D.C. United are looking to run their unbeaten streak to four games and build on Saturday's 4-0 whitewash of the Vancouver Whitecaps as they visit the Chicago Fire for the first of two games in four days.
D.C. United (7-6-9) at Chicago Fire (2-7-14)
When: 9:00 p.m., Thursday, August 18
Where: Toyota Park, Bridgeview, IL
TV: ESPN2/ESPN3.com
Team News And Tactics
D.C. United: Last Saturday's hero, Joe Willis, has stayed in D.C. due to back spasms, so tonight will likely see the return of Bill Hamid as the starting goalkeeper, backed up by Steve Cronin. Don't look for too many changes to Ben Olsen's starting lineup (they did win their last game 4-0, after all, but it will be interesting to see if Olsen reunites the striking partnership of Charlie Davies and Josh Wolff. If he does that, Dwayne De Rosario will likely be dropped further back in midfield, bumping one of his cohorts (likely Santino Quaranta) to the substitutes' bench. The other option, which United used to great effect last weekend, is to play De Rosario behind one of those two strikers. In last week's case, it was Davies who played the out-and-out striking role with De Rosario as a second forward.
Chicago Fire: Don't expect many changes to Frank Klopas' starting lineup tonight after the Fire came away from Red Bull Arena with a very creditable draw. Look for Dominic Oduro to be the lone striker in a five-man midfield with Logan Pause and Pavel Pardo playing behind a three-man attacking midfield of Patrick Nyarko, Sebastian Grazzini, and Marco Pappa.
Key to the Game
No Complacency: Chicago is a good deal better than their 2-7-14 record and last place standing in the Eastern Conference might indicate. It'll be important for United to not allow the good vibes from Saturday's win get the better of them.
Bonus Miscellaneous Fact
D.C. United has not won consecutive league matches since June 4 and 13, 2009, when it defeated New York 2-0 and Chicago 2-1.