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Fire-Union Preview

Sep 10, 2010 - 4:41 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (6-7-8) at Philadelphia (5-11-6), 6:00 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Fire have one win in six games and are toiling in the bottom half of the weak Eastern Conference, but they have reason to believe a postseason berth is still within reach.

Six points out of the eighth and final playoff spot, the Fire have nine matches remaining to make up ground starting with Saturday's contest against the host Philadelphia Union.

Chicago's chances of catching Columbus or New York in the East look bleak, but grabbing one of the league's four wild-card slots is a definite possibility.

The Fire (6-7-8) are tied with San Jose for fewest matches played in MLS. They trail the eighth-place Earthquakes by six points, but catching seventh-place Seattle - which has one more point than San Jose but just six matches left - could be more realistic.

To have a shot at the playoffs, though, Chicago has to pick up its play. The Fire have gone 0-2-2 in their past four games, playing to a scoreless draw with Toronto FC on Wednesday.

"We've got nine games left, and we have to have the attitude that we have to win all nine," goalkeeper Sean Johnson said. "We're on the road at Philly, so I think it's going to be more difficult, but I think we're definitely capable of getting three points."

That's what Chicago did when it hosted Philadelphia (5-6-11) on June 5. Baggio Husidic scored in the 14th minute and Marco Pappa added an insurance goal in the 74th to lift the Fire to a 2-1 victory.

The Union are 11 points behind San Jose with eight matches to play, so any loss at this stage would be a crushing blow to their playoff hopes.

After a 2-1 road win over New England on Aug. 28, Philadelphia was disappointed with a 1-1 home draw against Kansas City last Saturday.

"We just have to keep doing the things that (coach Peter Nowak) and the coaches are preaching," midfielder Justin Mapp said. "Keep working hard, and we have definitely had opportunities to win these games. We just haven't been able to get over the hump."

Mapp is certainly familiar with the Fire. He spent seven seasons in Chicago before being traded to Philadelphia on July 26, and he made a major impact with a stoppage-time winner against the Revolution.

Mapp says renewing acquaintances can wait until after Saturday's contest.

"I want to win the game first," Mapp told MLSsoccer.com. "We need the three points. I think after it's over, I'll have a chance to catch up with some of the guys. They were great teammates."

Chicago traded Mapp to clear space in order to acquire designated player Freddie Ljungberg from Seattle and sign Nery Castillo, whom the Fire added as their designated player in mid-July.

Both are still looking for their first goal.

The Union are hoping Sebastien Le Toux's strike against Kansas City was enough to get him going again. Their leading scorer with 10 goals, Le Toux had gone five matches without scoring.