D.C. United hosts its first game of 2009 at RFK Stadium this evening, as the Chicago Fire come to DC. United will be eager to get three points after letting a win slip away last weekend in LA, while the Fire hope to continue its unbeaten start after a 3-1 win over FC Dallas.
Both teams will be shorthanded tonight. United will be without Fred and Santino Quaranta for the second week in a row, while it also appears unlikely that Devon McTavish and Greg Janicki will see the field after a nasty collision against the Galaxy last week. Goalkeeper Louis Crayton, though, was upgraded from Questionable to Probable as he recovers from a strained hip flexor. On Chicago's side, the team will be without Bakary Soumare and Gonzalo Segares due to international duty, while Brandon Prideaux, Dasan Robinson and Calen Carr are all unlikely, as well, due to injury.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and all relevant game info can be found on the dcunited.com's beautiful Gameday Edition.
In advance of tonight's game, here's what you should check out:
- Olsen Provides Leadership in His Return - By Steven Goff, Washington Post
- Push will come to shove - By John Haydon, Washington Times
- Olsen is making a surprising return - by Craig Stouffer, Washington Examiner
- United prepare for Fire with shorthanded back line - By Charlie Boehm, dcunited.com
As always, we'll take your predictions in the comments section. If you guess correctly, you may very well win two tickets to an upcoming D.C. United home game.
