Fire v Orlando
A historical MLS team takes on the holder of the longest active playoff streak in the league. Both coaches are well acquainted with the playoffs, one well known for his bounce passes. Fire 45% to win Orlando 30% not too much of an edge for being at home.
Fire go long, it is headed down, they recover into the area and it’s lost, they still have it now into the backfield below the circle and lost to a poor pass just in their half for a throw. Orlando goes back a number of times, Fire are pressing. Into the offensive third goes Anguelo and he wins a corner off Dean. The first corner at 3’ to the near post and out, again to the backfield now the GK of Orlando all the way from the full other half. Now to the Fire GK. Orlando take an off pass, then give it right back. Gutman the IU alum and past Red Bull plays it to the center it bounds about and is lost now the Orlando GK has it. For me, both GKs have had the ball far too much. GK feeds into the center circle and a foul. Ojeda challenges the ball and it goes again to the GK of the Fire. Down the middle just beyond the area and quickly back to the GK for the Fire. Now some space and a run by Dean, top of the area outside back in and defended out recovered by Chicago. Atuesta whistled for a foul at 8’ as he pushes the player down, this may be a shot on goal as it is from maybe 30 yards. The ball goes over the top to the corner of the 6, off the ref and it is dropped for Chicago. Into the area and a foul by the Fire that doused a decent chance in the area, Zikernagel with the foul. Hard trip on the line by Zikernagel and he gets a talking to. Too far of a ball and it goes out for a Chicago throw. A lead ball turned away by Gutman off Orlando for a throw. Poor pass right to a red shirt. Zikernagel strips the defender and gets off a fast shot, a bit too high on an arcing ball. Atuesta rides the opponent to the ground. Chicago went from the top of the area to now their backfield. A ball in knocked away reeled in by Chicago as they hold with a number of short passes now Guttierez shoots over the frame, he was raised less than 10 miles away from this stadium. Zikernagel lays it off wide to Cuypers and the ball in, simply not good enough. Gutman with it getting forward, he gets it back in the area his shot turned away. Again Chicago knocking on the door top of the area and now to the circle? Great play begun by Zikernagle and Dean sends it in from the side of the area, winning a corner at 18’. Off the head of a defender who is now off. Into the area and headed by Eliott, a very tall player but just wide, by the past Union player. It is 20’ in Chicago has gotten in on goal a few times Orlando, not so much. Fire GK out of his area clears it out and then played to his counterpart. A crossing ball too far across the top of the 18. Chicago getting to the area but defended out for a corner at a bout 18 yards. Guttierrez from a distance after beating his man is well wide. Zinkernagel too far of a first touch to run onto. Gutman drops it the ball to the area and the Fire run into the defender in the area. No pressure and Orlando give it away then a poor pass has Orlando with a deep throw in their defensive end. A long ball over the top to empty space by the Fire. McGuire with a quick flick is in on goal but defended out as he eludes Elliott with ease. The throw for Orlando goes far back, played out again and Elliott is down waving for medics. A compress as his head went off that of another. The side of his head is swollen already. Traces of blood going down his face, he now has a head wrap on as he goes off. Going through his paces as part of the concussion protocol, seems to be cleared by medical. Gutman with a deft touch around Orlando to Elliott and now the GK. Orlando are pressing and keeping the ball in the Chicago end, Ojeda gets it and a half chance is turned away. Fire into the area and endline through the 6 and out back in by the Fire and out they keep it with Gutman taking a throw. Lead ball to Cuypers and what a save by Gallese on the ground and leads to a corner. On the goal line near the near post, Gallesse knocks it down then grabs it up. If Orlando do not relent here in the last 10+ minutes they should be pleased. Dean into the area to the head of an opponent. Dean down the line to Zinkernagel, into the area and they still hold it. In and out of the area now back, Gutman drops it and Orlando have it but in no rush to get forward it seems. Ojeda for Angulo and further back to the circle. Freeman and Gutman both want the throw. Cyphers has a shot and just off the mark from a great ball over the top. Angulo tries to sneak it around the player but out for his throw, Fire foul on Davilla I the circle. Ojeda on the wing lays it back now to the backfield. Fire getting forward a ball to the outside of Gutman leads to a throw for Orlando, Freeman to take it, right to a Fire player. Dean lays it back near midfield and a poor pass as Orlando steps to it as the intended target stays still. Good shot and an equal save, then a foul. So many errant passes one has the Fire going to the 6, but the GK grabs it. Orlando with numbers into the area, Dean turns it back. Gutierrez in the area turns a player then Gutman draws a caution at 45’, again a deep foul, he did step on him. Just 4’ of extra time. Atuesta to take the restart from about 50 yards, Over the top nodded on and over the endline, goal kick coming. Bamba plays a ball from the top of the area and then goes right through it and out for a goal kick with less than 2’ to go. Bodies flying in the last seconds and Chicago cannot get a look on goal. Fire steal it back near midfield and go back, that’s the half.
