MLS: D.C. United 3, Chicago Fire 2 (August 6)

D.C.: 9-6-5 (3rd in East, 4 points behind Chicago and New England, tied with Kansas City)

D.C. United earned a big win against the East's top team on Saturday.

They played most of the first half to a 0-0 tie, but Brian Carroll scored in the 41st minute to put D.C. up 1-0 going into the half. In the second half, United jumped up to a 3-0 lead thanks to a goal by Dema Kovalenko and a scored penalty kick by Jaime Moreno.

The Fire started a rally in the 83rd minute with a goal by Lubos Reiter, and Chris Rolfe scored again for Chicago five minutes later to cut the lead to one.

But D.C. held on to win the game and keep pace with the other third place team, Kansas City, who beat the other first place team, New England, on the same day.

Freddy Adu left the game 35 minutes in with a strained MCL. Adu turned his knee awkwardly early in the game, but it was assumed to be a bruise so he continued to play. He was removed late in the first half by coach Peter Nowak when it was clear that it was more serious. Adu is expected to be out for two weeks.

D.C.'s next game is on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at RFK Stadium against the MetroStars.

THOUGHTS:
This win was huge for D.C. because, after struggling for the early portion of the season, they have showed that they are capable of beating the best teams in Major League Soccer.

The excitement over the win was dampened by Adu's injury, though, as one of the team's top offensive players (and not to mention the huge fan favorite) is out for two weeks.

Now the United will have to prove not only that they can play with the top teams, but that they can do it without Freddy.