Fire takes care of business, edges closer to playoffs

Despite all its problems the past two months, the Chicago Fire, somehow, still has the third-best record in Major League Soccer.

Saturday night the Fire played again like the team that built that mark.

The Fire took care of business against the last-place team in the Eastern Conference, D.C. United, winning 3-0 at Toyota Park.

"We were today actually what we were looking for for the whole season," said Fire coach Veljko Paunovic, sounding much more relaxed than after last week's 1-1 draw to the New York Red Bulls.

"We were the team that knew how to play against the team that needs points. They didn't have anything to lose but a lot to win, and I think we managed very well the game."

"It's something that we kind of went away from a little bit, but we knew it was in there," added midfielder Arturo Alvarez. "We just had to dig deep and make sure that we gut it out tonight."

Not bad for a team that was without some key players: Bastian Schweinsteiger and Juninho due to injury, Michael de Leeuw due to suspension.

Cary native Drew Conner and Alvarez were called on instead, with Jonathan Campbell again starting at center back for Joao Meira, who made his return from injury late in the match.

"It just shows the strength of the group," left back Brandon Vincent said. "We feel good at home and we're happy to get a result or actually a win back at home now. It's been a while since we've gotten that three points, so it feels good."

The Fire benefitted from a United own goal in the 23rd minute when D.C.'s Ian Harkes headed it past D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid on a Matt Polster throw-in. The Fire (14-9-6, 48 points) got a goal of its own in the 62nd minute when Vincent's diving header of an Alvarez cross beat Hamid.

Nemanja Nikolic scored his 18th goal of the season on a 90th-minute penalty kick after Luis Solignac was fouled in the penalty area.

Goalkeeper Matt Lampson was strong in making 4 saves for his eighth shutout.

"That defensive attitude that we lacked, especially in that tough stretch of four games when we didn't win, I think that's back, and that goes together with the attacking performance, and that's important if you want to be successful."

The Fire has all but clinched its first playoff spot since 2012, but Saturday it also helped its effort to claim a high seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

"Normal or whatever you want to call it," Vincent said of the Fire's play. "It's pushing to get steam for the playoffs."