Chicago must find a way to get a goal, the longer they allow Orlando to hang around the worse it is, one chance and they may take the lead. Orlando how long can you absorb this? Figure out how to either get forward with speed and numbers or hold the ball, this is a lot of pressure to deal with.
Halftime adjustments often times are key, let’s see which side unlocks this game. Long ball by Chicago into the area, cut back to the penalty area and the Fire hold now near the corner flag and they win a deep throw, as they go to replay for a second? Fire press forcing back to the GK, his ball out is lost recovered then back to purple. Gutierrez at 48’, stakes his home town team to a 1-0 lead. Beyond the box, he takes it out of the air and on a short hop sends it home, great poise ever so nicely off the inside of his foot. How will Orlando react to this. Again the Fire driving into the area and still up a forward goes down, play on. Zinkernagel would just not be stopped as he went endline. Gutierrez in the area curls one just off the far post. McGuire gets into it, separated by the GK of the Fire. Bomba in on goal, a partial save then cleared from his effort in the area. Bomba just beyond the area trips over the player and the numerical advantage that Orlando had is lost, Grady grabs the loose ball. Gutman with a steal to the GK and now to Cuypers and it is lost. Ito the area for Bomba and Cuypers keeps running at the GK looking to clear it, off him and into the net, 2-0 Fire. Atuesta carded just beyond the area a dangerous location for a DFK. Just beyond the area maybe 10 yards on the field they go short to tee it up and is blocked all the way cleared to the GK. Over the the top and Bomba steals on the wing, looks to carry into the area and is stripped of the ball. Long ball from Freeman, going endline to the area and a first time shot by Pasalic and off the header he drives it, great save by Grady. McGuire up for the ball into the area and it is on frame, Grady grabs it no issue. Chicago sends a pair from Orlando to the floor no call, they look to Cuypers and he goes high and wide. Another foul sought by Orlando as another goes down, this one in the area, no call. Dean is down holding his knee. Bomba from Cyphers saved by a sprawling GK, Gutierrez again off the frame of the goal with again the inside of the foot, going for placement over power. Off the toe of McGuire to the GK. Gutman pressed and gives it away. Bomba lays it off now to Cuypers and it is 3-0 at 68’. Bomba goes to the top of the arc, then it’s played to the side of the area, goal. Orlando with a foul and Schlegel contests it as he tossed a player? A few feet on the field from the touchline and just beyond the area, a go on goal. To the edge of the area and defended out, corner at 71’. After taking a blow to the head, not so sure I send Elliott in on the headball he just did? Bomba down the wing into the area and a weak shot to the GK. Chicago draw a foul. Gutman from Bomba, Janson clears to Gutierrez and Chicago looking to goal. Zinkernagel fouled by Schlegel claiming it is his first? Another foolish deep foul not far beyond the area to the edge of the 6 and a whistle on Chicago a pair from Orlando wait to go on. Araujo off Guske in and Schlegel out for Marin. Orlando go to a ball and win iti into the area to a red shirt and they are off to the races. Bomba into the area to Gutierrez Zinkernagel with a weak shot to the GK. Acosta very active with amputee soccer is next in now for the Fire. As we close in on 10’ to go it is all but a foregone conclusion that the Fire will win. Bomba out paces his mark to Gutierrez, a slide tackle thwarts his shot, again not looking to blast it, class. The Fire are still pressing the ball. Ojeda not off by much, trying to save face from well beyond the arc even but just wide. Bomba is out Acosta not on Kouame is for Oregel Haile-Salessie on. Gutman to the foot of Zinkernagel with one touch leaves it for his player. A slide tackle in the area takes it away from the Fire. Galesse off his line for a good stop, keeps going to win a slide tackle out of play for a deep throw. Gutierrez off for Acosta to a lot of applause. Acosta feeds a player on the wing, the return ball is lost. Ojeda again from a distance and it is well high as he leaned back at 88’. Spicer pulls one back as his mark falls, he roofs it at 89’. He beat Grady to the near post, not good for the ‘keeper. Orlando yellow at 90’ on the foul to Haile-Selassie. With 6 extra minutes, Orlando must have some hope? Chicago’s owner gets some screentime. Many balloons are on the field. Orlando going back at this point? Ojeda to the far side of the area and out for a throw. Jansen plays it on to Chicago in the area, there was not runner behind him. Half way through the added time now, Orlando playing with no urgency. Ojeda offside as he bangs it off the goal frame. To the final seconds Chicago getting shots off.