Orlando City (2-2-2, 8 pts.) continues its April homestand this Saturday against Chicago Fire FC (2-0-3, 9 pts.), the second time the two will meet within a five-week span. The match, presented by Dex Imaging, is set to kick off at 1 p.m. ET and will be televised nationally on Univision/TUDN, with English commentary available through Twitter. Local radio coverage will be available from 12:30 p.m. ET on Real Radio 104.1 in English and Acción 97.9 FM in Spanish.
Here’s everything you need to know about Chicago:
Key Transactions and Player News
Key Additions - Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson (Columbus Crew), AM Xherdan Shaqiri (Lyon), CF Kacper Przybylko (Philadelphia Union), CB Rafael Czichos (1. FC Köln), F Jhon Durán (Envigado), RW Jairo Torres (Atlas, arriving in May)
Key Departures - CF Robert Beric (option declined), AM/CM Álvaro Medrán (Al Taawoun FC), AM/CM Luka Stojanovic (Al-Hazem FC), LW Ignacio Aliseda (Lugano), CB Francisco Calvo (San Jose Earthquakes), CB/RB Johan Kappelhof (Real Salt Lake), GK Bobby Shuttleworth (Atlanta United)
News - Shaqiri’s status for the weekend is uncertain after leaving Chicago’s last match with a calf injury in the 18th minute. The Swiss international played twice for his country over the international break and had played every minute this season for the Fire until sustaining the knock against FC Dallas, posting one goal and two assists through his first five matches.
Take a look at Chicago’s full roster here.
Team Form
Ezra Hendrickson has stressed defense first, and the historically-shaky Fire have delivered for their new boss. Chicago has conceded just once in five matches, best in the league, and the underlying numbers back that up, as the Fire rank second in MLS in fewest expected goals allowed (behind only LAFC). The Fire have struggled to generate opportunities on the other end though, scoring just five times and drawing 0-0 on three occasions in their first five games.
Head-to-Head
This game will be Orlando’s first rematch of the 2022 season, as the two teams met up on March 5 on a blustery night at Soldier Field for one of those Fire 0-0 draws. The Lions believed they had the winner through Júnior Urso late in the second half, but a lengthy and controversial video review called the goal back for a handball in the buildup. Orlando City is 4-5-6 all-time against Chicago, but the Lions have been much improved against the Fire under Oscar Pareja, going 2-1-1 over the past three seasons.
Rasmussen University Fact
Chicago is 1-0-1 on the road this season, meaning the Fire are already halfway home towards equaling last year’s away results. The 2021 Fire went 2-13-2 on the road, the worst away record in the Eastern Conference.
