Chicago Fire brush aside Orlando City to win first MLS playoff game since 2009 | MLS

Hugo Cuypers scored twice in the second half and the Chicago Fire earned their first playoff victory in 16 years with a dominant 3-1 win over Orlando City in an Eastern Conference wild-card matchup Wednesday night in Bridgeview, Illinois.

Brian Gutiérrez also scored for the eighth-seeded Fire, who ended the longest playoff win drought in MLS history. This was also Chicago’s first playoff game since 2017.

The Fire advance to face the top-seeded Philadelphia Union. The first game of the best-of-three first-round series is Sunday in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Tyrese Spicer scored the only goal for ninth-seeded Orlando City, which has struggled on offense. The Fire outscored the Lions 25-7 and had a 9-4 advantage in shots on target.

Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady recorded three saves, while his Lions counterpart Pedro Gallese made six saves.

The Fire broke a scoreless tie with two goals early in the second half.

In the 48th minute, Jonathan Dean sent a cross to the left side and Gutierrez recovered the ball. Gutierrez then fired a right-footed shot into the left corner of the net. Three minutes later, Gutiérrez had another chance, but his right-footed shot hit the right post.

In the 57th minute, the ball came to Cuypers, who sent it forward. He rushed after it and Gallese came out to push him away, but the ball hit Cuypers’ shin and bounced into the net to give the Fire a 2-0 advantage.

Orlando City had a good chance in the 60th minute, but a left-footed strike from Marco Pasalic was saved by Brady.

Gallese made a strong save on Jonathan Bamba’s left-footed shot in the 66th minute and the ball went straight to Gutierrez. With the net open, Gutierrez hit the right post to miss his double opportunity.

Cuypers got his brace two minutes later when he fired a right-footed shot past Gallese.

Orlando spoiled Brady’s shutout in the 89th minute. Spicer stepped up and fired a left-footed shot that hit the goalkeeper’s hands and went into the top of the net.

Chicago controlled the first half and had a 9-1 advantage in shots.

The Fire had a big opportunity in the 36th minute when Cuypers burst through and a sliding Gallese palmed away his left-footed shot.

Orlando City took its first shot in the second minute of first-half stoppage time when Rodrigo Schlegel sent a header wide from the left.