Having had 17 days to stew on our disappointing 3-1 loss at Inter Miami in the 2023 Leagues Cup, Orlando City SC returned to MLS action the best way possible, defeating Chicago Fire 1-3 away to extend our fantastic form on the road.
Now rising to fourth in the Eastern Conference, City currently sit within the coveted home seeding spots for the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs – the positions we hope to end up in once our 10 remaining regular season fixtures are complete.
Looking back on our victorious visit to Soldier Field, there was much to be proud of in our comeback victory.
Our fourth victory in five MLS games, Orlando City SC are hitting form when it matters, extending our hot streak at the home of the club called “Fire”.
Considering Mauricio Pineda opened the scoring with a sweetly taken volley on 47 minutes, Orlando City SC‘s reaction was fast and first class.
Just three minutes separated Pedro Gallese picking the ball out of his net and fellow Peruvian Wilder Cartagena plundering a headed equaliser off a pin-point Facundo Torres corner.
With the wind in Orlando City SC‘s sails, the Lions turned the entire game on its head by 54 minutes.
With his trusty left boot, Rafael Santos whipped a devilish cross to Fire’s back post.
From here, César Araújo rose highest above Gastón Giménez and Iván Angulo propelled a header past the helpless Spencer Richey.
Leaving Soldier Field shell-shocked, Frank Klopas’ Fire side then shot themselves in the foot on 68 minutes.
Starting the game from right back, Dagur Dan Thórhallsson drove to the edge of Chicago Fire’s 18-yard box
He then cleverly cut the ball back to his left foot.
Running perpendicular to Fire’s goal, Miguel Navarro really sloppily dangled his left leg.
Carelessly tripping the Icelander, the Venezuelan conceded an untimely penalty.
Right on the white line of Fire’s penalty area, referee Lukasz Szpala remained eagle-eyed to correctly call a PK.
This handed Orlando City SC a huge chance to secure a second successive MLS road win.
Up stepped the dependable Facundo Torres who roofed an emphatic left-footed penalty to Spencer Richey’s right.
With Júnior Urso entering the game on 79 minutes, The Bear’s second debut in purple was the icing on the cake of a fine night beside Lake Michigan.
Looking back, the entire course of the game could’ve been different had Georgios Koutsias’ 24th minute goal stood.
With the game tied 0-0, VAR correctly ruled that Brian Gutiérrez played his assist forward – and not back – to Koutsias.
Not holding his run, the Greek forward’s right leg was marginally offside at the time of Gutiérrez’s pass.
Soccer is a game of fine margins and to Orlando City SC‘s relief, they survived this key moment.
Our second 1-3 / 3-1 win over Chicago Fire this season, Facundo Torres bagged three goals across the two head-to-heads.
Additionally, Oscar Pareja has now won five of his seven games against Fire too.
Orlando City SC now face 2023 MLS new boys St. Louis CITY SC in the clubs’ inaugural league meeting at Exploria Stadium.
Taking MLS by storm in an unprecedented inaugural campaign, Bradley Carnell’s side sit top of the Western Conference (44 points).
Not only that but four points clear of second-placed Los Angeles FC too.
Toppling pundits’ pre-season predictions, the Missouri club are hunting down FC Cincinnati in the MLS Supporters’ Shield race.
Last Sunday, St. Louis CITY SC smashed Austin FC 6-3 at CITYPARK.
Former Lion Nicholas Gioacchini bagged a brace to take his 2013 MLS goalscoring tally to 10.
A hugely impressive campaign for the eight times capped USMNT forward, Gioacchini may just be the one that got away for Orlando City SC who originally brought him to MLS back in July 2022.
Orlando City SC vs St. Louis CITY SC
2023 stats
- This is the first time the clubs have faced each other
- Since 2015, Orlando have gone 4-2-3 in their inaugural fixtures against new MLS expansion sides
- Orlando are undefeated in their last 7 home fixtures in MLS
- St. Louis have won 5 of their last 6 MLS fixtures
- Samuel Adeniran has scored 3 goals in his last 2 MLS appearances for St. Louis
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs St. Louis CITY SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:30 (GMT) on Sunday, August 27.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC‘s 2023 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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