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Saturday night’s 4-1 Orlando City win over the Chicago Fire was a rainy, crazy affair that defied normality. Orlando conceded two penalties — one of which was converted — and the game featured two Chicago goals overturned after video review and an argument among the visitors’ players over who would take the first of the two spot kicks, which Pedro Gallese then saved. Much of it was played in a constant downpour and the wet ball created issues at both ends.
It was not a normal night.
But these aren’t your “normal” MLS Lions, either. Orlando was the more clinical side, with each team firing 19 shots toward goal and four going in for City to Chicago’s measly one — on the Fire’s second spot kick. Captain Nani figured heavily in all four Orlando goals, cutting in from the left to begin the final sequence for Chris Mueller’s goal. He then scored one for himself off a Mueller cross. Later in the match, he drew and then took the free kick that led to Junior Urso’s insurance goal and then he assisted Benji Michel’s stoppage-time strike.
Orlando equaled its MLS record unbeaten streak — six games — and remained unbeaten at home in 2020. The Lions also beat Chicago at home for the first time since entering MLS, snapping a run of 0-2-3 at home against the Fire and beating them for the first time since getting a pair of wins in Chicago in 2015.
We hope you enjoy these images from a waterlogged Exploria Stadium on Saturday night in the Lions’ most lopsided score line of the season. It was a crazy night that the 3,000+ socially distanced fans who were there will never forget.
