IRVINE, CA. - In the first of four friendly matches to be played over the California leg of 2020 preseason camp, Chicago Fire FC were 2-0 victors over USL Championship side Orange County SC on Wednesday. Forwards Elliot Collier and CJ Sapong each netted for the second straight match, helping the Fire earn their second victory of the preseason.
Wednesday's match was played across three 30-minute periods, the first of which saw Collier break the early deadlock. In the 27th minute, Brandt Bronico got on the run down the right touchline and served a low cross into the 18-yard box. Sapong drew the Orange County defense away with a near post run, allowing the ball to find the on-running Collier for a routine finish.
After the first break, Sapong needed just five minutes to extend the Fire advantage. Upon earning a corner kick in the 35th minute, midfielder Djordje Mihailović served up an out-swinging pass for the Club's 2019 Golden Boot winner to head home and bring the score to 2-0.
After the second break, the Fire substituted all eleven players -- including a trio of Chicago Fire FC Academy players -- who helped secure the 2-0 scoreline after 90 minutes.
The Fire will next face the Colorado Rapids this Saturday (Feb. 15), which will stream live at 2 p.m. CT on ChicagoFireFC.com. Wicky and his men will then round out their two weeks in California with matches against Toronto FC (Feb. 19) and LA Galaxy (Feb. 22). The Fire’s matches against Colorado Rapids and LA Galaxy will be held at Dignity Health Sports Park as part of a doubleheader and will be open to the public.
Chicago Fire FC starting XI: Sparrow; Bronico, Kappelhof, Calvo, Bornstein; Azira, Medrán, Mihailović; Collier, Frankowski, Sapong.
Fire FC Substitutions, 60th minute: G. Slonina; Gutjahr, Omsberg, N. Slonina, Vazquez; Pineda, Herbers, Casas; Jimenez, Rodriguez, Gutierrez.
