DC United, 16-6-6, welcomes Chicago to RFK stadium for a game full of playoff implications. United needs one point to clinch the Eastern Conference #1 seed and four points to clinch the Supporter's Shield. United can clinch both with a United win and a Chivas loss or tie or a United tie and a Chivas loss. United are on an twelve game MLS regular season unbeaten streak (9-3-0, W-D-L) United's last loss was at NYRB on July 22, 1-0. United's last home loss was on April 14 to KC, 4-2. DC have a win and a tie against Chicago this season and have outscored them 4-2. United's home record is 10-2-1 and they have a +16 goal differential. DC are currently in 1st place in the Eastern Conference, five points clear of New England. DC United also leads the Supporter's Shield race, two points clear of third place Chivas USA.
Chicago Fire, 9-9-10, are fighting for one of the last playoff spots. If the playoffs began today, Chicago would be the fourth wild card team and would be shifted to the Western Conference. Chicago is unbeaten in their last six league matches, but they have only won two of those games with four ties. Chicago is not a good road team. The Fire are 4-3-7 away from home -6 goal differential. Chicago is in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, eighteen points behind DC United. They are also in eighth place in the Supporter's Shield race.
United got the tie they needed last week in Kansas City to keep on pace for the Supporter's Shield. With Chivas USA's tie in Dallas on Thursday, United is now firmly in the driver's seat.
So what to look for this Saturday:
- One point clinches home field throughout the playoffs
- Moreno is out on Bolivian National Team Vacation
- Fred will be back in the lineup
- Starting 11: Emilio, Gomez, Fred, Olsen, Carroll, Simms, Namoff, Vanney, McTavish, Burch, and Perkins.
- Boswell on Yellow Card Vacation
- A win and a loss or a tie from Chivas USA = Supporter's Shield
- A tie and a loss from Chivas USA = Supporter's Shield
DC United 3:1 Chicago Fire
Chivas USA 1:0 Colorado Rapids
New England Revolution 1:1 Columbus Crew
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