Chicago Fire (6-15-6, 11th in East) vs. Orlando City SC (7-17-3, 10th in East)
The Chicago Fire are playing their first competitive match since August 23rd and looking for their first win in the league since June 30th. They are winless in their last nine league matches after only snapping an eight-match league losing streak in a 1-1 draw against Columbus. Orlando’s last win was on July 14th and are winless in their last nine in all competitions. As a result, we have a match of the two bottom clubs in the Eastern Conference.
Both teams did make news this past week. The Fire acquired former RSL man Yura Movsisyan off waivers while Orlando was given the 2019 All-Star Game. Oh, the Fire may be looking for a replacement for Veljko Paunovic that may be “peak Fire” given their recent run.
Orlando has conceded a league-worst 62 goals this season while the Fire are one of three teams who have conceded 52. It’s a virtual given that neither team will be in the playoffs and are waiting for the season to end. Each team may well see this match as the last realistic opportunity to salvage something out of this season. All you need is Alexi Lalas saying [insert Orlando and/or Chicago player here]is “almost too good for this team”.
Kickoff for the match is at 4pm CT on FS1 in the USA and TSN2 in Canada.
INJURIES:
CHICAGO FIRE–OUT: D – Matt Polster (MCL surgery), GK – Patrick McLain (hamstring injury), M/D – Diego Campos (left MCL injury); QUESTIONABLE: D – Jonathan Campbell (left adductor injury), F – Luis Solignac (right adductor injury)
ORLANDO CITY SC–OUT: GK – Mason Stajduhar (Localized Ewing Sarcoma), D – Chris Schuler (groin injury); QUESTIONABLE: D – Lamine Sane (quad injury)
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW:
CHI: Jorge Corrales
ORL: Sacha Kljestan, Dom Dwyer
Referee: Allen Chapman
Assistant Referees: Nick Uranga, Peter Manilkowski
4th Official: Daniel Radford
VAR: Caleb Mendez
Assistant Referees: Nick Uranga, Peter Manilkowski
4th Official: Daniel Radford
VAR: Caleb Mendez
THIS YEAR:
5/26/18: ORL 1-2 CHI
Chicago Fire
