Chicago Fire vs DC United

Soldier Field is the venue as Major League Soccer underperformers Chicago Fire and DC United go head-to-head in an Eastern Conference bottom-half six-pointer.

Chicago Fire have experienced a dreadful start to the new MLS season, as they head into proceedings nailed to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. With just two wins to their name from their opening 15 MLS fixtures (D5, L7), the future is not looking bright for Chicago. Ezra Hendrickson’s side will have to launch a substantial winning streak to close the gap on seventh-placed Charlotte. Unfortunately, you would have to go back to mid-March to find Chicago’s last MLS home triumph. Indeed, after a brace of scoreless home draws with LA Galaxy and Dallas, the hosts have lost their last two league outings at Soldier Field via an identical 2-1 scoreline.

In the meantime, DC United have alternated between stalemates (2) and defeats (2) in four MLS matches since beating Houston Dynamo 2-0 at home in early May. United’s porous defence has conceded 2+ goals in their last four league games, at an average of 2.5 per match. Growing defensive problems could pose a genuine threat to DC’s bid to bounce back from a woeful spell of form. Indeed, they’ve shipped precisely two goals in both previous MLS visits to Chicago (D1, L1). It is now up to interim boss Chad Ashton to help his side overcome a four-game winless MLS streak on the road (D1, L3).