Hugo Kuypers recorded a second-half brace as the Chicago Fire earned their first playoff win in 16 years with a convincing 3–1 victory over the Chicago Fire. Orlando City in an Eastern Conference matchup Wednesday night in Bridgeview, Illinois.
Brian Gutierrez also scored for the eighth-place Fire team, which ended the longest playoff drought in history. MLS story. It was also Chicago's first postseason appearance since 2017.
The Fire enter the game with the strongest Philadelphia Union. Game 1 of the best-of-three first-round series will take place on Sunday in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Tyrese Spicer scored the only goal for ninth-seeded Orlando City, which has struggled offensively. The Fire outscored the Lions 25-7 and had a 9-4 edge in shots on target.
Chicago goaltender Chris Brady made three saves and Lions counterpart Pedro Gallese made six stops.
The Fire broke the scoreless tie with two goals early in the second half.
In the 48th minute, Jonathan Dean crossed to the left flank and Gutierrez collected the ball. Gutierrez then fired a right-footed shot into the left corner of the goal. Three minutes later, Gutierrez had another opportunity, but his right-footed shot hit the right goal post.
In the 57th minute the ball found its way to Kuypers, who fired home. He rushed after it and Gallese came out to clear the ball, but the ball deflected off Kuypers' shin and into the net, giving the Fire a 2-0 lead.
Orlando City had a good chance in the 60th minute, but Marko Pasalic's left-footed shot was stopped by Brady.
Gallese deflected Jonathan Bamba's left-footed shot in the 66th minute and the ball went straight to Gutierrez. With the goal open, Gutierrez hit the right goal post and missed the opportunity to score a double.
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Kuypers scored a brace two minutes later when he fired a right-footed shot past Gallese.
Orlando spoiled Brady's goal in the 89th minute. Spicer moved forward and fired a shot with his left foot, which found its way into the goalkeeper's hands and into the back of the net.
Chicago controlled the first half and had a 9-1 shot advantage.
Fire had a great chance in the 36th minute when Kuypers burst into play and his shot was saved with his left foot by a sliding Gallese.
Orlando City struck their first shot in the second minute of first-half stoppage time when Rodrigo Schlegel headed in a shot to the left.
