D.C. United Look to Build Momentum Against Surging Chicago Fire
D.C. United will aim to carry the momentum from a statement road victory into Saturday’s home clash with a red-hot Chicago Fire squad. With both teams eyeing an Eastern Conference playoff push, this matchup at Audi Field could prove pivotal as the MLS season nears its midpoint.
D.C. United (4-7-6, 18 points) snapped a six-match winless skid last weekend with a 2-1 upset over league-leading FC Cincinnati. Meanwhile, the Fire (6-5-4, 22 points) are one of MLS’ hottest teams, winning five of their last six in all competitions.
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D.C. Eyes Consistency After Cincinnati Shock
Last Saturday, D.C. United rode two first-half goals from set pieces to a confidence-boosting result. Brazilian Gabriel Pirani opened the scoring, then delivered a corner that led to Conner Antley’s eventual match-winner.
The result wasn’t just three points — it was a much-needed dose of belief for a club trying to climb back into the playoff race.
“Internally, we believe in ourselves to be able to go and compete with anyone,” said manager Troy Lesesne. “And in order to get a little bit more of that confidence externally, we need to produce more results like that. That’s the next piece of this conversation, for that to not be an outlier.”
Currently seven points off the playoff line, D.C. will view this match as a crucial opportunity to close the gap — and potentially leapfrog Chicago in the standings.
Fire Riding Confidence Under Berhalter
Since Gregg Berhalter took the reins, Chicago has surged. Last week’s 3-1 win at Orlando City was a showcase of resilience and attacking quality. Philip Zinckernagel scored his sixth of the season and assisted Hugo Cuypers twice in rapid succession.
Cuypers now leads the team with 10 goals, forming one of the league’s most dangerous strike partnerships with Zinckernagel.
“I think that holding on is really important, because it builds belief that you can do it,” Berhalter said after his side absorbed 26 shots from Orlando to preserve the victory. “And I think it was a big step.”
Chicago sits 11th in the East — one spot and four points above D.C. United — and another win would significantly strengthen their playoff credentials.
This matchup is ideal for those following Soccer Picks and Betting Trends, with both sides playing with urgency and attacking flair.
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