D.C. United won 2-1 against the Chicago Fire, thanks to two goals in three minutes, including Christian Benteke’s 18th goal of the season.
With the win, United (8-12-8, 32 points) secured the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Fire (6-14-8, 26 points) have lost three of their previous four games and have only won one of their last seven (1-4-2).
The game started off slowly, with neither team launching much of an offensive. D.C. held a slight edge in play in the attacking third but struggled to generate, with just two shot attempts through 20 minutes, while Chicago had none.
In the 26th minute, United broke through and took a 1-0 lead courtesy of Benteke. On the left side, Klich gathered a throw-in from Santos and sent a high lob to Benteke in the box. Benteke then settled the ball and sent it through the legs of Chicago defender Andrew Gutman before it deflected off defender Wyatt Omsberg and redirected past the right foot of goalkeeper Chris Brady.
Three minutes later, Gabriel Pirani scored to make it 2-0 by receiving a pass from Klich outside the box, taking a few strides, and shooting between two defenders into the far side of the net.
By the 36th minute, D.C. held a 7-0 advantage in shot attempts.
With only seven goals in the first half this season, the Fire finally showed some life in the 40th minute. Kellyn Acosta’s shot hit the left post, giving them their first quality chance of the match.
Chicago ramped up the pressure in the second half and capitalized with a goal from a corner in the 54th minute. Maren Haile-Selassie played a ball into the box, and Lucas Bartlett attempted to clear it with a header. However, the ball ended up with Gutman just outside the box, who then unleashed a powerful shot that made it 2-1.

Seven matches remain in the 2024 MLS season, continuing the Audi Golden Boot race.

The Goal King Race Heats Up

D.C. United‘s Christian Benteke holds the top spot, but Cristian Arango (Real Salt Lake), Denis Bouanga (LAFC) and Luis Suárez (Inter Miami CF) are all within striking distance.