For only the second time in eight MLS seasons, Orlando City SC head into Gameweek 2 with three points already on the board.
Defeating CF Montréal 2-0 in our 2022 home opener, a much-improved second-half performance saw Oscar Pareja‘s side start the season with a super satisfying clean sheet.
CF Montréal were the early protagonists, forcing four corners within the first 12 minutes.
Orlando City SC started the game apprehensively. This was perhaps due to nerves and expectation in the Central Florida daytime heat.
Fortunately, CF Montréal couldn’t make their early pressure tell and the Lions grew into the game thereafter.
In the starting eleven for their MLS debuts, new Uruguayan duo César Araújo and Facundo Torres showed what they’re all about.
In Araújo, Orlando City SC now have a young, tenacious and athletic defensive midfielder who doesn’t shirk a tackle.
And in Torres, the much-heralded Designated Player looked a class act in several plays.
Boasting an immaculate first touch, Facundo Torres expertly cushioned multiple long raking passes out of defence.
0-0 at half-time, whatever Oscar Pareja said had the desired effect with Orlando City SC re-energised and laser focused in the second-half.
On 49 minutes, a trademark right wing raid from Ruan resulted in Alexandre Pato scoring his first ever City goal.
Missing nearly all of 2021 through injury, it was a heartfelt moment for the Brazilian. Pato celebrated by looking to the skies in both joy and relief.
Then came the crucial second goal 10 minutes later as Benji Michel prodded home his fifteenth career MLS goal.
The game became chippy and ill-disciplined thereafter with referee Marcos DeOliveira brandishing seven yellow cards and two reds.
On 66 minutes, Romell Quioto was sent off for shoving Robin Jansson after an initial altercation with Antônio Carlos.
Letting his CF Montréal team-mates down, Orlando City SC were also reduced to 10 men when Robin Jansson received two yellows, first for the Quioto incident, and second for fouling Joaquín Torres.
At full-time, you couldn’t argue with both red cards. Fortunately, City navigated a scrappy final 15 minutes to start the season victorious.
As for Gameweek 2 opponents Chicago Fire, the Illinois side earned a 0-0 draw at Inter Miami on Gameweek 1.
Chicago Fire vs Orlando City SC – 2015/21 head-to-head stats
Last meeting in August 2021, Orlando City SC displayed grit, heart and determination to narrowly overcome Chicago Fire 1-0.
Without Daryl Dike, Pedro Gallese, Jhegson Méndez, Nani (subbed off) and Mauricio Pereyra against Fire, Benji Michel‘s strike sealed a super satisfying hard-fought victory.
Heading into the Chicago Fire game, Orlando City SC were desperately craving all three points.
Dropping to fifth in the Eastern Conference, the victory saw Oscar Pareja‘s side rise back into second place (20 games, 34 points).
On the night, stand-in goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar was in inspired form to deny Chicago Fire on numerous occasions.
Before this game, Orlando City SC hadn’t been losing many games but a run of two wins in nine league games saw City’s momentum stagnate a little.
Orlando City SC 1 Chicago Fire 0 – Highlights – August 21, 2021 (Credit: Chicago Fire FC)
Only recently have Orlando City SC managed to shake off the fact that Chicago Fire are a bogey opponent.
In a refreshing change of fortune, City have won two of the last three MLS head-to-heads (4-1, 1-0).
Nevertheless, Chicago Fire have denied the Lions victory on TEN separate occasions since our 2015 debut.
A rather surprising stat, Orlando City SC have only defeated Chicago Fire FOUR times in FOURTEEN separate Eastern Conference meetings.
This is despite the Illinois side only reaching the MLS Cup Playoffs ONCE since City entered MLS in 2015.
In the first 2021 meeting, Orlando City SC blew a 0-1 lead with Boris Sekulić, Robert Berić, and Chinonso Offor goals sealing a 3-1 Soldier Field turnaround.
Chicago Fire 3 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – July 7, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Like we just mentioned, Chicago Fire have largely been a thorn in Orlando City SC‘s side in Major League Soccer.
Besides our 4-1 and 1-0 wins (2020/21), Fire are unbeaten in NINE of their last ELEVEN MLS games with City.
Again, this is despite Chicago Fire being a forgettable side in the East over the past decade.
For context, Chicago Fire have failed to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs in EIGHT of their last NINE campaigns.
Back in September 2020 however, our 4-1 triumph over Raphaël Wicky’s Fire was a game that had everything!
Chris Mueller, Nani, Júnior Urso and Benji Michel all scored in an Eastern Conference clash that was so action-packed, you have to see it to believe it.
Orlando City SC 4 Chicago Fire 1 – Highlights – September 19, 2020 (Credit: Chicago Fire FC)
Chicago Fire form
Considering this fixture is Chicago Fire’s 2022 home opener, it’s worth assessing Fire’s form in recent home opener history.
In their last FIVE home openers, Fire have gone 2-2-1 at either Soldier Field or their former home, SeatGeek Stadium.
In this timeframe, Fire have only surrendered one defeat, a crazy 3-4 loss to Sporting Kansas City in March 2018.
After Fire tied a 0-2 first-half deficit, an action-packed final 10 minutes saw three more goals scored.
After Nemanja Nikolić’s 82nd minute strike completed a rousing comeback (3-2), Fire supporters were ecstatic.
However, SKC had the last laugh with two last gasp strikes from Jimmy Medranda and Felipe Gutiérrez (3-4).
It’s also worth noting that Chicago Fire’s 2019 home opener was a game against Orlando City SC, a 1-1 draw played out in Bridgeview.
Orlando City SC form
Assessing Orlando City SC‘s form in their first away fixture of each of their seven MLS seasons so far, it’s a mixed bag.
City have won TWO, drawn TWO and lost THREE of our first road games thus far. Last season’s first road trip was a 1-1 comeback draw at Sporting Kansas City.
On another day, Orlando City SC might’ve returned from SKC with all three points after bossing large periods of the game.
However, Gianluca Busio’s first-half opener was self-inflicted following a far too casual clearance from Pedro Gallese in goal.
City avoided defeat late on thanks to a nonchalant back-heeled equaliser from Nani, ensuring that Oscar Pareja‘s side remained unbeaten after Gameweek 2.
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