Written by: Raul Sosa
ORLANDO, FL - The game between Orlando City SC and Chicago Fire FC originally scheduled at 7:30PM got postponed numerous times due to heavy rain and lightning.
The initial kickoff was rescheduled for 9:20PM, but the match only lasted 18 minutes before the first official announced the game unplayable for the same bad weather conditions. The game finally resumed at 10:45PM with no stops until the end.
As with every Orlando City game this season, 28,921 loyal fans came to the Citrus Bowl despite the bad weather in Central Florida with the hope to see their team add 3 crucial points towards the end of the season.
After the game stopped due to the weather, many fans gave up and the Bowl was slowly emptying. However, around half of the fans stayed until the end of the game, which concluded at midnight.
As the game moved forward, Chicago Fire had complete control of the game for 15 consecutive minutes. Orlando City seemed so lost in the field that the sensation of Chicago scoring was constant in every chance they had.
Consequently, Chicago’s forward, David Accam, found a way into Orlando’s box from the left side, and, when everyone thought he was going to cross the ball, shot a low and fast ball towards the post Tally Hall was defending to score the first goal of the night.
Orlando City tried to recover, but Chicago rapidly recovered the ball and created a chance that ended up in a miss from a header in front of the goal… It seemed like a long night for the Lions and their remaining fans.
When everything seemed negative and uphill for Orlando City, Lewis Neal appeared from the right wing and sent a promising long cross to the penalty box.
Cyle Larin hindered and helped Chicago’s defender, Eric Gehrig, to score Chicago’s 3rd own goal of the season and tied the game at the 37th minute with his shoulder.
By the start of the 2nd half, Orlando City came back to life with the equalizer. They finally found their game and started to be dangerous in every chance they had. The Lions slowly became the sole owners of the ball and possession.
Carlos Rivas became Orlando’s most dangerous man by providing up to 4 crosses for his teammates inside the box. He sprinted towards every through ball Kaka and Darwin sent to the open. He even crashed a powerful shot onto the right post at the 69th minute.
Despite Orlando City’s effort to add those 3 vital points, the draw gives them one point that puts them back in the playoff standings. Head Coach, Adrian Heath, reacted to tonight’s final result: “I thought on the whole considering the evening, the players on both teams put a great show on. It is hard after a 4-hour (rain) delay. I can't fault the players.”
With the regular season coming to a close, the Lions are in need of win's in order to make it to the playoffs in their first MLS season. Not an impossible task to achieve, but Orlando City has to return to their old winning habits in order to reach their goal on their 1st season in Major League Soccer.
The initial kickoff was rescheduled for 9:20PM, but the match only lasted 18 minutes before the first official announced the game unplayable for the same bad weather conditions. The game finally resumed at 10:45PM with no stops until the end.
As with every Orlando City game this season, 28,921 loyal fans came to the Citrus Bowl despite the bad weather in Central Florida with the hope to see their team add 3 crucial points towards the end of the season.
After the game stopped due to the weather, many fans gave up and the Bowl was slowly emptying. However, around half of the fans stayed until the end of the game, which concluded at midnight.
As the game moved forward, Chicago Fire had complete control of the game for 15 consecutive minutes. Orlando City seemed so lost in the field that the sensation of Chicago scoring was constant in every chance they had.
Consequently, Chicago’s forward, David Accam, found a way into Orlando’s box from the left side, and, when everyone thought he was going to cross the ball, shot a low and fast ball towards the post Tally Hall was defending to score the first goal of the night.
Orlando City tried to recover, but Chicago rapidly recovered the ball and created a chance that ended up in a miss from a header in front of the goal… It seemed like a long night for the Lions and their remaining fans.
When everything seemed negative and uphill for Orlando City, Lewis Neal appeared from the right wing and sent a promising long cross to the penalty box.
Cyle Larin hindered and helped Chicago’s defender, Eric Gehrig, to score Chicago’s 3rd own goal of the season and tied the game at the 37th minute with his shoulder.
By the start of the 2nd half, Orlando City came back to life with the equalizer. They finally found their game and started to be dangerous in every chance they had. The Lions slowly became the sole owners of the ball and possession.
Carlos Rivas became Orlando’s most dangerous man by providing up to 4 crosses for his teammates inside the box. He sprinted towards every through ball Kaka and Darwin sent to the open. He even crashed a powerful shot onto the right post at the 69th minute.
Despite Orlando City’s effort to add those 3 vital points, the draw gives them one point that puts them back in the playoff standings. Head Coach, Adrian Heath, reacted to tonight’s final result: “I thought on the whole considering the evening, the players on both teams put a great show on. It is hard after a 4-hour (rain) delay. I can't fault the players.”
With the regular season coming to a close, the Lions are in need of win's in order to make it to the playoffs in their first MLS season. Not an impossible task to achieve, but Orlando City has to return to their old winning habits in order to reach their goal on their 1st season in Major League Soccer.