Inept Orlando tumble out of US Open Cup to Chicago Fire
Orlando City tumbled out of the U.S. Open Cup with a spineless performance at Toyota Park on Wednesday night as Chicago Fire earned a deserved 3-1 home win.
The game started badly for Orlando as Patrick Nyarko pounced on a long ball from his goalkeeper while Tally Hall in the Orlando goal hesitated. Nyarko strode forward in the penalty area and finished low to the left hand corner.
The Fire then continued to dominate the game and create chances but were unable to secure a second goal before the half time break.
Rookie striker Cyle Larin was able to level the score 10 minutes into the second half, finishing a cross from Eric Avila after the best move of the game from the Lions.
Chicago Fire introduced second half substitutes David Accam and Kennedy Igboananike and they would would make a defining impact late in the game. With Orlando pushing forward aiming to reach the semifinals of the Open Cup for the first time in its history, Chicago responded with two lethal counters. Five minutes before the end of the match, Igboananike tapped home an effort from Accam that rebounded off the left hand post and just four minutes later, the Nigerian sealed the match with a neat finish from close range.
“First off, it was a very poor performance,” said head coach Adrian Heath. “We bumped it up a little in the second half but I think overall, it was a little too late. A team that wanted to run through, got through – a team that wanted to be in the semifinals of the Open Cup and realized they had a really good opportunity – but it is what it is and we move on. We just weren’t good enough and I don’t think we wanted it badly enough, and I haven’t been able to say that much this year. As I said to our players, you cannot pick and choose where you think it’s important because other people will pick for you and that’s what happened today.”
First Half:
1’ Chicago started on all cylinders threatening in the Lions’ box with Maloney crossing the ball into the danger zone, but City’s defense managed to clear the attack.
2’ One minute later, Patrick Nyarko scored the first goal to put the Chicago Fire on top. Jon Busch found Nyarko behind the back of Orlando’s defense, and one-on-one against Tally Hall where the winger found the net with a low strike.
9’ City aimed to level the score from a free-kick after a foul on Eric Avila. The Lions’ captain crossed the ball but Chicago headed it away.
16’ After a combination between Kaká, Cerén and Ramos, Pedro Ribeiro headed a cross that went just wide with a deflection, obtaining a corner kick. Orlando couldn’t capitalize from the corner.
23’ Nyako continued creating opportunities for the Fire, this time during a corner. The winger back heeled a ball to Razvan Cocis, but the Romanian stroke it just wide.
33’ As the teams battled for possession, the Lions found a corner kick after a Rafael Ramos cross was deflected. However, Kaká executed the corner but Jon Busch grabbed the attempt.
44’ Orlando found another corner kick after an excellent play between Kaká and Luke Boden that deflected wide. In the corner kick, Kaká almost scored an olympic goal, but Busch punched it away.
45’ The referee indicated the end of the first half, with the Fire ahead 1-0.
Second Half:
48’ The second half initiated with plenty of intensity, with both teams charging back and forth. Kaká had his first chance of the night after receiving a cross from Luke Boden, but his shot went high.
55’ The Lions leveled the score on a quality play from the right. Rafael Ramos found Eric Avila wide, who crossed the ball and found rookie Cyle Larin who headed it into the net.
62’ Recently brought in David Accam almost found Chicago’s second in a skillful move on the left. However, Tally Hall saved the attempt in spectacular fashion and Sean St. Ledger managed to clear it away.
72’ City responded with an attempt from Cristian Higuita who found the ball on the top of the box after a cleared cross from Rafael Ramos but the Colombian midfielder powered his shot too high.
82’ Recently acquired Servando Carrasco makes his debut wearing purple after subbing in for Pedro Ribeiro. The five-year MLS veteran joined Orlando on Monday from Sporting Kansas City.
86’ Kennedy Igboananike scored Chicago’s second after finding a rebound on a counter after David Accam’s effort hit the post.
90’ With Orlando pushing forward, Igboananike found his second of the night and the Fire’s third on a counter once again, when he was played in behind City’s defense, and found the back of the net in a one on one versus Tally Hall.
90 +3’ The referee blew the final whistle, with a 3-1 victory for Chicago Fire.
Scoring Summary:
CHI – Patrick Nyako (Jon Busch) 2’
ORL – Cyle Larin (Eric Avila) 55’
CHI – Kennedy Igboananike 83’
CHI – Kennedy Igboananike (Joevin Jones) 90’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Chicago Fire – GK Jon Busch, D Matt Polster, Eric Gehrig, Adailton, Joevin Jones, M Patrick Nyarko (David Accam 59’), Matt Watson, Razvan Cocis, Harry Shipp, F Jason Johnson (Michael Stephens 83’), Shaun Maloney (Kennedy Igboananike 66’)
Orlando City SC – GK Tally Hall, D Luke Boden, Sean St. Ledger, Seb Hines, Rafael Ramos, M Cristian Higuita, Darwin Cerén, Pedro Ribeiro (Servando Carrasco 83’), Kaká, Eric Avila (Danny Mwanga 88’), F Cyle Larin
