Preview: Chicago Fire vs. Orlando City

The Chicago Fire are in an early-season hole they must climb out of to finally make the MLS Playoffs for the first time since 2017.

The Fire (2-5-8, 11 points, 14th in Eastern Conference) finally got a result on the road against a conference rival last weekend in Washington D.C. despite conceding what feels like the hundredth goal of the season from a set-piece.

Kellyn Acosta wore the captain’s armband at Audi Field and scored the equalizing goal (with the assist from Hugo Cuypers) while ensuring that D.C. United, a team the Fire should expect to battle for a final Eastern Conference playoff spot, didn’t take all three points. Frank Klopas said post-match that the armband is Fabian Herbers’ should he start, but expect Acosta to fill the leadership void in the locker room now that Xherdan Shaqiri is with the Swiss National Team.

Orlando City (4-4-6, 16 points, 10th in Eastern Conference) comes to Soldier Field without a loss on the road since a 2-0 defeat against Atlanta United on March 17. City and the Fire have each only scored 14 goals on the season but Orlando is tied for sixth in MLS in shots on goal allowed with 57 while Chris Brady alone has made 50 saves for the Fire in 2024. Recent history is in Orlando’s favor, as it hasn't lost to Chicago in their last five matchups.

Orlando got Diego Rossi’d by the Columbus Crew at home over the weekend after taking seven points from its previous three matches.

Frankly, the Fire need a win at home against an Orlando City side that, like D.C. United at the weekend, will be battling at the end of the season for one of the final Eastern Conference playoff spots. Stringing together results sans Xherdan Shaqiri would also begin to answer some questions about the past few seasons.

How to Watch Chicago Fire vs. Orlando City

Who: Chicago Fire vs. Orlando City

Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

When: May 29, 2024 at 7:30 PM CT

How to Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+

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