Orlando City (4-2-4, 16 points) at Chicago Fire FC (3-4-3, 12 points)
When: Saturday, 8:30 p.m.
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL.
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (subscription required)
Radio: AM 810 Fox Sports Radio, (English), Mega 97.1 (Spanish)
Here are five storylines to watch on Saturday as the Lions take on Chicago in the Windy City:
Firing Up
Since Head Coach Oscar Pareja arrived in the City Beautiful ahead of the Lions’ 2020 campaign, Orlando City has taken control of the all-time series against Chicago Fire FC. Prior to 2020 the Lions went 2-5-5 across all competitions, while posting a 6-1-2 record all-time under Pareja to put the Lions on top in the all-time series at 8-6-7 in all competitions. In addition, Orlando City has not lost to the Fire since July of 2021 in seven consecutive matches, scoring 12 goals in those contests and only conceding five to the Chicago-based side.
Pašalić Power
With his 67th-minute strike from distance against Atlanta United FC in the Lions’ 3-0-win last weekend, forward and Designated Player Marco Pašalić has added his team-leading fifth goal of the year and continued to make his arrival from Rijeka this winter felt in matches. The Croatian international has also provided two assists on the season, including the helper on Alex Freeman’s goal in the 51st minute of last match. Per MLS Communications, Pašalić became just the fourth player in Club history to record seven goal contributions through his first 10 matches with Orlando City, joining former captain Nani, and strikers Dom Dwyer and Daryl Dike.
Designated Dominance
A theme that has persisted through the early days of the 2025 campaign, Orlando City’s three Designated players of Marco Pašalić, Luis Muriel and Martín Ojeda have made 21 goal contributions in total, with each player providing exactly seven to date with Pašalić posting five goals and two assists and Muriel and Ojeda adding four goals and three assists each on the year. The Lions’ Designated Players are three of just 17 players around Major League Soccer with seven or more goal contributions in 2025 and Orlando City is the only team in the league with three such players.
Windy Rewind
The last time Orlando City and Chicago Fire FC faced each other was at Inter&Co Stadium in June of 2024, with the Lions taking a 4-2 win to remain undefeated against the Fire for the seventh straight match. The men in purple saw two goals from all-time leading goal scorer Facundo Torres in the fourth and 60th minutes, while current Lions Luis Muriel and Iván Angulo both scored in the match to take three points and extinguish the Fire in the annual series.
MLS NEXT Pro Up
The Orlando City SC and Chicago Fire FC First Teams aren’t the only teams from these two clubs that will be facing off this weekend. Orlando City B and Chicago Fire FC II of MLS NEXT Pro played on Friday night just a few miles away, in a rematch of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The playoff matchup last year saw the Lions and Fire play to a 1-1 draw, with Chicago advancing to the next round 5-4 in the end-of-regulation shootout. In last night's match, first-team forward Shak Mohammed scored in the loss.
Milestone Tracker:
- Martín Ojeda (26) is one helper away from taking over second place all-time for most assists in Club history across all competitions, currently tied with former captain Nani.
- Duncan McGuire (26) sits fourth on Orlando City’s all-time scoring list and is five goals away from tying former captain Nani (31) across all competitions for third.
- A win or draw would extend the Lions’ current unbeaten streak to eight matches.
