D.C. United vs. Chicago Fire 2012: United tie Fire, 1-1, earn No. 2 seed in MLS Cup Playoffs
A Lionard Pajoy goal in the 50th minute earned D.C. United a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire on Saturday. With the victory, DCU becomes the No. 2 seed in the upcoming MLS Cup Playoffs.
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D.C. United tied the Chicago Fire in Saturday's match, which earned United a No. 2 seed in the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Fire took a 1-0 lead against D.C. United in the first half when Patrick Nyarko scored a goal in the 16th minute.
But all United needed was a draw to clinch the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the MLS Cup Playoffs, so a goal and solid defense in the second half would give them all the momentum they needed as the regular season ended.
Lionard Pajoy scored in the 50th minute to tie the score. Defensively, Bill Hamid made eight saves and United were right where they wanted to be.
United (17-10-7) went 5-0-2 in its last seven matches to finish with 58 points, just one more than New York and Chicago (17-11-6). New York finished third, ahead of fourth-place Chicago, on a tiebreaker. United has not lost since a 1-0 setback on September 1 against Real Salt Lake.
The Chicago Fire took a 1-0 lead against D.C. United on Saturday in the regular season finale. All United need is a draw to clinch the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the MLS Cup Playoffs, so a goal and solid defense in the second half would do the job.
Patrick Nyarko scored the goal in the 16th minute.
Even with playoff seeding on the line in this match, United have already secured a home playoff match for the first time since 2007. But a win or draw against the Fire would clinch the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the MLS Cup Playoffs, while a loss could possibly drop United all the way to fourth, forcing them to play a first-round match.
A win for United could potentially drop Chicago from third to fifth, which would mean a first-round road game for Chicago.
United is currently on a six-match unbeaten streak, and have only allowed six goals during that stretch.
