After drawing 1-1 at Nashville SC, Orlando City SC return to Exploria Stadium for an important three-game home streak that starts with Chicago Fire.
After the midweek MLS action, the Lions now sit fifth in the Eastern Conference (19 games, 31 points) and are desperately craving another victory.
Only winning twice in their last nine MLS fixtures, Oscar Pareja‘s side have drawn their last three consecutive league fixtures 1-1.
Seeing our season stagnate of late, Orlando City SC are hanging tough but need another gear you feel.
In truth, City did well to pick up a road point at Nashville SC.
Losing the fewest amount of games (2) in all of MLS this season, Gary Smith’s team look strong despite only being one-and-a-half seasons into Major League Soccer.
Most Orlando City SC supporters probably would’ve taken a point before kick-off at Nissan Stadium too.
After all, the Lions were missing several important first team starters like Pedro Gallese, Jhegson Méndez, Nani, and Daryl Dike.
In a quintessential game of two halves, Orlando City SC made Nashville SC pay for spurning several first-half opportunities.
In the 58th minute, Antônio Carlos rose high above the Nashville SC defence to head home a dime of a Mauricio Pereyra free-kick.
Then, Tesho Akindele almost snatched the lead after hitting Joe Willis’ bar in the 75th minute.
With Antônio Carlos being one of Orlando City SC‘s most consistent performers all season, attention now switches to Chicago Fire.
Sitting eleventh in the East (20 games, 20 points), Raphaël Wicky’s Fire lost 3-2 at Inter Miami on Wednesday evening.
Conceding a 93rd minute game winner to Rodolfo Pizarro, this halted a rare two-game winning streak for the Illinois side.
Orlando City SC vs Chicago Fire – 2015/21 head-to-head stats
Orlando City SC don’t have fond memories from the last time they faced Chicago Fire back on July 7.
Our disappointment was compounded by the fact we took a 34th minute lead on our first MLS visit to Soldier Field too.
With Andrés Perea grabbing his first ever Lions goal, City just needed to hang on until half-time to take stock and compose themselves.
Unfortunately, defender Boris Sekulić had other ideas. The Slovakian headed home a perfect Álvaro Medrán cross in first-half stoppage time.
Orlando City SC‘s fifth fixture in just 19 days, fatigue told in the second-half with Chicago Fire inspired by their late first-half equaliser.
The warning signs were there after Robert Berić skied a golden chance over Brandon Austin‘s goal in the 71st minute.
Sure enough, the Slovenian didn’t waste his next great opportunity.
Berić gave Fire the lead a minute later before Chinonso Offor killed the contest (3-1) on 96 minutes.
Chicago Fire 3 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – July 7, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
The Chicago Fire Football Club are Orlando City SC‘s bogey side in Major League Soccer – plain and simple.
This is despite the Illinois side only reaching the MLS Cup Playoffs ONCE since City entered MLS in 2015.
A rather freakish stat, Orlando City SC have only defeated Chicago Fire THREE times in THIRTEEN separate Eastern Conference meetings.
Considering Chicago Fire are usually also-rans in the East, you would’ve expected Orlando City SC to do much better against them.
Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the case.
Reviewing the past 10 MLS meetings of Orlando City SC and Chicago Fire, the findings are even more shocking.
Fire are unbeaten in NINE of their last TEN MLS games with the Lions.
Again, this is despite Chicago Fire being a forgettable side in the East over the past eight or so years.
For context, Chicago Fire have failed to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs in SEVEN of their last EIGHT campaigns.
The last time Orlando City SC defeated Fire was back in September 2020.
Chris Mueller, Nani, Júnior Urso and Benji Michel all scored in an Eastern Conference clash that had everything!
Orlando City SC 4 Chicago Fire 1 – Highlights – September 19, 2020 (Credit: Chicago Fire FC)
Orlando City SC form
Since beating rivals Atlanta United (3-2) on July 30, goals have been in short supply for Orlando City SC.
Indeed, Orlando City SC have drawn their last THREE consecutive MLS fixtures by 1-1 scorelines.
Tying 1-1 with Inter Miami, FC Cincinnati and Nashville SC, these results have seen the Lions slip to fifth in the East.
Sure, Orlando City SC did well to hang tough and rescue two road points from losing positions in Cincinnati and Nashville.
However, City seem to have lost their mojo this mid-season with international call-ups and injuries affecting our rhythm and results.
Chicago Fire form
In our last MLS game, we faced Nashville SC’s C. J. Sapong who was in the middle of a hot streak, and scored on us again.
This time around, we face another opponent currently enjoying a purple patch in front of goal.
Chicago Fire’s Serbian attacking midfielder Luka Stojanović has been a consistent goalscorer for Fire this season.
Scoring FOUR goals across Chicago Fire’s last THREE MLS fixtures, Stojanović has scored SEVEN goals this season.
Inter Miami 3 Chicago Fire 2 – Highlights – August 18, 2021 (Credit: Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami)