Orlando, we’re coming to c̶o̶n̶q̶u̶e̶r̶ roll over! 😜 After a tough few weeks, Orlando City SC returned to winning ways with a commanding 3-0 derby victory over Atlanta United at Inter&Co Stadium. Piling the pressure on Ronny Deila, the result extended the Lions’ unbeaten run to seven games and restored some much-needed momentum heading into a busy stretch. Now, Oscar Pareja’s side will look to climb the Eastern Conference standings against Chicago Fire, who were just thumped 7-2 at Nashville SC. It was an embarrassing loss for Gregg Berhalter against his former USMNT assistant, B.J. Callaghan.
With confidence growing and key players finding form, City will now look to build on their fourth consecutive clean sheet. Another positive result on the road would keep the pressure on the teams above and further underline the Lions’ growing belief as the campaign hits its stride.
Last time out
Last Saturday, Orlando City SC snapped a 312-minute goal drought in style, demolishing bitter rivals Atlanta United 3-0 at home. A Luis Muriel penalty and goals from Alex Freeman, and Marco Pašalić sealed a derby day to remember. Ending our three-game winless run, it also extended our unbeaten streak to seven. Freeman netted his third MLS goal, while Muriel and Pašalić impressed in a dominant second-half. With a goal and an assist, Pašalić also became just the fourth player in club history to tally at least seven goal contributions in his first 10 matches, joining Nani (nine), Dom Dwyer (seven), and Daryl Dike (seven). The win marked Orlando’s fourth consecutive clean sheet and set a new club record of 436 shutout minutes. After the game, Oscar Pareja dedicated the result to César Araújo, celebrating the birth of his daughter, and praised his side for finding their “natural mode of play.”
Last head-to-head
On June 22, 2024, Orlando City SC defeated Chicago Fire 4-2 at Inter&Co Stadium, sealing our second home win of the 2024 MLS season. Facundo Torres opened the scoring on 4 minutes with a brilliant left-footed strike. Luis Muriel doubled the lead with a penalty on 19 minutes, before Iván Angulo added a third off a rebound ten minutes later. Fire pulled one back through Maren Haile-Selassie’s second-half penalty, but Torres responded with a stunning goal on the hour mark, making it 4-1. This was Facu’s sixth goal in four MLS games against Fire. Chicago scored again late through Hugo Cuypers. But Mason Stajduhar’s record-breaking 11-save performance ensured the win, marking a much-needed confidence boost for the Lions.
What’s at stake this time?
After ten games played, Orlando City SC sit seventh in the Eastern Conference. Right now, we are six points adrift of new leaders FC Cincinnati. Following a tough stretch, the Lions finally have their swagger back! And what about that Luis Muriel – Duncan McGuire partnership? While Papi’s decision to start McGuire and bench Martín Ojeda raised eyebrows, it paid off handsomely in our 3-0 derby demolition. Now unbeaten in seven – our longest streak since 2021 – City head to Chicago Fire brimming with confidence. The timing couldn’t be better too! Gregg Berhalter’s Fire are reeling from a humiliating 7-2 loss at Nashville SC last Saturday. Winless in their last five (0-2-3), they are currently 11th in the East. With Oscar Pareja, Luiz Muzzi, and Ricardo Moreira now secured off the pitch, the Lions will look to keep rising on it.
Opposition danger men
🇧🇪 Hugo Cuypers (7 goals, 2 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇩🇰 Philip Zinckernagel (3 goals, 4 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇺🇸 Brian Gutiérrez (3 goals, 0 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇨🇮 Jonathan Bamba (1 goal, 5 assists – 2025 MLS)
New opposition faces
🇺🇸 Gregg Berhalter (head coach)
🇺🇸 David Poreba (Chicago Fire II)
🏴 Jack Elliott (Philadelphia Union)
🇬🇾 Omari Glasgow (Chicago Fire II)
🇺🇸 Dean Boltz (2025 MLS SuperDraft)
🇺🇸 Dylan Borso (Wake Forest University)
🇩🇰 Philip Zinckernagel (Club Brugge)
🇺🇸 Sam Rogers (Lillestrøm)
🇵🇹 Leonardo Barroso (Sporting CP B)
🇨🇮 Jonathan Bamba (Celta Vigo)
🇺🇸 Robert Turdean (Chicago Fire Academy)
🇲🇱 Rominigue Kouamé (on loan from Cádiz)
🇺🇸 Omar Gonzalez (FC Dallas)
🇺🇸 Christopher Cupps (Chicago Fire Academy)
🇺🇸 Sam Williams (Chicago Fire II)
🇨🇮 Dje D’Avilla (União de Leiria)
Injuries
🇵🇹 Leonardo Barroso (lower body) – out
🇺🇸 Chase Gasper (lower body) – out
🇲🇱 Rominigue Kouamé (lower body) – out
🇺🇸 Chris Mueller (not due to injury) – out
🇺🇸 David Poreba (lower body) – out
🇨🇴 Carlos Terán (lower body) – out
🇺🇾 César Araújo (lower leg) – questionable
🇵🇪 Wilder Cartagena (right leg) – SEI
🇫🇷 Joran Gerbet (lower leg) – questionable
🇨🇱 Favian Loyola (thigh) – out
🇯🇵 Yutaro Tsukada (knee) – SEI
*SEI – Season-Ending Injury List (Unavailable)
Suspensions
None
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Chicago Fire vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- August 20, 2023: Chicago Fire 1 Orlando City SC 3 (MLS)
- May 29, 2024: Chicago Fire 1 Orlando City SC 1 (MLS)
- June 22, 2024: Orlando City SC 4 Chicago Fire 2 (MLS)
2015/24 head-to-head stats
- It was 4-2 to Orlando the last time the sides met (June 2024)
- Played Fire 20 times in MLS – Fire 5, Draws 7, Orlando 8
- Hugo Cuypers scored in both MLS head-to-heads last season (2 goals)
- Fire are still seeking their first MLS home win under Gregg Berhalter, going 0-3-1 at Soldier Field
- Orlando haven’t conceded an MLS goal in 436 minutes – a new club record
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Watching the game
Chicago Fire vs Orlando City SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 01:30 (GMT) on Sunday, May 4.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC’s 2025 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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