D.C. United (9-9-6, 36 points) earned a point on the road at SeatGeek Stadium against the Chicago Fire (6-9-10, 24 points) on Saturday evening. The game finished 0-0 after both teams had opportunities to seize the game.
The match was closely contested early on and in the 11th minute, the United backline was called into action as Johan Kappelhof feathered a pass across the net mouth and D.C. defender, Frederic Brillant slide to make a desperate last-ditch tackle on CJ Sapong, to keep the game 0-0.
A few minutes later, Junior Moreno passed the ball to a wide-open Leo Jara. Jara controlled the pass and rifled a long effort but the ball sailed over the bar to give Chicago’s Kenneth Kronholm the goal kick.
Midway through the first half, Luciano Acosta dashed up the middle of the pitch taking on a few defenders, he moved the ball to Moreno who again picked out Jara. The Argentine defender played a ball over the top to the back post for a streaking Acosta who had continued his run but the ball was well defended by Kappelhof. Both teams went into the half tied 0-0.
The two best opportunities of the match came in the second half. In the 57th minute of the match, LuchoRoo took form after Wayne Rooney and Acosta connected on a slick passing combination. The ball found its way to Lucas Rodriguez inside the box after Rooney dummied the ball to him waiting on the left-wing. Rodriguez fired a shot but the ball deflected out for a United corner.
Rooney tested Kronholm from a long-range set-piece in the 67th minute of the match. The ball was well-struck and went curling toward the left side of the goal but was deflected away and out for a D.C. United corner.
Bill Hamid made a massive save in the 82nd minute on Przemyslaw Frankowski’s right-footed effort from in close. Hamid dropped low and pushed the ball to safety to keep the game tied 0-0. The match finished as a scoreless draw after both teams lacked the sharpness to finish in the final third.
United will next take on the Eastern Conference leaders - the Philadelphia Union at Audi Field on Sunday, August 4 at 7:30 PM on Fox Sports 1.
