D.C. United vs. Chicago Fire staff and reader predictions

So last week’s game against Orlando City was...not the best. D.C. United probably deserved to win, and yet they allowed in two goals and couldn’t climb back from that deficit. Throw in a couple red cards for the visiting side and the night was pretty eventful, but ultimately disappointing.

Now the Black-and-Red are on the road to face the Chicago Fire. Last week we were dangerously confident about our team’s chances, but this week, as you can imagine, we’re much more reserved.

Donald Wine II

The Black-and-Red head to Chicago to take on the Fire, and I honestly think it will be a slow affair. The team will be determined to do better than they did at home, and with a playoff spot still technically in reach (JimMoraPlayoffs.gif), they need to get all the points they can get if they want to be playing in late October. Unfortunately, I think that while Bill Hamid pitches a shutout, the team doesn't get on the board. 0-0 draw, with United coming home with a hard-fought point.

BlasianSays

D.C. United must get over the self-inflicted wound of the Orlando loss and focus on beating a Chicago Fire team that recently pulled out of a four-match losing streak with a draw and a win in consecutive games. If the Fire are missing Joao Meira and Bastian Schweinsteiger, that will be a boon for the Black-and-Red, but Nemanja Nikolic scored last week for the first time since July 1, which could spell trouble if he's rediscovered his form. I see Patrick Mullins finally getting on the board early for the good guys before Chicago salvages a draw late. 1-1.

Jason Anderson

Chicago might be missing more starters than United due to injury, with Bastian Schweinsteiger among those missing out. That's good news for the Black-and-Red, who were comprehensively outplayed the last time they faced the Fire. It also helps that Chicago doesn't really have much in the way of depth. Those two factors, plus a hunch that United will bounce back somewhat after last week's disappointing level of play against Orlando, has me thinking this will go better for DCU than you'd expect with a look at the standings. Chicago will have a healthy possession advantage, but some last-ditch defending and a strong outing from Hamid will keep United afloat during some early difficulties, and just before halftime Zoltan Stieber will finish off a well-worked move to give United the lead.

The second half will see some back-and-forth action, but eventually Chicago will get level through Nikolic (who couldn't buy a goal at RFK despite roughly 20 chances). United will surprisingly end the game as the more likely winner, but their lack of decisive finishing up top will haunt them again. 1-1.

Leanne Elston

Is it naive to predict that DCU manage to pick themselves up (just a little) after that Orlando game? It’s just that we’ve seen glimpses of the team’s ability to not crash and burn, and you’d hope that there’s a fair amount of pride on the line here. That said, I don’t see three point coming out of this one—I agree with everyone else that a draw feels right. I’ll say 1-1 as well, because I can’t abide the idea that our guys can’t get at least one goal.

What do you think will happen in tonight’s game? Share your predictions in the comments, but first, you know there’s a silly poll!