PC: Martin Murillo/LMD Media Group
In the club's last regular-season match on the lakefront, Chicago Fire FC settled for a point after a 2-2 draw against Orlando City SC on October 29 at Soldier Field.
Coming into the match, Orlando ranked as the second-worst defensive unit in MLS, allowing 72 goals in league play alone as it fought for a playoff spot as the season wound down. The Men in Red, coming off a 3-2 road win over Atlanta United, sat comfortably in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Despite the hard-fought effort from Chicago to earn a point, the story of coming back from behind has been an ongoing issue for the club.
"We've had a stretch lately where we're not giving a ton up; we're giving very little up, but we're getting scored on, and it's frustrating," Chicago head coach Gregg Berhalter said.
"If we carry that into the playoffs, we're not going to go far; it's going to be difficult to advance. I'm disappointed that we were down 2-0 at halftime."
During one of Orlando's first possessions of the match, Ivan Angulo outpaced Leonardo Barroso down the wing, sneaking a shot past Chris Brady to give the Lions an early 1-0 lead in the seventh minute.
Nearly ten minutes later, Chicago forward Robert Lewandowski nearly ended his unfortunate goal-scoring drought after an attempted scissor kick rattled Orlando's goalpost.
The Polish icon has not scored in eight consecutive matches, the first drought in as many games in club play in over 15 years. Lewandowski has not scored for the Fire since the club's 3–1 loss against Nashville SC in September.
Lewandowski's lack of goals has raised major concerns at this point of the season, considering his long-time goal-scoring reputation in European play and his arrival being a major factor in the departure of Hugo Cuypers.
"That [scissor kick attempt] was unbelievable and [would've been] goal of the year," Berhalter said. "You start to see his quality, and you just have to be calm and patient. I guarantee you he's more frustrated than all of us."
"That's the type of guy he is: he wants to help the team, he wants to help the team win. He wants to score
his goals."
In the 35th minute, a vintage version of Antoine Griezmann appeared after scoring a left-footed screamer from outside of the penalty arc, doubling Orlando's lead going into halftime.
After a combination of unforced turnovers and heroic saves made by Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, the Men in Red were denied a goal despite several golden opportunities in front of goal. The Fire went into halftime scoreless against a defensive unit that had grown accustomed to letting goals in.
Chicago responded in the 57th minute after a cross sent by Barroso found Jonathan Bamba near the back post for a header to cut Orlando's lead in half. Bamba entered the match at halftime, subbing in for Sergio Oregel Jr., who lacked significant touches in the first half that prevented him impact on the game.
Bamba served as the ultimate game-changer, making an immediate impact on the match upon his arrival and finishing with two goal contributions while tallying his third goal of the season.
"We know what kind of player [Bamba] is and the quality he has," Haile-Selassie said. "I’ve said it before, that it’s not always visible for outsiders, but in the team we know the quality he brings."
"It shows the mentality of the players that we have, even off the bench, making an impact, and he was huge for us in the second half."
Bamba's second goal contribution came in the 69th minute after setting up his teammate, Maren Haile-Selassie, with a left-footed shot from the center of the box to tie the match. The Swiss forward is currently having the best season of his career, with 22 goal contributions, including 12 goals.
Chicago's captain Jack Elliott returned to the starting lineup after serving a two-game suspension due to a red card and a yellow-card accumulation ban after the club's match against the Philadelphia Union.
"Everyone's disappointed we didn't win at home, but it's good to know you have it in your abilities to do that in a game, to know that you're never out of a game and to have that confidence going forward," Elliott said. "Obviously, it's natural to be disappointed to not win at home."
With the absences of Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Dje D'Avilla due to yellow card accumulation and the injuries of Sam Rogers and Robin Lod, Chicago's newest additions, Anzor Mekvabishvili and Andreas Hanche-Olsen were given additional minutes on the pitch in preparation for playoff competition.
Hanche-Olsen earned his third consecutive start since joining the club in September, while Mekvabishvili earned his first MLS start during his Soldier Field debut.
"I was working for my debut in Soldier Field and was very happy," Mekvabishvili said. "I think, about the game, the first half was not our best game, but in the second half, we changed everything."
"We could even win this game, and we didn't have a little more luck. If we had a little luck, I think we would [win] here. Let's see in the future because we have a lot of games in front, so we’ll see."
With playoff fixtures just around the corner, Chicago's depth will need to be fully prepared after going through the majority of this season with significant injury setbacks.
The biggest news for the Fire came before the match, after Andre Franco was listed as available to come off the bench after recovering from an ACL tear last season.
Despite Berhalter's teases of his return, Chicago plans to ease him back into open play with caution, saving him for when his quality is needed the most: the MLS Cup Playoffs.
"We were tempted to put him in at halftime; we really were," Berhalter said. "We took out [Oregel Jr.], and we were going to put him in."
"It's a tough one, it really is. He's got to get game time, we know that, and we just have to find the right moment. But welcome back, André."
Chicago will continue to fight for the highest seed possible in the Eastern Conference on the road against the Colorado Rapids on October 31 at DSG Park at 8:30 p.m. CST.
