Chicago Fire hopes three points at Houston

Houston - The Chicago Fire are the hottest team in Major League Soccer, but they still have work to do just to make the playoffs. Chicago won just two of its first 24 matches this season, but has won five of its last six to surge to within three points of the... final postseason berth. After a 3-0 win at Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, the Fire (7-8-15) will try to keep the heat on in the Eastern Conference and the wild-card race against the Houston Dynamo (10-9-12).

Houston has just two more games remaining after this weekend, at the expansion Portland Timbers on Oct. 14, and at home against the Los Angeles Galaxy on the final day of the regular season Oct. 23. But with a win against Chicago, the Dynamo could make the final two games much less important, and enter the last game not needing a win against the top team in MLS. "We've got three games left now, two home and one away, so maybe it will start some momentum for the rest of the season and into the playoffs," said Houston defender Geoff Cameron, who had the lone goal against Dallas. "That's our main goal is to finish off the season strong, get into the playoffs, and make a run for it."