We’re entering the last month of the regular season in the MLS, and it’s now or never for teams looking to make the postseason. For all intents and purposes, there is just one playoff spot available in the Eastern Conference, and DC United are trying to grab it. They are two points behind the Montreal Impact for the last spot in the conference, but they have two games in hand. DC will look to make their move this Sunday when they face the Chicago Fire, a team that has been eliminated from the postseason already.
Don't miss the Major League Soccer action from Audi Field in Washington D.C. at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 7, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on ESPN.
MLS Betting at BookMaker.eu
Chicago Fire +450
D.C. United -188
Draw +344
Over/Under 3 and 3.5
Odds Analysis
It hasn’t been a great season for the Chicago Fire. They are in second-to-last place in the East, and they were the first team eliminated in the hunt for the postseason. Chicago hasn’t looked bad over its last few games though. They are 2-2-1 over their last five games, picking up draws against Columbus and New England, and wins over Orlando City and Los Angeles FC. Last week, the Fire countered to perfection against LAFC, holding the ball for just 33 percent of the game, but they picked up a 3-1 win.
DC United have made an incredible run from the dregs of the East to put themselves in a great spot this month. In September, they went 3-2-0 and were lights out at home, winning all three games there. DC picked up a massive win last week when they thrashed Montreal 5-0, cutting the Impact’s lead on the last playoff spot to two points.
Key Absences
Both of these teams have been hit hard by injuries. Chicago has six players that will be out for this match. Defenders Christian Dean, Grant Lillard, Matt Polster, and Diego Campos are all expected to miss the game with various injuries. Midfielder Mo Adams and forward Luis Solignac won’t suit up either, while reserve goalkeeper Patrick McLain is questionable.
DC United have been decimated by injuries in the back line, and that has put pressure on the team to score. Defenders Taylor Kemp, Nick DeLeon, Chris Odoi-Atsem, Vytas, Kofi Opare, and Oniel Fisher are all out for this game, and Kemp and Fisher are out for the year. Forward Dane Kelly is out against Chicago, and goalkeeper David Ousted will miss the match too.
Player to Watch
Like Zlatan Ibrahimovic did earlier this year, Wayne Rooney has lit the league on fire since coming to the MLS. He has sparked DC’s turnaround and has shown he still has something left in the tank in the twilight of his career. Rooney has seven goals and seven assists in 15 matches, and the team is 8-3-4 since he joined in mid-July. He will look to keep up his torrid pace here.
MLS Prop Bet – Alternative Total Over 3.5 at +123
With so many defenders out for both teams, the over is a fantastic bet. Now that Chicago has been eliminated from the postseason, they will play with more freedom and be more willing to go up and down the field, and DC United will be happy to match that style at home. They have scored 14 goals in their last five matches, and I’d be stunned if DC United didn’t have at least two goals in this match.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
The over is a great bet in this match, and DC United is a quality play too. They have been playing well, and Chicago is likely to make a few mental errors with their season effectively over.
Major League Soccer Odds: DC United 3, Chicago Fire 1
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