12 - Pulpo perfection
Pedro Gallese recorded his 12th career clean sheet for Orlando City in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over CF Montréal. That puts him one behind Joe Bendik’s all-competition club record of 13. Gallese’s next start would be his 49th for the Lions, while Bendik started 91 matches during his time in Orlando.
+0.55 - Expected victory
Orlando City’s win on Sunday was a comfortable one, reflected in the expected goal difference, where the Lions were ahead of Montréal 1.51 to 0.96. Orlando actually led by more than a full goal on matchday, but a late revision changed Romell Quioto’s 16th-minute chance from a low-percentage opportunity up to a whopping 0.637, meaning the chance would be scored 64% of the time. Beyond that eyebrow-raising decision, Montréal’s best chance was a free kick attempted by JoaquÃn Torres in the 90th minute that earned 0.074 xG.
6 - Kacper the unfriendly ghost
An old enemy resurfaces in a new home on Saturday in Chicago, as new Fire striker Kacper Przybylko will face Orlando City for the first time in his new colors. Przybylko, acquired this winter from Philadelphia for $1.15 million in General Allocation Money, has scored six goals in five times against the Lions in his career, including three in two games in 2021.
18 - X-factor
Chicago’s marquee offseason signing was not Przybylko, however–it was Swiss international midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, signed as a Designated Player from Lyon. Shaqiri has earned 18 trophies in his illustrious career, including two UEFA Champions Leagues, seven league titles between Germany, England, and Switzerland, four domestic cups, and two FIFA Club World Cups.
