Orlando, Fla. (July 1, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC (5-7-8, 23 points) wrapped up a three-game road trip with a 3-1 loss at Orlando City SC (8-5-7, 31 points). Xherdan Shaqiri had the Fire’s lone goal of the evening, while Facundo Torres scored twice in a winning effort for his team.
Orlando got on the board first following a flurry of shots late in the first half. MartÃn Ojeda picked off a ball outside of the Fire box, taking a touch before sending it wide to Kyle Smith. The Orlando right back then swung a ball into the near side of the box, where Torres leapt to head the opener home. Torres’ 38th minute goal tied him for the team lead with six for the season and gave his side the lead going into the half.
Chicago came out of the break on the front foot, looking to equalize early. After winning a corner in the 50th minute, Shaqiri dropped a pinpoint cross into the path of Kei Kamara, whose header was saved off the line by Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. The parried ball fell onto the path of Herbers, whose attempt to tap the ball in was saved once again off the line by a defender.
Orlando took advantage of the near misses minutes later. The home side once again won a corner kick that was rejected in the box, but a follow-up shot hit the elbow of an unlucky Fabian Herbers. The referee pointed to the spot and Torres took his team’s scoring lead with his seventh goal of the season on the good penalty kick.
The Fire wasted no time getting back in the game. Brian Gutiérrez advanced the ball forward through the middle of the pitch, working his way into the box off a give-and-go from Shaqiri. Upon receiving the ball, Gutiérrez was shoved down in the box, resulting in a penalty kick that Shaqiri took. The Swiss midfielder placed a strong kick well away from the gloves of Gallese and in for his second goal of the year.
Looking for an equalizer, the Fire left plenty of gaps that Orlando soon exploited. In the 75th minute, a ball was sent toward Ramiro Enrique while in an offside position. Fresh off the bench, the forward decided to peel away from the ball and instead allow Iván Angulo to get to it. Enrique then got back onto an onside position, received a pass from Angulo and rifled a ball past Brady, just inside of the far post for the final goal of the match.
NEXT MATCH: The Fire return to the lakefront to face Nashville SC at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, July 8 at Soldier Field. The match will be broadcast on Apple TV+, transmitted locally in English on WLS-AM 890 and in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.
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Notes:
- Carlos Terán lined up to the right of captain Rafael Czichos at center back. The defender made his first start since sustaining a first half injury against St. Louis CITY SC on May 13.
- Arnaud Souquet and Alonso Aceves completed a Fire backline tasked with helping starting goalkeeper Chris Brady in his 17th start.
- Mauricio Pineda remained in the opening lineup, replacing Federico Navarro at the double pivot alongside Gaston Giménez.
- Xherdan Shaqiri returned to the starting XI following a 31-minute appearance in Kansas City. The midfielder returned to a central position in the midfield after featuring in a pair of UEFA Euro qualifying matches for the Swiss men’s national team.
- Fresh off earning a place on the MLS Team of Matchday 21, Fabian Herbers made his third consecutive start on the right wing. Fire Homegrown Brian Gutiérrez lined up opposite Herbers on the left wing, making his 16th start of the season.
- Newly minted MLS All-Star Kei Kamara made his 17th appearance of the year for Chicago. The Fire’s lone All-Star selection continues to lead the team with five goals this year, following the game-winner against Portland last week.
- Midfielders Javier Casas, Jr. (right upper leg) and Federico Navarro (right lower leg), as well as forward Chris Mueller (right upper leg) were unavailable for tonight’s match.
Box Score:Orlando City SC 3:1 Chicago Fire FC
Goals:
ORL - Torres (6) (Smith 2) (Ojeda 7) 38’
ORL - Torres (7) (Penalty) 55’
CHI - Shaqiri (2) (Penalty) (WATCH) 66’
ORL - Enrique (2) (Angulo 4) (Santos 1) 75’
Discipline:
CHI - Souquet (Yellow Card) 20’
ORL - Jansson (Yellow Card) 35’
CHI - M. Navarro (Yellow Card) 72’
CHI - CJ Brown (Yellow Card) 76’
CHI - Souquet (Second Yellow Card, Ejection) 84’
ORL - Thorhallsson (Yellow Card) 90+9’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Brady, D Souquet, D Terán (Haile-Selassie 61’), D Czichos (capt.), D Aceves (M. Navarro 61’), D Pineda (Omsberg 80’), M Giménez, M Herbers, M Shaqiri (Torres 77’), M Gutiérrez, F Kamara (Przybyłko 80’)
Subs not used: GK Richey, D Burks, D Dean, F Koutsias
Orlando City SC: GK Gallese, D Santos, D Jansson, D Schlegel, D Smith (Thorhallsson 88’), M Pereyra (capt.) (Petrasso 88’), M Cartagena, M Angulo, M Torres (Loyola 90+3’), M Ojeda (Martins, 67’), F McGuire (Enrique 67’)
Subs not used: GK Stajduhar, D Carlos, D Freeman, F Kara
Stats Summary: ORL / CHI
Shots: 19 / 8
Shots on Goal: 9 / 4
Saves: 2 / 6
Passing Accuracy: 86.3% / 87.3%
Corners: 13 / 3
Fouls: 19 / 13
Offsides: 0 / 1
Possession: 50.1% / 49.9%
Attendance: 22,070
Referee: Nima Saghafi
Assistant Referees: Jose Da Silva, Ben Pilgrim
Fourth Official: Luis Arroyo
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez
Asst. VAR: Craig Lowry
