Orlando City vs. Chicago Fire: Player Grades and Man of the Match

An early goal resulting from Orlando City’s sloppy defense and a nearly two-hour lightning delay zapped the hopes of the home faithful, but an equalizing header 10 minutes after play resumed brought the crowd back into it. Unfortunately, a conceded penalty handed the Chicago Fire the winning goal, and Orlando was unable to find another after Chicago packed the box as the Lions fell 2-1 Wednesday night.

Let’s take a look at how Orlando City’s players rated in their matchup against the Chicago Fire.

Starters

GK, Maxime Crepeau, 6 — Sometimes, the defense is going to allow shots that you have to be lucky to save. Chicago’s first goal was such a shot. You’re also at a significant disadvantage on penalty shots, which accounted for Chicago’s second goal. Otherwise, Crepeau commanded his box, saved a scorcher from 30 yards, and kept the score tight. Statistically, Crepeau’s distribution was 88% accurate, he had seven recoveries, and he won his only aerial duel.

D, Adrian Marin, 5.5 — Resuming his starting role after Bernardo Rhein’s injury, Marin still has work to do to earn starts in the future. He failed to track Robert Lewandowski early in the buildup to the goal and was caught ball watching, leaving Chicago’s most dangerous player free to try to connect a pass. He tallied one block and passed with 83% accuracy. He was subbed off after the rain delay for Tiago (officially, but it was Zakariah Taifi who took his left back position initially).

D, Robin Jansson, 4.5 — The captain has one of his worst nights that I can remember. He gave away the penalty for Chicago’s second goal on a bad slide tackle while trying to block Lewandowski, even though he had already forced him wide to the baseline. He was partially responsible for the first goal because he was busy arguing offside with the assistant referee while David Brekalo badly mis-cleared the ball. This left him not defending anyone when the shot was taken. He picked up an unnecessary yellow card arguing the penalty when he clearly didn’t get the ball until well after the foul. He passed at a 90% clip, had one clearance, one block, one conceded penalty, and one failed argument with the assistant referee. Although he wasn’t consistently as poor as Marin, conceding the winning penalty cost him extra points.

D, David Brekalo, 5.5 — Brekalo’s poor clearance led to the first goal as it fell right to David Poreba, who slotted it to a wide open Puso Dithejane. Brekalo then made up for it by slamming home a header off an Antoine Griezmann corner to square the match. That duality resulted in a middling grade for the Slovenian center back; he was fairly clean for the rest of the game but also added nothing of value. He had two clearances (and I think they are counting the poor one), two shots on target, hit all but six of his passes for an 89% mark, and won both his aerial duels. It’s not a good sign for the team that the central defender led Orlando City in shots on target, with two.

D, Griffin Dorsey, 6 — The right back was more noticeable when he was out of position than for anything positive he did. He was way out of position on one Chicago break in the first half when his attacking play had taken him to the center of the Chicago box — upon recovering the ball, Chicago drove right down the gap left by him and he looked winded getting back. That isn’t necessarily a criticism of Dorsey as he’s playing the role given, but it’s noticeable when it happens. While Dorsey was certainly active, he had five touches in the Chicago box, and only generated one blocked shot, one shot off target, and one failed cross. He finished with a tidy 94% passing rate and came off in the 79th minute for Eduard Atuesta as Orlando tried to push for an equalizer.

MF, Tyrese Spicer, 5.5 — Spicer had a fairly typical game, using his speed and strength to open up opportunities but failing to capitalize on them. He only had two touches in the opposition box, so he really didn’t cause enough trouble, and his crosses were either too early or too off line. He finished with 15 total touches, was 0-for-2 on crosses, and passed with only 67% accuracy before being replaced after the delay by Marco Pasalic.

MF, Wilder Cartagena, 6 — In his first MLS start since the season opener, when he was injured, Cartagena showed flashes of the old eraser we were used to seeing. He stopped three different Chicago possessions and looked a bit like his old self. He was subbed off after the rain delay and replaced by Taifi, though his position was occupied by Ivan Angulo with Taifi occupying the left back spot. The Peruvian completed 93% of his passes, showing he can still connect, and won both of his ground duels, showing that eraser mentality.

