A second-half outburst from the Chicago Fire led to a 5-2 win over Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium as part of Decision Day presented by AT&T.
Both teams entered the match having already been eliminated from reaching the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, but with many questions swirling around both teams' future plans, the visiting Fire ended on a far better note than the Lions.
Orlando opened the scoring in the fifth minute, with Tesho Akindele's shot, which caromed off the post and deflected off Fire goalkeeper Kenneth Kronholm on the way in. The goal was initially called back due to an offside in the buildup, but Video Review overturned that call and the goal stood.
Chicago equalized in the 17th minute, as a stretch for the ball right in front of goal was made by both CJ Sapong and Kyle Smith, the Orlando defender getting credit for the final touch.
Play was stopped midway through the first half, after two Orlando City players collided. Defender Robin Jansson came out immediately on a stretcher after being attended to on the field for several minutes.
The teams battled for the go-ahead goal in the second half, and Sapong got his tally just after the hour mark, with a smart redirect off Fabian Herbers' cross. Moments later, Aleksandar Katai nabbed an insurance tally with a nifty dribble and cut to finish, while Przemyslaw Frankowski made sure the rout was on, with a long-range backheel to make it 4-1 to the visitors.
Benji Michel scored a consolation tally for Orlando, before Frankowski added another to cap off the victory.
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Goals
- 5' – ORL – Tesho Akindele | WATCH
- 17' – CHI – Kyle Smith (OG) | WATCH
- 61' – CHI – CJ Sapong | WATCH
- 63' – CHI – Aleksandar Katai | WATCH
- 67' – CHI – Przemyslaw Frankowski | WATCH
- 74' – ORL – Benji Michel | WATCH
- 87' – CHI – Przemyslaw Frankowski | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: No doubt about it, it was a disappointing season for both teams, but the Fire end the campaign on a high note, with an emphatic (if wild) road win. They finish the season in eighth place in the East, while Orlando drop to 11th to finish the season, and another year with no Audi MLS Cup Playoffs marks the Lions' campaign.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: The game had already broken open at that point, but Frankowski's backheel finish was the kind of sauce of a team that is rolling.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: The many goals make it seem like Chicago won easily, but Kronholm kept the Fire in it until the hour mark, making eight saves to finish a topsy-turvy campaign on the right note.
Next Up
- Orlando: End of season.
- Chicago: End of season.
