Tough Game Ahead for Chicago Fire

By Todd McClamroch in News on Jul 21, 2006 2:28PM

The Chicago Fire host the toughest team in Major League Soccer this Saturday. Freddy Adu and D.C. United come to town running on 7-game winning streak and 14 straight games without a loss. It will be DC United's first visit to Toyota Park. United has had an impressive 2006 campaign having lost only one match out of 19, a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids back in early May. United has earned 44 points thus far, their nearest competition in the Eastern Conference is second place New England who trails D.C. by 20 points.

The Chicago Fire have their work cut out for them on Saturday night. United has dominated through tough defense and consistent offense. They have the most goals this season (36) and the lowest goals against (16) in the league. The United squad has only been scored on multiple times in a game four times this year.

The Chicago moved from the cellar of the division to third thanks to three victories in their first three games at Toyota Park. But, since then they have lost two regular season games and a friendly versus Club America. A victory against a tough DC United side might shift the momentum for the Fire.

Prior to the game former Fire General Manager Peter Wilt will be inducted into the "Ring of Fire", the Chicago Fire's Hall of Fame. Wilt is just the fourth to receive this honor; he joins Peter Nowak, Frank Klopas and Lubos Kubik. During Wilt's career as GM for the Fire they won the MLS Cup in 1998 and the U.S. Open Cup in 1998, 2000 and 2003.