Hurricane Irene and international absences placed an unexpected and perhaps unwanted 20-day break in the MLS schedule for D.C. United. The team returns to action tonight though against Chivas USA at Home Depot Center in Los Angeles. The game kicks off at 10:30 PM and will be broadcast locally on Comcast SportsNet.
Although the two teams play on opposite coasts, the new MLS playoff format pits United and Chivas in a battle for the final spots in the playoffs. They are tied at 31 points, and face each other twice in the next two weeks, with the teams meeting again at RFK Stadium on September 21st.
United will welcome the return of Bill Hamid to the starting lineup. The 20-year old goalkeeper suffered an injury just before halftime of United's 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire, and was forced to miss the ensuing loss to Sporting Kansas City before getting called up to the U.S. National Team for a pair of matches in support of Tim Howard. Dwayne de Rosario, Charlie Davies, Andy Najar, and Chris Pontius will all be set to start for United and run the attack, while Ethan White will likely fill in for Dejan Jakovic in central defense.
To follow along and discuss the game with other United fans, visit SB Nation's D.C. United blog Black And Red United.