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MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Earn Hard-Fought 2-1 Road Win over Orlando City SC

May 26, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


ORLANDO, Fla. - The Chicago Fire (4-6-2, 12 points) earned a 2-1 road win over Orlando City SC (6-5-1, 19 points) on Saturday evening at Orlando City Stadium.

The Fire opened scoring the 13th minute when Diego Campos was brought down 25 yards from goal. Aleksandar Katai stepped up to the ensuing free kick and curled his right-footed shot over the wall and past a diving Joe Bendik for his third goal of the season.

Orlando City found the equalizer in the 28th minute after Chris Mueller fed a ball into the box. Cristian Higuita ran onto the ball and tucked his right-footed shot inside the post to draw the hosts level.

The Men in Red would secure the full three points in the 82nd minute when Bastian Schweinsteiger played a square ball to Alan Gordon. The forward took two touches to settle before unleashing a right-footed blast 30 yards from goal to give the Fire the victory.

The Fire were reduced to 10 men when rookie midfielder Mo Adams was shown a red card in the 89th minute.

Making his second career start for the Men in Red and first of the 2018 campaign, goalkeeper Patrick McLain made five saves on the evening to earn Krakus Man of the Match honors.

Defender Jorge Corrales and midfielder Daniel Johnson made their first career MLS starts in the match. Corrales featured the full 90 minutes and Johnson for 74 minutes in the winning effort.

The Fire face a quick turnaround as they next take on the Philadelphia Union in a midweek clash at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa. on Wednesday, May 30 (6:15 p.m. CT Pre-Game Show presented by CIBC / 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff on ESPN+ and Univision Deportes Chicago 1200AM).

Quotes:

Veljko Paunovic - Head Coach, Chicago Fire

Thoughts on the game:

"Well I've got to praise our guys for another huge, huge game, huge effort. Today we had everything you need to have in order to win against one of the best teams in the league, the team that was very consistent in their play and in their success so far. In moments we were tactical, in moments we were smart, and in moments we were good technically also and other moments we were lucky to be honest, and that's all you have to do. We were courageous and working hard and the team was playing as a unit, playing all together, taking care for each other. When somebody makes the mistake and then somebody else fixes it, then it's contagious and everyone does more for the team and more for the teammates. That's something that in these kind of games, where maybe in the past we were missing, but in these kind of games that can be decisive."

On finding the right moments to secure the victory:

"The way we played requires a lot of strength and energy and we also had difficult weather, the same as our opponent, so there are no excuses for that. It was difficult to sustain that good pace of the game that we had in the first half. To be honest, the individual quality of our players decided the game and I'm so happy with the way we played, that it can get to that moment where the guys step in with responsibility and decide the game just scoring fantastic goals. As I said, Orlando is one of the best teams and you don't expect that you're going to have the ball all the game and you don't expect that you're going to control all the time. We had our Plan B and we stuck with that and in moments we had to switch and in those couple of changes the team reacted very well and again all the credit to our fantastic team and fantastic players."

If this is a turning point in the season:

"For us, it's going from game to game. We were in this situation a couple of weeks ago when we won also on the road, but we weren't capable of creating the momentum. Yes, this is important, but we don't want to think about creating the momentum. It's something that is going to come. Just live in this moment and recover and prepare for the next game. Fortunately we have another game in just a couple of days in Philadelphia and from this night we're going to start thinking about that."

If the Nemanja Nikolić substitution at halftime was due to injury:

"It's a different reason that he came out. He had some physical issues. It's all good but we believe that he's going to be ready for the next game."

Alan Gordon - Forward, Chicago Fire

On scoring late goals:

"That's usually my role, is to come in and try to provide a spark, give the guys some help. They fought really hard tonight."

If this win is a turning point in the season:

"Yeah, that's what we talked about before the game. We needed a performance, a team performance. We need to stick together, we need to show each other that we are willing to fight for each other and we did that tonight. The guys on the field gave everything, everything to get this win. And I am really happy to have given something to that, to help these guys who work so hard and this one feels good for the team."

On how the Fire were able to break down Orlando City:

"They were committing numbers forward because they were searching for the win and we stayed patient. We were fighting hard and we were looking for our one chance and Aleksandar Katai was doing a hell of a job taking guys on and being available. And so when we got the chance to go forward we did it and you know Basti gave me that ball and I just cracked it."

Patrick McLain - Goalkeeper, Chicago Fire

Thoughts on the game:

"The real credit goes to the guys that are in front of me. There were so many opportunities that could've been a lot different if they hadn't blocked them. So, I'm just really thankful that they put in such a shift."

On the defensive success:

"They had a lot of opportunities and things could've gone a lot different if they hadn't put their bodies on the line. Obviously, while we were doing our work back there, the forwards did their work. Couldn't be more proud."

On Orlando's pattern of scoring late and holding them off:

"I think it just shows real grit from the team to hang on, to do what's necessary, to go in the game alive."

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Chicago Fire 2:1 Orlando City SC

May 26, 2018 - Orlando City Stadium

Attendance: 25,288

Scoring Summary:

CHI - Aleksandar Katai (unassisted) 13'

ORL - Cristian Higuita (Chris Mueller) 28'

CHI - Alan Gordon (Bastian Schweinsteiger) 82'

Misconduct Summary:

ORL - Mohamed El-Munir (caution) 11'

ORL - Chris Schuler (caution) 40'

CHI - Kevin Ellis (caution) 45+1'

ORL - Oriol Rosell (caution) 64'

ORL - Chris Mueller (caution) 70'

CHI - Mo Adams (ejection) 89'

ORL - Sacha Kljestan (caution) 90'

CHI - Johan Kappelhof (caution) 90+6'

Chicago Fire: Patrick McLain; Kevin Ellis, Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell, Jorge Corrales; Mo Adams, Bastian Schweinsteiger ©; Diego Campos (Grant Lillard 84'), Daniel Johnson (Brandt Bronico 74'), Aleksandar Katai; Nemanja Nikolić (Alan Gordon HT)

Subs not used: Richard Sánchez; Brandon Vincent; Drew Conner, Tony Tchani

Shots: 10; Shots On-Goal: 4; Fouls: 14; Saves: 5; Offsides: 0; Corners: 3.

Orlando City SC: Joe Bendik, RJ Allen, Mohamed El-Munir, Tony Rocha, Chris Schuler, Sacha Kljestan ©, Cristian Higuita (Richie Laryea 84'), Justin Meram, Chris Mueller (Stefano Pinho 75'), Oriol Rosell, Josue Colman (Victor Giro 83')

Subs not used: Dillon Powers, Adam Grinwis, Earl Edwards Jr., Donny Toia

Shots: 21; Shots On-Goal: 6; Fouls: 14; Saves: 2; Offsides: 2; Corners: 8.

Check out the Chicago Fire FC Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from May 26, 2018


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