Joey Colby-Begovich Vice President, Matchday Operations and Guest Experience | Chicago Fire FC Website
Joey Colby-Begovich Vice President, Matchday Operations and Guest Experience | Chicago Fire FC Website
Chicago Fire FC and Orlando City SC ended their match with no goals as they faced off in a spirited 0-0 draw at Soldier Field. The match, held on Saturday night, saw both teams leaving with a point each. This game marked a significant moment for Chicago as goalkeeper Jeff Gal and defender Christopher Cupps stepped onto the Major League Soccer field for the first time.
The hosts faced early pressure when Chris Brady saw red in the 36th minute, leaving them a man short. Gal replaced Brady four minutes later, tasked with maintaining Chicago's defensive line. Despite being one player down, the Chicago defense held firm to prevent Orlando from capitalizing on the advantage.
The second half saw Orlando controlling most of the possession. However, Chicago came close to breaking the deadlock in the 68th minute when a long-distance strike from Philip Zinckernagel was saved by Orlando's goalkeeper, Pedro Gallese. Forward Hugo Cuypers nearly scored on the rebound, but Gallese denied him, securing his fifth straight clean sheet.
In their next match, Chicago will compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against Detroit City FC. This Round of 32 encounter will occur at SeatGeek Stadium on Wednesday, May 3, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and broadcast via Paramount+.
The match was notable for Christopher Cupps, who, at 16 years and 342 days, became the youngest player to start a match for Chicago Fire FC. His performance included completing over 90 percent of his passes. Chicago also set a club record with six academy graduates in the starting lineup. This milestone parallels a record from 2015 when six local players started for the team.
Saturday's goalless draw featured a combined total of 40 shots, with 17 from Chicago and 23 from Orlando. This total is the highest for any match involving the Fire that ended 0-0. Chicago's lineup was missing several players due to physical issues and other reasons, impacting their squad options for the match.
The game was overseen by referee Victor Rivas, supported by assistant referees Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins, with Luis Diego Arroyo serving as the fourth official. Video assistant referee duties were handled by David Barrie and Mike Kampmeinert.
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