DC United Preview 6/21/2006

DC United vs. Chicago Fire
7:30pm Wednesday 6/21/2006
RFK Stadium

DC United 7-1-5
Chicago Fire 2-4-5

DC United return home from a 2 week road trip to LA and to New England, collecting on 2 points from a possible 6 due to allowing 1 late goal in each match, both coming within the last 5 minutes, to drop the points. Gomez and Moreno provided the 1-0 leads in the matches, only to watch the United defense fall apart and allow the goals. United will be looking to change course with their next two matches being at home against the Fire and the Wizards.

Chicago started the MLS season with a 9 match road series and have collected 1 point from their last 4 matches, allowing 10 goals and scoring 7 in that stretch. This is the first trip to RFK for Chicago this season.

As this is the first meeting since the 4-0 demolition that Chicago dished out onto United during last seasons playoffs, ending United's season, there will definitely be a sense of tension in this match. United should want to exact some sense of payback for that home defeat last year. What United needs to do is focus on taking care of business, get a result, pick up the 3 points, instead of trying to murder the Fire. United had a 10 point lead in the East over Kansas City, a lead that has been whittled down to 6 points. United will have to step back up and hope to take advantage of this 2 match homestand, because after this series, the only play at home one more time between Saturday and August 18th. 6 points at home will go along way if they continue to drop 2 points on the road at every stop.

If United show up tonight and put on even half the performance that they did last time they played a Wednesday night match, the 5-1 drubbing of Columbus, then I feel confident that the Fire go home without any points. If United continue to play as they have the last two matches and walk through the second half, we drop 2 more points.

Hopefully this is a good game, I won't get to watch it as it is not televised and I cannot go to RFK tonight. Enjoy the match regardless.

Prediction: DC United 2 - 0 Chicago Fire