DC United notched its second straight road win last Saturday (September 7) , beating the Chicago Fire 2-1 in Bridgeview, Illinois. (The Fire were not at their current Soldier Field residence; the photo from above was taken on a road trip to the Bridgeview stadium in 2006.)
The game was scheduled during an international break (the US lost to Canada, 2-1 earlier in the day) and DC lost 3 players to international duty: Enow, Peltola, and Herrera. With Schnegg out with injury, DC was missing both of their outside defenders. Akinmboni was also out with injury, leaving DC thin on the defensive line. On the positive side, the team had Russell Canouse on the bench for the first time all year; his recovery from colon surgery has been faster than expected.
DC started Bono in goal; 5 defenders, Santos, McVey, Bartlett, Tubbs and Dajome; Pirani, Klich, Rodriguez and Stroud in midfield; and Benteke as the lone forward.
The first half of the first half was relatively quiet. Stroud had a good chance blocked in the 21st minute. However, DC struck for two goals soon afterwards. Benteke's shot in the 26th minute deflected off Chicago defender Wyatt Omsberg and wrong-footed goalie Chris Brady, and Pirani took a pass in the penalty area, juked one defender and slotted home his shot in the 29th minute. Klich assisted on both goals.
Chicago's Kellyn Acosta boomed a fierce volley off the left post in the 40th minute, and Stroud's pass was intercepted on a good chance in the 44th minute; the half ended 1-1. DC had only 42% possession, but 7 shots and 2 on goal (both of which ended up IN the goal).
Chicago raised their game in the second half, dominating possession and chances. Tom Barlow just missed the net in the 50th minute, and Andrew Gutman hit a beautiful volley from outside the box in the 54th minute to cut the lead to 2-1. Ku-DiPietro came in for Pirani in the 57th minute, and Murrell and Badji came in for Stroud and Benteke respectively in the 68th minute. Chicago continued to dominate and press.
Canouse cheered DC fans when he came in for Tubbs in the 83rd minute. DC actually had the ball a little after that, and Murrell had a header tipped over the bar. Despite all the pressure (Chicago had 72% of the second half possession), DC did not concede again, and got the 3 points.
The win lifted DC into 9th place in the Eastern Conference, the last playoff spot. Quite a recovery from an 11-game winless streak! A forgiving playoff structure will do that. DC is one point behind Toronto in 8th. However, breathing down their neck (and with a game or games in hand) are Atlanta, Philadelphia and New England.
There are 6 games left. Next Saturday (September 14) DC hosts NYCFC at Audi Field; NYCFC are in 5th place in the conference. Then it's at Philadelphia (huge game), home to Columbus (3rd place), at Nashville (last place), at New England (another huge game), and home to 6th place Charlotte to end the regular season.
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