BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (June 24, 2017) – In its second match in four days, Orlando City SC (7-6-5, 26 points) fell, 4-0, to the Chicago Fire (10-3-4, 34 points) Saturday night at Toyota Park. Richie Laryea made his MLS debut.
“First and foremost the energy. Just the energy in the first half, we played off the bar,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said about the performance. “Obviously we’ve had a very difficult travel week and we knew we were up against a massive challenge. In the end we just didn’t have it.”
Kreis came out with a back line consisting of PC alongside Tommy Redding, Jonathan Spector and Scott Sutter. The starting midfield was Luis Gil, Antonio Nocerino, Cristian Higuita and Will Johnson. Kaká wore the captain’s armband up top with Carlos Rivas.
Laryea entered the match for Kaká in the 64th minute to make his MLS debut. Laryea was Orlando City’s seventh overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft and has three goals for Orlando City B, the Club’s United Soccer League affiliate, which is tied for the team lead.
David Accam got the Fire going early with two goals in the first 10 minutes. Accam then set up Nemanja Nikolic’s goal before converting from the penalty spot.
Orlando City closes out the three-game road trip when it visits Real Salt Lake on Friday, June 30 at 9:30 p.m. ET. The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on July 5 to host Toronto FC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
First Half
3’ David Accam opens the scoring with a slick back-heel flick from the six-yard box.
8’ Accam gets in alone, takes a touch past Joe Bendik and makes it 2-0.
14’ Tommy Redding intercepts David Accam’s intended through ball for Nemanja Nikolic. Bendik makes a save on Luis Solignac.
19’ Kaká collects a pass, takes a touch into the box and drives a low cross through.
26’ Carlos Rivas earns a free kick. Rivas drives the free kick from 23 yards into the wall.
31’ Bendik makes a point-blank save on a first-time volley from Nikolic.
36’ Kaká slips it through for PC, who drills a cross through the box but no one is there for the shot.
40’ PC picks up the ball in space and has a go from distance.
45’ The referee ends the half with no added time. Orlando City 0, Chicago Fire 2.
Second Half
51’ Nikolic scores after a through ball from Accam. Orlando City 0, Chicago Fire 3.
57’ Matías Pérez García enters the match in place of Cristian Higuita. Giles Barnes enters the match in place of Luis Gil.
62’ Accam is tripped up in the box and the referee awards a penalty kick. Accam converts. Orlando City 0, Chicago Fire 4.
64’ Richie Laryea enters the match in place of Kaká. It is Laryea’s MLS debut. Will Johnson takes the captain’s armband.
71’ Rivas takes a crack from distance but rolls it wide.
75’ MPG flicks it up for Rivas, who races onto it and beats Matt Lampson to the ball. Lampson charges out well beyond his area, tackles Rivas with his studs showing but the referee rules play on. Rivas exits the match with the help of the trainers and Orlando City is reduced to 10 men.
90+2’ After two minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 0, Chicago Fire 4.
Scoring Summary:
CHI - David Accam (Matt Polster) 3’
CHI - David Accam (Bastian Schweinsteiger) 8’
CHI - Nemanja Nikolic (David Accam) 52’
CHI - David Accam (PK) 63’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Will Johnson (Yellow Card) 22’
ORL - Cristian Higuita (Yellow Card) 33’
CHI - Bastian Schweinsteiger (Yellow Card) 53’
CHI - Michael de Leeuw (Yellow Card) 56’
ORL - Kaká (Yellow Card) 58’
CHI - Nemanja Nikolic (Yellow Card) 69’
ORL - PC (Yellow Card) 84’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Chicago Fire - GK Matt Lampson, D Brandon Vincent, Joao Meira, Johan Kappelhof, Matt Polster, M Dax McCarty, Bastian Schweinsteiger (Djordje Mihailovic 73’), David Accam (Arturo Alvarez 80’), Michael de Leeuw (Juninho 59’), Luis Solignac, F Nemanja Nikolic
Substitutes Not Used: GK Stefan Cleveland, D Jonathan Campbell, M Drew Connor, Daniel Johnson
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D PC, Jonathan Spector, Tommy Redding, Scott Sutter, M Luis Gil (Giles Barnes 57’), Antonio Nocerino, Cristian Higuita (Matías Pérez García 57’), Will Johnson, F ⓒ Kaká (Richie Laryea 64’), Carlos Rivas
Substitutes Not Used: GK Josh Saunders, D Donny Toia, José Aja, M Servando Carrasco
Details of the Game:
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: June 24, 2017
Attendance: 20,000
Stats:
Possession:
CHI - 59.7 %
ORL - 40.3 %
Shots:
CHI - 17
ORL - 3
Saves:
CHI - 0
ORL - 3
Fouls:
CHI - 22
ORL - 15
Corners:
CHI - 1
ORL - 1
