Playoffs in doubt for Fire after loss to D.C.

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Even playing in its former digs at SeatGeek Stadium couldn’t help the Chicago Fire.

The Fire, playing for their MLS playoff life, took another step backward in a 2-1 loss to D.C. United in front of an announced crowd of 16,426 on Sept. 7 in Bridgeview.

The Fire’s regular home is Soldier Field, but the team uses SeatGeek when there is a scheduling conflict with Chicago Bears games.

The Fire (6-14-8) has six more matches on the schedule, including a September 28 battle with Toronto at SeatGeek. The team was as of Sept. 8 in 14^th place out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference. The top nine teams from each division make the postseason.

Chicago has 26 points over its first 28 games and is six points behind ninth-place D.C. The Fire must jump Atlanta, Philadelphia, New England and Montreal in addition to overtaking D.C. to make the playoffs.

“We can talk about playoffs — that’s always there because we’re not out of it until we are,” Fire coach Frank Klopas said. “I think it starts with looking at one game at a time now. I’ve talked about every game being a final, but we need more complete games — 90 minutes in every game and leave everything on the field.

“We’ve got to get a little bit better.”

The good news for the Fire is that Hinsdale native and defender Andy Gutman made his 100^th career MLS start and scored his first goal as a member of the Fire in the 56^th minute. The goal cut D.C.’s lead in half, but that was all the scoring the hosts could muster.

United’s goals in the 26th and 29th minutes provided all the offense the visitors would need.

“I’ve been in that position many times in my career,” Gutman said of scoring the goal. “And when I was younger, I always kind of rushed it. But as I have gotten older, I understand that I have more time.

“So, when I saw the ball pop out, I knew just to kind of take a deep breath and I was able to calm myself and just kind of pretend like I was out there by myself, and luckily I hit it cleanly and scored a nice goal.”

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Hugo Cuypers of the Chicago Fire, right, works to get open in the 2-1 loss to D.C. United on Sept. 7 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. Photo by Jeff Vorva