New defensive mindsets on display as D.C. United visit Chicago

As a storied MLS franchise which is trying to recapture its past glory, D.C. United can look to the Chicago Fire for inspiration.

Last year, Chicago made the playoffs after a seven-year drought. This season, D.C. hopes to accomplish the same feat and end its MLS-high six-year absence from the postseason.

Saturday night, when D.C. (1-2-0, 3 points) plays at Chicago (1-1-1, 4 points) the visitors will get a look at what they hope to become.

The similarities between the teams are striking. Both won the MLS Cup in their inaugural seasons -- 1996 for D.C. United and 1998 for the Fire. And fittingly their head-to-head results are a deadlock, with each side going posting 25 wins and playing to 21 draws.

This season both teams have shown vast improvement on defense.

The Fire, who surrendered more goals (60) than any team in the playoffs last season, have recorded two straight clean sheets. Meanwhile, D.C. United, which gave up more goals (66) than any team in the league last year, has given up three this season.

"This is a good number, but we've only scored two goals with only one player scoring these two goals," D.C. manager Rene Weiler said of Tai Baribo. "We have to be more decisive and capitalize our chances."

D.C. United is coming off a 2-1 loss to Inter Miami in a game played at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium before 72,026 last Saturday.

Playing the game away from home drew the ire of Weiler.

"I'm not really pleased that we have so many away games," Weiler said. "We play only two games at Audi Field in the first nine games."

Chicago played the Columbus Crew to a scoreless draw last Saturday, with keeper Matt Brady making four saves and earning selection to the league's Team of Matchday.

"I thought building out of the back, he was very good against Columbus," Chicago coach Gregg Berhalter said.

The bad news for Chicago against Columbus was its performance up top as it took just eight shots, putting three on frame.

Hugo Cuypers, who has two goals this season and led the Fire with 19 tallies last year, missed the Columbus match and his status for D.C. is uncertain, though he was a participant in training on Thursday.

Dylan Borso, a 19-year-old making his MLS debut, took a team high three shots. Philip Zinckernagel, who had 15 goals and 17 assists last year, failed to shake free for any attempts.

The Fire blitzed D.C. in their latest matchup, registering a 7-1 win on June 7, 2025, in the nation's capital.

--Field Level Media