Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Major League Soccer clash between DC United and Chicago Fire, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Aiming to avoid a third consecutive defeat, DC United will do battle against Chicago Fire at the Audi Field in Washington on Sunday morning.
On the other hand, the away side make the journey this weekend seeking to end a dismal seven-game winless run and get their season back on track.
Match preview
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DC United came away empty-handed from the second straight game following a narrow 1-0 defeat against Inter Miami at the Chase Stadium on Sunday.
Troy Lesesne‘s men put on a solid defensive display and looked set to come away with a point before Leonardo Campana struck a late winner to decide the game.
As a result, The Eagles have dropped down to ninth place in the Eastern Conference of the MLS table, four points behind the final automatic playoff spot.
Coming up next is the challenge of an opposing outfit with little to choose between the teams over the last 17 meetings which have yielded five wins apiece and seven draws.
Having let in 10 goals across their last four home matches, Sunday’s hosts will need to keep things tight at the back to avoid another defeat in front of their fans.
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Chicago Fire were beaten for the fourth game on the bounce as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against Columbus Crew at Soldier Field on Sunday.
Frank Klopas‘s men trailed at half time to Diego Rossi‘s opener and went further behind to Christian Ramirez‘s strike before Carlos Teran pulled one back, only for Jacen Russell-Rowe to put the result beyond doubt two minutes from time.
With 10 points picked up from 14 matches so far, The Men in Red sit bottom but one in the Eastern Conference standings, just three points ahead of New England Revolution at the foot of the table despite having played two games more.
Winless in their last six away outings, Sunday’s visitors have work to do at both ends of the pitch if they are to record a rare triumph on the road.
DC United Major League Soccer form:
Chicago Fire Major League Soccer form:
Team News
Conner Antley is set to sit out a third straight game through injury, while fellow American Russell Canouse also misses out for DC United.
Despite failing to score last time out, Christian Benteke boasts an impressive 11 league strikes for the hosts and is one to keep an eye on.
Chicago Fire’s Chase Gasper last made an appearance in late March and the 28-year-old has been out of contention with a leg injury ever since.
The away side side will also have to make do with the absence of Tobias Salquist but the defender is drawing increasingly closer to a return to action.
DC United possible starting lineup:
Bono; Santos, Bartlett, Birnbaum, McVey, Herrera; Klich, Hopkins, Stroud; Ku-DiPietro, Benteke
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Gutman, Czichos, Teran, Arigoni; Navarro, Gimenez; Herbers, Gutierrez, Mueller; Cuypers
We say: DC United 2-1 Chicago Fire
Both DC United and Chicago Fire have struggled defensively this term and we expect neither of them to come away with a clean sheet from this one. That said, we are also backing the home side to see off the threat of their visitors and emerge triumphant in the end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.