Orlando City (4-8-6, 18 points) vs Chicago Fire (4-8-6, 18 points)
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m
Where: INTER&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
Radio: 96.9 the Game FM, (English), Mega 97.1 (Spanish)
Here are five storylines to watch on Saturday when Orlando City SC host Chicago Fire:
Coming in From the Windy City
The Lions will face off against Chicago Fire FC for the second time in less than a month, with the two teams playing to a 1-1 draw in late May at Soldier Field. Facundo Torres was the lone goal scorer for Orlando City on the night, capping off a chaotic sequence in front of the Fire’s net in the fourth minute of the match. The Lions held onto the lead for most of the match, but Chicago equalized in the 70th minute and Orlando settled for one point on the road on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Putting Out the Flames
Orlando City and Chicago have played their all-time series to a perfectly split draw, with both squads holding a 7-7-7 record across all competitions. The Lions have had the upper hand at INTER&Co Stadium, however, with an overall record of 4-2-2, including four-straight wins and a 9-2 scoring advantage on aggregate across those eight matches against the Fire since 2020. The last matchup in Orlando was a 3-1 decision in July of last season, with Facundo Torres notching a brace, including a 55th-minute penalty kick.
Leading the Charge
With a second-half goal on Wednesday against Charlotte FC, forward Duncan McGuire notched his team-leading sixth goal in MLS play and seventh across all competitions. The 23-year-old also tied former Orlando City forward Chris Muller for sixth all-time on the Club’s scoring list with 22 career goals all-time across all competitions. McGuire has made the most of his chances this season with his seven goals coming off 11 shots on target. The Lions are 3-2-1 across all competitions this season when McGuire scores.
Copa Dreams
Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and midfielder Wilder Cartagena have officially been named to Peru’s final roster for the CONMEBOL Copa América USA 2024. The Peruvian duo have combined for almost 150 caps for La Bicolor, with Gallese making 106 total appearances and 40 career shutouts, including 23 matches and 10 clean sheets to date in Copa America, while Cartagena has played in 33 matches for the South American country including four caps in Copa America games. Peru will take on Chile, Canada and Argentina in the Group Stage, with Gallese set to Captain his country through the tournament.
A Lion in Europe
Orlando City defender David Brekalo and Slovenia posted their second draw of their UEFA EURO 2024 campaign this past Thursday, posting a 1-1 draw against Balkan side Serbia. The Lions’ Slovenian center back appeared in the second Euro match of his career, entering the match once again as a second-half substitute. Brekalo and Slovenia will face England in their final Group C match on Tuesday, June 25, with a chance to move on to the knockout stage at stake.
Milestone Tracker:
- Duncan McGuire is two goals away from tying Dom Dwyer (24) for fifth on Orlando City’s all-time scoring list and three goals away from tying Kaká (25) for fourth
- Facundo Torres is one appearance away from 100 across all competitions for Orlando City
