Chicago Fire v Orlando City: Brady relishing postseason debut

Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady is relishing the opportunity to play in the first postseason game of his career on Wednesday.

The Fire host Orlando City in the Eastern Conference Wild Card game after finishing eighth following a Decision Day draw against the New England Revolution.

This will be Chicago’s first postseason appearance since the 2017 campaign, when they were knocked out in the opening round.

Twenty-one-year-old Brady, who came through the Chicago academy, revealed his pride in being able to represent the Fire in a playoff game.

“When I reflect on it myself, I think a lot about the last game we played in the postseason,” said Brady.

“I was there. I was in the stands. We went as a team in the academy; I think I was 13 or 14. It is crazy to think that would have been the last time we would appear [in the postseason] until now.

“And that little bit of realisation has been crazy to me, that now I’m in this position to help the team and help this club do something incredible.

“The fact that we are here, I am very proud to be a part of it.”

Orlando could have avoided the Wild Card game altogether and even finished as high as fifth in the East, but they lost 4-2 against Toronto FC on Decision Day.

They have won just once in their last six games, including back-to-back defeats to end the regular-season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chicago Fire – Philip Zinckernagel

Philip Zinckernagel recorded 15 goals and 15 assists for the Fire this season, with his 30 goal contributions the most in a season in club history.

Zinckernagel is one of eight players in MLS history to record 15 goals and 15 assists in a season, including one of three (Anders Dreyer, Lionel Messi) to do so this season.

Orlando City – Martin Ojeda

Martín Ojeda set an Orlando club record with 30 goal contributions this season.

His 14 assists were also a club record for a single season, while his 16 goals were one shy of the best mark in team history (17 by Cyle Larin in 2015).

MATCH PREDICTION – CHICAGO FIRE WIN

The Fire have reached the playoffs for just the third time since 2010 (2012, 2017). Chicago have not advanced a round in the postseason since defeating New England in the 2009 Conference Semifinals, over five years before Orlando played their first MLS match.

On the other hand, after missing the playoffs in each of their first five MLS seasons, Orlando have reached the postseason in six straight years, the longest active streak in MLS. And despite finishing ninth in the East, Orlando’s 53 points this season was their second-most in a single campaign in team history (63 in 2023).

This is the first playoff meeting between Chicago and Orlando. The Fire posted a 3-1 win in the last meeting between the sides, on May 31, after Orlando had gone unbeaten in the previous eight encounters dating back to August 2021 (W5 D3).

In their last six league matches, Chicago have won three, drawn two and lost one. Orlando, meanwhile, have won one, drawn three and lost two in their last six.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Chicago Fire – 43.1%

Draw – 26.7%

Orlando City – 30.2%