PHOTO BY MARK THOR VIA ORLANDO CITY SC
Orlando City SC earned a 2-2 draw at Chicago Fire FC on Wednesday night at Soldier Field, a result that keeps the Lions in an automatic playoff position with two regular-season games remaining.
Orlando City (12-13-7, 43 points) led 2-0 before Chicago (15-10-7, 52 points) came back with two goals in 12 minutes in the second half. MLS standings show the Lions seventh in the Eastern Conference, tied on 43 points with FC Cincinnati in eighth, according to the league’s standings feed.
Orlando took the lead six minutes in. Midfielder Luís Otávio sent the ball to Antoine Griezmann, who played Iván Angulo down the left wing. Angulo attacked the penalty area and beat goalkeeper Chris Brady at the near post from a tight angle for his seventh MLS goal of the season.
The assist was Griezmann’s 12th consecutive MLS match with a goal contribution, tying the club record set by Martín Ojeda in 2025.
Orlando doubled the lead in the 35th minute. Otávio started the attack with a pass to Vinícius Nogueira, who played Griezmann into space outside the box. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner turned and curled a finish to make it 2-0. It was his 15th goal in all competitions since joining Orlando City this summer, trailing only Ojeda’s 17 for the team lead in 2026.
Chicago cut the deficit in the 57th minute when halftime substitute Jonathan Bamba headed home a cross from Leonardo Barroso at the far post. Twelve minutes later, Bamba set up the equalizer, controlling a rebound off a cross and laying it off for Maren Haile-Selassie, who finished from the edge of the six-yard box.
“I think it was a first half where we performed,” said interim head coach Martín Perelman. “The guys did a really good effort. [The] players defending did a complete job, Max [Crépeau] saved us a couple of times, which is his job.” He said Chicago was “obviously” going to push at home, and that the Lions “couldn’t” defend as they wanted in the second half. “At the end of the day, it’s a point. We are not happy, but as well, we know how this is, how tough it’s on the road.”
Defenders Griffin Dorsey (back) and Robin Jansson (foot) and forward Tyrese Spicer (foot) missed the match with injuries. Midfielder Eduard Atuesta served a suspension for yellow card accumulation.
Orlando City closes its two-match road trip Saturday, October 31, at Charlotte FC at 1 p.m. on Apple TV. It then returns home Saturday, November 7, to face the New England Revolution at 4 p.m., according to the league schedule feed.
