Following Orlando City SC‘s 1-0 loss at Sporting Kansas City, James O’Connor‘s Lions face another long road trip to Bridgeview, Illinois to take on Veljko Paunović’s Chicago Fire.
Currently bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Men in Red last tasted MLS action way back on August 23 against Columbus Crew (1-1) with a testimonial match for Bastian Schweinsteiger played at Bayern Munich on August 28.
The Lions don’t have fond memories from the last time they travelled to Toyota Park over a year ago in June 2017.
Suffering a thumping 4-0 defeat with a David Accam hat-trick and Nemanja Nikolić strike comprehensively settling this encounter, our roster has changed significantly since then but unfortunately not our fate.
Currently closing out the 2018 Major League Soccer season with just pride to play for, Orlando City SC have only won TWO away games this season.
A record that is simply not good enough to stand any chance of reaching the post-season, hopefully we can play with greater freedom and less anxiety in our game now that the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs are out of reach.
As for our opponents Chicago Fire, Veljko Paunović is currently in his third season in charge having steered the underachieving Illinois franchise to their first MLS Cup Playoffs appearance since 2012 last term.
With increased investment in recent years, the Men in Red have brought higher calibre players to Bridgeview including Nemanja Nikolić, Bastian Schweinsteiger and most recently Aleksandar Katai who has enjoyed a fine debut season in MLS despite the team’s form.
Indeed, the Serb has scored nine goals and contributed four assists so far in 2018.
This fixture provides an opportunity for Orlando City SC to banish the demons of May when a late Alan Gordon wonder strike stole all three points for Fire in a game the Lions had multiple chances to finish.
2015/18 head-to-head stats
Looking back on that 1-2 defeat to Chicago Fire, this cruel loss was one that really seemed to damage the morale of the roster.
Heading into this game on the back of two consecutive defeats to Atlanta United (1-2) and Toronto FC (2-1), this third narrow loss in a row was difficult to take.
Especially because there was much to take heart from with Orlando City SC finishing this game with 60% possession, 90% passing accuracy and 20 shots in total.
Nevertheless, this was a tale of missed chances. With Fire goalkeeper Patrick McLain facing just five shots on target, we ultimately paid for a lack of ruthlessness when Alan Gordon unleashed an 82nd minute stunner from distance to steal all three points.
Orlando City SC 1 Chicago Fire 2 – Highlights – May 26, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Eight fixtures into this MLS game series, there’s nothing separating either team in the head-to-head stakes.
With Chicago Fire drawing the game series level courtesy of their 1-2 win at Orlando City Stadium earlier this season, both sides are currently viewed as weaker Eastern Conference franchises.
In the years to come, both sides cannot afford to stand still with D.C. United now investing heavily not to mention the anticipated arrival of Inter Miami CF.
For whatever reason, Chicago Fire versus Orlando City SC fixtures typically seem to be feisty encounters!
So much so that in THREE of the last FIVE MLS head-to-heads, we’ve seen AT LEAST ONE red card produced by PRO Referees.
Indeed, Michael Harrington, Rafael Ramos, Antonio Nocerino and Mo Adams have all received their marching orders in the last five head-to-heads although it’s worth mentioning that Ramos’ red was later rescinded after an incredibly soft call.
Our former Portuguese full back went on to join Fire themselves this year before trading Illinois for FC Twente of the Dutch Eredivisie and a crack at Europe last month.
Orlando City SC 0 Chicago Fire 0 – Highlights – June 4, 2017 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Chicago Fire form
Toyota Park hasn’t been the fortress Chicago Fire would like it to be all season long in truth.
Winning just FOUR of THIRTEEN league games played in Bridgeview so far this season, Chicago Fire are winless in their last FOUR home fixtures.
Losing out by the odd goal to Philadelphia Union (3-4), Toronto FC (1-2) and New York Red Bulls (0-1), Veljko Paunović’s men threw away a one-goal lead to Columbus Crew (1-1) during MLS Rivalry Week last time out.
Chicago Fire 1 Columbus Crew 1 – Highlights – August 23, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Orlando City SC form
As we mentioned at the outset, Orlando City SC have only won TWO road fixtures all season long. Even worse, we’ve lost our last TEN consecutive away fixtures in MLS.
A record simply not good enough to stand any chance of reaching the post-season, James O’Connor has made Orlando City SC more competitive away from home but unfortunately, we just haven’t shown the resilience to pick up anything on our travels.
With no points to show from tight games at Columbus Crew (3-2), LA Galaxy (4-3) and D.C. United (3-2), it was these three narrow losses in particular that have proved incredibly demoralising to our morale despite big efforts.