First Impressions - Chicago Fire 0 : 1 D.C. United

Okay, if all I want for the remainder of this season are gritted out wins, then I'll take this one. To give Chicago the respect they deserve - the Fire had done quite a bit and could have legitimately walked out with a draw. That said, United was a post away from a multiple goal win. Ultimately, this kind of win is satisfying. It doesn't put to rest questions about our defense, but it does show a kind of continuity that I think may serve as a running theme for the remainder of the season. We have some skill up top, a decent midfield, and a defense that is confused in the middle by any ball that gets more than three feet off the ground.

The big question that most are probably asking: "Is Louis Crayton an upgrade over Zach Wells?" I don't know yet... he had a decent first game (despite a crazy exchange where, in real time, I swore he was fouled), he got a clean sheet, but he only made two saves, and did require a ball to be cleared off his line. There were some odd interchanges with the center backs as well. But, and this is clear already - Crayton is more decisive off his line and in the air than Wells showed at any point this season. Give him another start, as he's clearly earned it.

Chicago fans will no doubt look at the fact that United covered themselves in more yellow than is typically seen in the stands at Crew stadium, but I'm not sure they have room to talk. Yes, United earned most of those cards, center ref Tim Weyland wasn't applying the same standard to the tackles of Soumare and Segares that he was applying to McTavish and Burch. But actually, go ahead and complain about chippy play from United. It's not like the Fire have made a living of that for over half a decade. And that's why scrappy wins are sometimes more enjoyable than blowouts.