Chicago Fire Brushes Aside Orlando City To Win First Mls Playoff Game Since 2009

Hugo Cuypers recorded a second-half brace and nan Chicago Fire picked up their first playoff triumph successful 16 years pinch a dominating 3-1 triumph complete Orlando City successful an Eastern Conference wild-card lucifer connected Wednesday nighttime successful Bridgeview, Illinois.

Brian Gutiérrez besides scored for nan eighth-seeded Fire, who ended nan longest playoff-victory drought successful MLS history. It besides was Chicago’s first postseason lucifer since 2017.

The Fire beforehand to play nan top-seeded Philadelphia Union. Game 1 of nan best-of-three first-round bid is Sunday astatine Chester, Pennsylvania.

Tyrese Spicer scored nan lone extremity for ninth-seeded Orlando City, who struggled connected offense. The Fire outshot nan Lions 25-7 and had a 9-4 separator successful shots connected target.

Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady registered 3 saves, while Lions counterpart Pedro Gallese had six stops.

The Fire collapsed a scoreless necktie pinch 2 goals early successful nan 2nd half.

In nan 48th minute, Jonathan Dean sent a transverse to nan near broadside and Gutierrez collected nan ball. Gutierrez past booted a right-footed changeable into nan near area of nan net. Three minutes later, Gutiérrez had different opportunity, but his right-footed changeable deed nan correct goalpost.

In nan 57th minute, nan shot came toward Cuypers, who deed it forward. He rushed aft it and Gallese came retired to footwear it away, but nan shot smacked disconnected Cuypers’ shin and bounced into nan nett to springiness nan Fire a 2-0 advantage.

Orlando City had a bully chance successful nan 60th minute, but a left-footed blast by Marco Pasalic was stopped by Brady.

Gallese made a coagulated prevention connected Jonathan Bamba’s left-footed changeable successful nan 66th infinitesimal and nan shot went straight to Gutierrez. With nan nett open, Gutierrez deed nan correct goalpost to miss his opportunity for nan brace.

Cuypers sewage his brace 2 minutes later erstwhile he drilled a right-footed changeable past Gallese.

Orlando spoiled Brady’s shutout bid successful nan 89th minute. Spicer precocious successful and took a left-footed changeable that deed disconnected nan goalie’s hands and went into nan apical of nan net.

Chicago controlled nan first half and had a 9-1 advantage successful shots.

The Fire had a large opportunity successful nan 36th infinitesimal erstwhile Cuypers collapsed successful and a sliding Gallese knocked speech his left-footed shot.

Orlando City took their first changeable successful nan 2nd infinitesimal of first-half stoppage clip erstwhile Rodrigo Schlegel sent a header wide left.