The Chicago Fire look to extend a five-game winning streak in all competitions when they visit an Orlando City side trying to stay in the playoff picture on Wednesday night.
Dje D’Avilla scored his first goal of the season and added an assist as the Fire (10-6-2, 32 points) got in front early and held on to a 2-1 home victory over the Portland Timbers on Sunday.
The victory followed three straight wins in the first phase of the Leagues Cup and another home triumph entering the tournament, results that came shortly after the acquisition of star Polish striker Robert Lewandowski in late June.
Manager Gregg Berhalter’s side currently sits third in the Eastern Conference, six points behind second-place Inter Miami. Now the challenge is maintaining that position during a four-match league road trip.
“We have to keep going for league wins,” Berhalter said after Sunday’s victory. “I think it’s the mentality of the group. We talk a lot about it not being one person or two people — it’s about the collective, and we need everyone to put themselves in position to play. We need them to stay fit. We need them to have the right mentality. And when they get the opportunity, take it.”
Orlando (6-10-3, 21 points) will play the second of three in a row at home on Wednesday after settling for a 1-1 draw Saturday against FC Cincinnati.
The Lions made their own summer splash with the signing of French attacker Antoine Griezmann, who has scored once in the league and once in Leagues Cup play since his July 22 debut.
Griezmann helped Orlando win its first two matches following the World Cup break to climb back into the Eastern playoff picture.
But despite Tyrese Spicer’s leveler early in the second half, Saturday’s draw was perhaps a missed opportunity, with the Lions still sitting three points beneath ninth-place D.C. United and the playoff line.
“We always want to win at home,” interim manager Martin Perelman said. “But again, taking into account the opponent, the game and everything, I think the effort of the players was there. We need to take the point and move forward because this league is long and we are still there. The standings, we look at the end. Tough night, but okay, we move forward for the next one.”
–Field Level Media
