D.C. United's MLS season is on the line tonight at RFK Stadium (7:30 p.m.). After a dominant regular season that saw United go 10-2-3 at home, they return to RFK for possibly the last time this season. Standing in their way is their playoff nemesis, the Chicago Fire. In 5 total playoff games against the Fire, D.C. has yet to score a goal.

United will need to find net if they wish to move on to the Eastern Conference finals. Last Thursday, the Fire took the first game of the home-and-home series, 1-0. A tie or a Chicago win tonight will end United's season. If D.C. wins by two goals, they will eliminate the Fire. If D.C. leads by one after 90 minutes, the teams will head to overtime and, if necessary, a penalty kick shootout.

Two years ago, the two teams squared off at RFK under similar circumstances. The game was a bloodbath. The Fire banged home a 4-0 victory and Christian Gomez was sent off for spitting at Chicago defender C.J. Brown. Given United's playoff history against the Fire, and their inauspicious finish to the 2007 season (0-3-2), it would be easy to write them off tonight. We're not quite ready to do so.

In contrast to last Thursday's defeat, United will be able to count on extended minutes for their star striking duo, Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno; the two played only 57 combined minutes last game. Tonight, Moreno is set to start, and Emilio is likely to do the same. Coach Tom Soehn held closed practices this week in an effort to help his team refocus. Soehn has demonstrated the ability to respond and adjust to adversity throughout the season, and we expect that he has done the same in preparation for tonight.

If you are unable to make tonight's game in person, you can catch it on ESPN2.