Chicago Fire FC Fall 1-0 to Orlando City SC

August 22, 2021 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Chicago Fire FC News Release

CHICAGO – Chicago Fire FC (5-11-5, 20 points) fell 1-0 to Orlando City (9-4-7, 34 points) at Exploria Stadium on Saturday night.

After a scoreless first half, Orlando would take the lead in the 51st minute when forward Tesho Akindele dispossessed Fire defender Mauricio Pineda and the ball fell to Orlando’s Benji Michel. The Orlando Homegrown was able to bury a low shot past Bobby Shuttleworth.

The Fire continued to push for the equalizer and nearly found it off a corner kick in extra time. Midfielder Álvaro Medrán curled in a corner that midfielder Luka Stojanović headed on frame but was cleared off the line by Orlando goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar. One minute later, Stajduhar blocked a free kick outside the box from Medrán to secure the win for the home team.

Chicago managed to out-possess the hosts on the night and recorded 18 shots, but were unable to find an equalizer.

NEXT GAME: Chicago Fire FC will continue its longest road trip of the season with a match on Saturday, Aug. 28 against New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. The match will begin at 5:00 p.m. CT on WGN-TV, CFFC Live and TUDN 1200 AM.

Social: Twitter – @chicagofire, @vamosfire (Hashtags: #CF97 #CFFC #VamosFire) | Instagram – @chicagofire | Facebook

NOTES:

Chicago outshot (18-11), out-passed (481-396) and out-possessed (54.5-45.5) Orlando. Defender Miguel Navarro earned his first start since July 24, having recovered from a right knee injury. Navarro was named Heineken Man of the Match for his performance. Defender Boris Sekulić managed a perfect 100% passing accuracy on 18 total passes, including 11 passes in Orlando’s half.

Box Score:

Orlando City SC 1:0 Chicago Fire FC

Goals:

ORL – Michel (4) (Akindele 5) 51′ (WATCH)

Discipline:

CHI – Terán (Yellow Card) 72′

ORL – Mueller (Yellow Card) 78′

Chicago Fire FC: GK Shuttleworth, D Terán, D Pineda (Medrán 71′), D Calvo ©, M Sekulić (Espinoza 71′), M Herbers (Offor 81′), M Giménez (F Collier 85′), M Stojanović, M Navarro, F Berić, F Ivanov (Gutiérrez 71′)

Subs not used: GK G. Slonina, D Kappelhof, D Omsberg

Orlando City SC: GK Stajduhar, D Ruan, D Carlos, D Jansson, D Moutinho, M Urso, M van der Water (Mas 85′), M Michel (Schlegel 79′), M DeZart (Aguilera Jr. 85′), F Nani © (Mueller 30′), F Akindele

Subs not used: GK Gallese, D Smith, D Halliday, D Hope-Gund, M Alvarado

Stats Summary: ORL / CHI

Shots: 11 / 18

Shots on Goal: 3 / 5

Passing Accuracy: 84.3% / 86.1%

Saves: 1 / 1

Corners: 5 / 11

Fouls: 10 / 6

Offsides: 0 / 0

Possession: 45.5% / 54.5%

Referee: Timothy Ford

Assistant Referees: Matthew Nelson, Ryan Graves

Fourth Official: John Griggs

VAR: Alejandro Mariscal, Kyle Longville

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