Hugo Cuypers scored twice in a minute’s span of the first half and Philip Zinckernagel had a goal and an assist as Chicago Fire FC won 3-1 at Orlando City on Saturday night.
Thanks to Cuypers, the Fire (6-5-4, 22 points) led 3-0 a little past the half-hour mark and held on to win for the third time in the last four MLS matches. Despite conceding 28 overall shots and 13 corners — to its one — Chicago got a stout night from goalkeeper Chris Brady (four saves) to post a fifth road win for the first time since 2012.
Meanwhile, Alex Freeman scored for Orlando (7-4-6, 27 points), which has lost two straight following its 12-match league unbeaten run.
Chicago opened the scoring in stunning fashion just five minutes into the contest as Zinckernagel’s turnaround left-footer went through the hands of talented Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and into the net.
Orlando’s first serious chance came in the 21st minute through star Martin Ojeda. However, Brady stopped the point-blank strike.
Then Cuypers’ brace further stunned the Orlando faithful.
In the 31st minute, a wide-open Cuypers easily finished from the middle of the box off a Zinckernagel delivery for a 2-0 Fire lead. One minute later, a streaking Cuypers took a longer pass from Zinckernagel, put a move on Orlando defender Rodrigo Schlegel, then buried his shot past Gallese.
Orlando found a potential lifeline 40 minutes into the first half. Off a corner, Freeman’s header glanced off the dome of Chicago’s Rominigue Koumae and redirected past a leaning Brady.
Orlando’s pressure was relentless from the start of the second half, piling up corners and trying to keep any momentum built from their first-half answer. Luis Muriel hit the crossbar in the 65th minute, moments after Brady saved Enrique’s drive from the center of the box.
Brady then bailed out his team with a diving save on Enrique in the 74th.
Each side played without a key performer after Chicago star Brian Gutierrez and Orlando’s Cesar Araujo received respective red cards in their previous matches. Orlando coach Oscar Pareja was also not on the touchline after being ejected during its mid-week loss at Atlanta.
–Field Level Media
