Chicago Fire Look to Rebound Against Orlando City After Humiliating Defeat

CHICAGO, Ill. — The Chicago Fire will face off against Orlando City on Saturday evening at Soldier Field, seeking redemption following a crushing 7-2 defeat to Nashville SC last weekend.

After a nine-goal thriller that saw the Fire suffer one of their largest defeats in team history, they are now looking to restore pride at home. Chicago has struggled this season, sitting 11th in the Eastern Conference standings with just 12 points from 10 matches.

Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, “We always want to put on an entertaining performance and we want to win at home. We’ve been frustrated, and we want to get that home win and get rolling again.” The Fire will need to shore up their defense, which has conceded 22 goals this season, the highest in the league.

In contrast, Orlando City comes into the match with momentum, undefeated in their last seven games and fresh off a 3-0 victory over Atlanta United. Orlando has not lost since March 9 and currently sits seventh in the Eastern Conference with 16 points.

Orlando City head coach Óscar Pareja expressed confidence, noting their strong defensive performance: “Typical Oscar teams are very good in defensive transition. We have a solid game plan that focuses on both offense and defense.”

Both teams will be missing several key players due to injuries. The Fire will be without defenders Carlos Terán and Leonardo Barroso, while Orlando City’s injury list includes midfielder Andrés Perea and forward Ezequiel Barco.

A win for the Fire could reignite their playoff aspirations, while separation from the league’s basement remains critical as they face an Orlando squad they have struggled against in recent meetings, not having beaten them in their last seven encounters.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT at Soldier Field.