Chicago Fire vs. Orlando City SC | MLS Match Preview

#CHIvORL: Eastern foes look to get back in playoff picture (Sat., 8:30 pm ET; MLS LIVE)

Chicago Fire vs. Orlando City SC, September 19, 2015

CHICAGO FIRE vs ORLANDO CITY SC
TOYOTA PARK, Bridgeview, Ill.
September 19, 2015 (WEEK 29, MLS Game #292)
7:30 p.m. CT (CSN-Chi+; My65 / FS-FL)

A critical clash between teams trying to claw their way back into the Eastern Conference playoff positions is ahead when the Chicago Fire play host to Orlando City SC at Toyota Park on Saturday evening. The Fire sit at the foot of the conference, six points out of the top six, returning home after a second straight late loss in a 3-2 defeat by the New York Red Bulls last week. Orlando City are just a point behind sixth-place Montréal for the final postseason place, putting an end to their six-game winless run with a 3-1 win against Sporting Kansas City last Saturday at the Citrus Bowl.


  • The Fire saw their winless run extended to three games in a second consecutive loss, concluding their three-game road swing with a 3-2 defeat at the New York Red Bulls on Friday evening. Jeff Larentowicz scored a goal for a second consecutive game, both from the penalty spot.
  • Orlando City SC put an end to their six-game winless run as Adrian Winter scored a pair of goals – his first since coming to Orlando City and MLS – in a 3-1 win against Sporting KC on Sunday evening at the Citrus Bowl.
  • The teams are meeting for the third time this season in league play. A goal from the Fire’s David Accam and an own goal for Orlando City left the teams in a storm-plagued 1-1 draw Aug. 29 at the Citrus Bowl. On June 6 at the Citrus Bowl, Orlando City’s Cyle Larin scored in the 82nd minute to pull the teams level – then the Fire’s Adailton scored his second own goal of the game four minutes later to hand OCSC a 3-2 win..
  • The teams also met in a U.S. Open quarterfinal, Kennedy Igboananike scoring two goals after the 88th minute to lead the Fire to a 3-1 win July 22 at Toyota Park.


DOWNLOAD FULL GAME GUIDE (PDF)

REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Philippe Briere; AR2 (opposite): Eric Weisbrod; 4th: Baboucarr Jallow
MLS Career: 31 games; FC/gm: 26.7; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 10; pens: 11


SUSPENDED: CHI: Matt Polster (caution accumulation; through Sept. 20)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: CHI: Eric Gehrig, Kennedy Igboananike … ORL: Luke Boden, Darwin Ceren, Cristian Higuita, Brek Shea
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: CHI: Chris Ritter, Adailton, Patrick Nyarko … ORL: Kevin Molino, Rafael Ramos, Seb Hines, Kaká, Servando Carrasco
DISABLED LIST: ORL: Kevin Molino (season-ending injury)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none


HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (2 meetings): Fire 0 wins, 3 goals … Orlando City 1 win, 4 goals … Ties 1
AT TOYOTA PARK (1 meeting): Fire 0 wins, 2 goals … Orlando City 1 win, 3 goals … Ties 0
2015 (MLS)
6/6: CHI 2, ORL 3 (Igboananike 9; Accam 57 – own goal 40, 86; Larin 82)
8/29: ORL 1, CHI 1 (own goal 37 – Accam 30)


  • The teams are meeting for the third time this season in league play. A goal from the Fire’s David Accam and an own goal for Orlando City left the teams in a storm-plagued 1-1 draw Aug. 29 at the Citrus Bowl. On June 6 at the Citrus Bowl, Orlando City’s Cyle Larin scored in the 82nd minute to pull the teams level – then the Fire’s Adailton scored his second own goal of the game four minutes later to hand OCSC a 3-2 win.
  • The teams also met in a U.S. Open quarterfinal, Kennedy Igboananike scoring two goals after the 88th minute to lead the Fire to a 3-1 win July 22 at Toyota Park.
  • Coaches record: Frank Yallop vs. ORL: P2 W0 L1 T1 … Adrian Heath vs. CHI: P2 W1 L0 T1


Related content:

CHECK OUT THE INJURY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
CHECK OUT THE DISCIPLINARY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH


OCSC's Winter hopes first goals mark end to MLS adjustment
Despite disappointing season with Fire, Magee not ready to end season empty-handed