know that Sunday’s match against the Fire will not be their final game of the 2018 season. Thanks to their 3-1 win over NYCFC last Sunday D.C. did punch their ticket to the playoffs, their first appearance in two years.
Here is where things get tricky. Depending upon their result against the Fire and the NYCFC (15-10-8, 53 points)-Philadelphia Union (15-13-5, 50 points) match D.C. could end up anywhere from third to fifth. That is rather huge for United as the difference in their home (12-2-2, 38 points) and road (1-9-6, 9 points) is quite stark. If anything, Sunday’s encounter might be a good chance for United to get prepared to play in unfriendly confines if they have to do so again in the midweek.
Chicago is also a pretty good opponent for a ‘playoff warm-up’. Despite being at the bottom of the Eastern Conference the Fire haven’t closed up shop on the 2018 season. They have earned at least a result in four of their last seven matches (2-3-2, 8 points) with both of their wins coming at home. Head Coach Veljko Paunovic and many members of his side may be entering an offseason where their future is uncertain but they at least seem to be putting their best foot forward.
D.C.-Chicago have met just once this season and as has been the case with many of United’s encounters with MLS sides it took place at Audi Field. Despite going down a goal early in the second half, D.C. pulled off the 2-1 win thanks to two goals from Wayne Rooney. The former England international has paid immediate dividends for The Black and Red, scoring 12 goals in 19 matches.
The Rooney addition coupled with the return of goalkeeper Bill Hamid have fundamentally altered the make-up of D.C., giving them two veteran pieces at opposite ends of the pitch. On the attacking end, Rooney has freed up space for Luciano Acosta, who in season’s past would likely find himself being marked two-three defenders. But as evidenced by Sunday’s 2-0 win over NYCFC that is no longer the case.
Chicago midfielder Dax McCarty will be tasked with managing Acosta’s influence on the match. With McCarty handling Acosta look for Bastian Schweinsteiger to take on Rooney with the German defender likely playing in his final match. Chicago have given up just five goals in their last five home games so they should be up for the challenge against containing D.C.’s attack.
While Rooney’s influence on United’s attack has been covered quite extensively, Hamid’s role in this rise in the standings cannot be understated. Since his first start back with the club on August 15, United have pulled off four shutouts and allowed more than two goals in a game just twice. Considering that they had just one shutout and had more than two goals in a game nine times that is quite the improvement.
The one battle to keep an eye on is United’s right-back Paul Arriola versus Raheem Edwards. Edwards scored the lone goal against D.C. in that 2-1 loss and was a problem for the D.C. defense. Arriola has shifted to right-back after the season-ending injury to Oniel Fisher and has thus far held his own. Edwards will have the advantage in speed so it is critical that Arriola not buy into Edwards move to break free. Otherwise he may be playing catch-up.
End of season matches like this are always very difficult to predict. Clubs can give their full effort and a result outside of their can control can mean that the result was really for nothing. What D.C. does know is that if they want to host a playoff game in the midweek they must get the three points here. Even if it is in vain, pulling off a win on the road will give them added confidence that they can replicate the effort.
Chicago Fire
DC United
