Deadspin: Orlando City Hope to Seal Playoff Berth Against Fire After Highs and Lows

Orlando’s playoff path

Orlando City enters the match with a 12-13-6 record and 42 points, tied with FC Cincinnati. The Lions hold seventh place in the Eastern Conference, with the New York Red Bulls ninth on 39 points and Columbus in 10th with 38.

A victory at Soldier Field, paired with Columbus losing to FC Dallas, would clinch Orlando’s playoff berth. The Lions are four points behind sixth-place Philadelphia and are unbeaten in their last four games, with two wins and two draws.

A rematch after August loss

Chicago beat Orlando 2-1 on Aug. 19. Fire forward Lewandowski scored the deciding goal from the penalty spot in the 68th minute. Orlando is coming off a 2-2 home draw with New York City FC. Martin Ojeda scored his team-leading 16th goal, and Antoine Griezmann added his 13th. Coach Martin Perelman said the team would prepare and compete for points.

Chicago enters in fourth

The Fire are 15-10-6 with 51 points and have already clinched a playoff place. They sit fourth in the East, four points behind second-place New England and third-place Inter Miami.

Chicago ended a two-game losing streak with a 3-2 road win over Atlanta United on Saturday. Anton Saletros, Anzor Mekvabishvili and Philip Zinckernagel scored for the Fire.

Players reflect on the season

Orlando midfielder Wilder Cartagena described the campaign as having both difficult and positive stretches, adding that he was pleased with the team’s current form. For Chicago, Maren Haile-Selassie leads current players with 11 goals. He shares the team assist lead with Zinckernagel, with 10 each. Fire coach Gregg Berhalter praised his team’s resilience while saying players could improve on the ball.