MF, Luis Otavio, 6.5 — The young Brazilian had a rough start, as his name appeared negatively in my notes twice in the first three minutes due to some bad giveaways, but he settled and grew into the game. The World Cup break has done wonders for him; he came back from that and has nailed down a starting spot. He had the most touches on the team with 91, yet still passed at a 93% rate. He connected on all nine (!) of his long balls, the next closest teammate connecting on four. He also added a tackle and a recovery.

MF, Ivan Angulo, 6 — While Angulo has remade himself after the World Cup break as a roaming playmaker, Wednesday’s game involved a lot of running and effort that resulted in little impact. While he connected the team well, hitting 93% of his passes, he created only two chances and had only one touch in Chicago’s box. His sole shot was just high but right at the goalkeeper if it had been on frame. He added three tackles and a clearance, showing he will work at both ends and give you everything he’s got.

F, Antoine Griezmann, 6.5 (MotM) — The summer signing continued to show he can impact the game and create chances out of thin air. His corner to Brekalo was dangerous and accurate, giving Brekalo something to work with. He created five chances, including an intelligent chipped pass to a streaking Justin Ellis, a deft flick that nearly gave Tiago a tap-in at the back post, and multiple magical passing moments in possession. Griezmann had seven touches in the box, and three shots (one on target). It’s one of the shots off target he’ll be thinking about, though. Daryl Dike hit a long through ball to an open Griezmann, who was run down by Jonathan Dean, which forced Griezmann to shoot wide from the top of the box as the defender closed in.

F, Justin Ellis, 6.5 — While we pile on the superlatives for Ellis, as they are well deserved, his development won’t be complete until he can start finishing more regularly. He had eight touches in the box, many earned with his touch and his movement, but he only managed one shot on target, with other sgetting blocked out front. He passed at an 86% rate and added a tackle defensively. Dike replaced him in the 64th minute to change the complexion of the offense.

Substitutes

D, Zakaria Taifi (44′), 5.5 — Taifi was reported as substituting for Cartagena but lined up at left back for 30 minutes before shifting to right back when Dorsey was subbed off. He was visibile in the wrong ways while at left back, getting beaten badly down his side a few times. He had a chance to get into the box late while at right back as Orlando was chasing the game, but he went down under light contact, likely trying to draw a call, but there was none. Taifi finished with an 83% passing rate, adding a tackle and two interceptions, but didn’t really show much.

MF, Marco Pasalic (44′), 6 — Subbing in for Spicer, it took some time for Pasalic to affect the game but there was a 10-minute span as the game closed out where he was starting to feel his chances. He took his trademark path, starting on the right, dribbling to the top of the box, and firing at the goal. On one, he scorched a swerving shot just over the bar, and he couldn’t get his hips around the second one, sending it right at the keeper. He added two tackles and passed at a 76% rate.

MF, Tiago (44′), 5.5 — We tend to be pretty hard on Tiago here, as he shows a lot of flash but it rarely converts into anything. He was perfect on all 19 of his passes but didn’t create any chances. His more positive stats were on the defensive end with two clearances and an interception, although he conceded an unnecessary set piece. A bit better anticipation on the aforementioned flick from Griezmann and the Brazilian would have scored.

F, Daryl Dike (64′), 5.5— Dike’s score was boosted by the one pass he hit to Griezmann, freeing the Frenchman up on a run that resulted in nothing. Otherwise, Dike’s physical presence was felt but he’s still lacking chemistry with the team. He had one shot off target zero touches in Chicago’s box, and won an aerial duel.

M, Eduard Atuesta (78′), N/A — Brought on for Dorsey to add an offensive touch, Atuesta found himself all over the field, sometimes dropping to right back and also showing up in the middle to drive the attack. He only connected on 76% of his passes and added a recovery, but didn’t really play long enough to garner a grade, which might be best based on the lack of accuracy on his efforts to connect with the forwards over the top.

That’s what I’ve got for the players in a soggy, disjointed game. Let us know how you saw the game in the comments below, and don’t forget to vote for your Man of the Match.