BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The Chicago Fire (9-10-9, 36 pts.) take a season-high six-game unbeaten streak (2-0-4) into the nation's capital to face D.C. United (16-6-6, 54 pts.) this Saturday at RFK Stadium. The Fire held onto the eighth and final playoff spot after Saturday's 2-1 win over the New England Revolution at TOYOTA PARK, and dropped a 1-0 loss to Cruz Azul this Wednesday in the team's third "friendly" of the season. D.C. United are coming off a 1-1 tie at Kansas City and return home looking to lock up the Supporters' Shield crown. Kick-off for Saturday's match is at 6:30 p.m. CT, and will be televised live on both Comcast SportsNet and HDNet, and broadcast over the airwaves on Chicagoland radio station WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish).
Chicago Fire @ D.C. United :: Fire Match # 29 MLS Match # 185
Saturday, October 13 @ 6:30 p.m. CT :: RFK Stadium - Washington, D.C.
TV: Comcast SportsNet (Kenn Tomasch, Kenny Stern), HDNet (Glenn Davis, Marcelo Balboa)
Audio: WRTO-1200 AM (Oscar Guzman, "Batata" DaSilva, Enrique "Tico" Fernandez)
The Chicago Fire last played D.C. United at home to a 1-1 tie on Sept. 23, with forward Chad Barrett notching an early 1-0 lead before United midfielder Jaime Moreno poached an 84th minute goal with a cross/shot that stunned goalkeeper Matt Pickens. The draw evened the Fire record to 12-12-6 against D.C. United in regular season matches played, with the "Men in Red" now 8-3-4 in games contested in Chicagoland. The Fire fell 3-1 to United on June 16, in their last match at RFK Stadium for the team's then-sixth loss out of the previously played eight games played. The Fire's last match in the nation's capital also marked the last game with former head coach Dave Sarachan at the helm. Last year the Fire took the season series from D.C. United, notching a 3-1-1 mark in the 2006 overall series across all MLS regular season and U.S. Open Cup play. Looking toward the postseason, Chicago has done exceptionally well versus D.C. in the MLS Cup Playoffs, boasting an undefeated 4-0-1 record in all five match-ups.
THE PROFESSOR :: JUAN CARLOS OSORIO (5-3-5) BACK ON THE BENCH
"El Profesor" will resume head coaching duties this Saturday when the "Men in Red" return to league play at D.C. United. The Chicago Fire bench went without the leadership of head coach Juan Carlos Osorio last Saturday, as he served a one-game suspension for being dismissed late in the Fire's 1-1 tie at Chivas USA on Sept. 29. Though technically not on the bench through last Saturday, Osorio will still be given credit for the win. Osorio's dismissal at Chivas USA is the first time a Fire coach has been sent off during a game since former-head coach Dave Sarachan was ejected on April 14, 2004 at Deportivo Saprissa in CONCACAF Champions' Cup play.
FIRE PLAYOFF POSITIONING - CAN CLINCH SATURDAY
With a 2-1 win over New England last Saturday, the "Men in Red" held onto the eighth and final playoff spot with 36 points and now sit four points ahead of the Colorado Rapids (32 pts.), who could be eliminated this weekend should they lose to Chivas USA and the Fire get a point against D.C. United. The next closest team to catching Chicago is the Columbus Crew (31 pts.), who face elimination automatically should they lose to New England, or the Fire earn at least a point from United. Ultimately, the Fire will clinch a playoff spot Saturday if they beat D.C. United and the Los Angeles Galaxy fail to win at home to Toronto FC.
Depending on this weekend's results, the Fire could reach 39 points and also take the seventh spot in the playoff ranking should Chicago win and Kansas City (37 pts.) lose. If the Fire remains in the final eighth playoff slot as the fifth team to qualify from the Eastern Conference, they would shift over to become the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket.
QUICK KICKS VS. D.C. UNITED
• Chicago's all-time regular season record in MLS play against D.C. 12-11-6, including an 8-3-4 mark in Chicagoland.
• The cast protecting Fire midfielder Justin Mapp's right ankle sprain is now off and the 22-year-old has begun light training.
• Fire defender/midfielder Bruno Menezes was removed from the injury list this Tuesday.
• The Fire own an undefeated 4-0-1 record in postseason play against D.C., outscoring them 10-0 through all five meetings.
• Chicago has allowed 10 goals total in 12 games played since the All-Star break, or .83 goals per game, compared to 26 goals allowed in 16 games played before the break for a 1.63 goals per game average.
• The families of both head coach Juan Carlos Osorio and defender Wilman Conde have cleared visas and have arrived from Colombia to live in Chicago.
• Fire defender Gonzalo Segares will celebrate his 25th birthday this Saturday.
• Midfielder John Thorrington has scored in four-straight Fire Reserves games (9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7).
• Former MLS defender (2002-06) Nelson Akwari was been called up to play for the Fire against Cruz Azul.
• Goalkeeper Matt Pickens can tie the Fire regular season shutout record with nine if he records a clean sheet Saturday night. Former netminder Zach Thornton set the original record through the 2001 campaign.
• Forward Chad Barrett is the only Fire player to appear in all 28 regular season games this season.
• The Fire own a 5-3-6 regular season mark at TOYOTA PARK for 2007, while posting a 4-7-3 record on the road.
• Former Fire midfielder DaMarcus Beasley (200-04) and defender Carlos Bocanegra (2000-03), along with former Fire Premier defender Jay DeMerit (2001-02) have been selected to the U.S. Men's National team roster for the Oct. 17 friendly versus Switzerland.
• Caution Watch - Chad Barrett (3c), Cuauhtémoc Blanco (3c), C.J. Brown (6c), Calen Carr (4c), Diego Gutierrez (6c, 1e), Dasan Robinson (3c), Bakary Soumare (3c).
