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MLS Orlando City SC

Preview: Orlando City Heads to Chicago for First Road Contest of 2019

March 7, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Orlando City SC News Release


ORLANDO, Fla. - Orlando City SC (0-0-1, 1 point) will hit the road for the first time this season to face the Chicago Fire (0-1-0, 0 points) on Saturday, March 9. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET at SeatGeek Stadium.

The match will be locally televised on My65 and available on YouTube TV. It will be transmitted on FM 96.9 The Game in English and La Nueva 990 AM in Spanish.

"I think they [Chicago] played very well [against LA Galaxy] to be honest. I think they were very unfortunate not to get more out of the game," Head Coach James O'Connor said. "So it'll be a tough game, obviously Chicago at home they're playing well and be full of confidence."

Orlando City enters the match coming off a 2-2 draw against New York City FC on Saturday. The Lions fell behind 2-0 in the first half off of goals by Ebenezer Ofori and Alexander Ring in the 13th and 45th minutes respectively. Chris Mueller ignited the comeback for City in the 59th minute when his free kick curved around the New York City wall and bounced into the back of the net. The Lions leveled off a through ball in for Dom Dwyer from Nani in which Dwyer sent a cross in to the box across the face of goal to the foot of Tesho Akindele to tie it.

Mueller and Akindele now lead the Lions with a goal apiece in the short season, with Dwyer and Nani both totaling an assist. Goalkeeper Brian Rowe is currently tied for third in the league with four saves in 2019.

Chicago enters the match following a 2-1 defeat against the LA Galaxy on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park. Chicago struck first, taking a 1-0 lead off a goal from newcomer CJ Sapong, but fell in the end thanks to second half goals scored by Daniel Steres in the 68th minute and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 80th.

Saturday marks the first of two meetings between the two sides this season. The Fire will travel to Orlando City Stadium on Saturday, October 6 in a match that will serve as the regular-season finale for both clubs.

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