In Orlando, Florida, Phillip Zinckernagel kicked off a triumphant evening for the Chicago Fire early in their match against Orlando City, scoring the opening goal in just the fifth minute and later contributing an assist. His efforts, combined with Hugo Cuypers’ notable brace, propelled the Fire to a 3-1 victory on Saturday night.
Goalkeeper Chris Brady proved formidable for Chicago, making five key saves to help secure the win. The team, now with a record of 6-5-4, seems to be finding their groove, having won three of their last four outings.
Zinckernagel’s goal came swiftly thanks to a well-placed pass from teammate Mauricio Pineda. Standing just outside the penalty area, he delivered a powerful shot that slipped past Orlando’s goalkeeper, Pedro Gallese, granting the Fire an early lead.
Not long after, Hugo Cuypers doubled the advantage in the 31st minute. He expertly converted Zinckernagel’s cross into a one-touch finish from the center of the area, and barely a minute later, Cuypers struck again. His second goal of the evening mirrored his tally from the previous year, marked by a thoughtful maneuver past a defender and a composed shot tucked neatly inside the back post. This made him the first MLS player since August 2021 to score in consecutive minutes.
Orlando City found a glimmer of hope in the 40th minute when Alex Freeman, just 20 years old, nodded in his fourth goal of the season. He deftly flicked a header from Martín Ojeda’s well-placed corner kick, providing a temporary morale boost.
This match marked a dip in form for Orlando, who recently saw their 12-game unbeaten streak snapped midweek with a 3-2 defeat to Atlanta. These back-to-back losses present their first such streak of the current season. Their last encounter with Chicago ended in a goalless draw back in May at Chicago’s home ground.