CHICAGO (May 2, 2025) – Orlando City B (3-4-1, 11 points) went on the road to take on Chicago Fire FC II (3-4-0, 9 points) at Flames Field on Friday night. Despite Shak Mohammed scoring his fifth goal of the 2025 campaign in the first half, the Lions fell to the Fire via a 5-1 scoreline.
Mohammed received a great through pass from forward Justin Ellis after First Team defender Thomas Williams pushed the ball forward quickly, striking for hist fifth of the year and 22nd all-time for OCB. The Fire then took control of the game eight minutes later and continued their push. Mohammed was awarded a penalty kick just before the end of the first half, but Fire II goalkeeper Patrick Los parried it away.
Goalkeeper Carlos Mercado made seven saves in the match after facing 12 shots on target, both single-game highs for the Lions in 2025.
The Lions will return home to Central Florida next for a showdown with intrastate rivals Inter Miami CF II on Saturday, May 17. Kickoff from Osceola County Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET, with the match set to air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Scoring Summary:
29’ Shak Mohammed (Justin Ellis, Thomas Williams) – ORL 1, CHI 0
The Lions opened the scoring on the night 30 minutes into the match after some back and forth action with Fire II. Center back Thomas Williams sent the ball out to the left wing, where Justin Ellis received the ball and immediately turned to play a through pass
37’ Peter Soudan – ORL 1, CHI 1
The hosts leveled things up eight minutes later when Peter Soudan sent in a bouncing pass through the OCB box. The ball bounced around a Fire attacker that was making a run, taking a weird skip off the ground and bouncing into the far post to equalize things for Chicago.
42’ Jason Shokalook (Diego Konincks) – CHI 2, ORL 1
Fire II took the lead on a counterattack just a few minutes later when defender Zakaria Taifi had his shot blocked outside the Chicago box on a corner kick. The Fire then immediately went on the break that put Diego Konincks one-on-one with goalkeeper Carlos Mercado. Konincks slid the ball left to Jason Shokalook who buried it into the net for the lead.
61’ Jean Diouf – CHI 3, ORL 1
The Fire stayed hot on the other side of the halftime break, striking after some sustained pressure around a Fire corner kick. The Fire sent a cross in from the left flank that curled its way to the far post and dropped right in the space between goalkeeper Carlos Mercado and the defensive line, where it bounced back towards the Fire attack. Jean Diouf got on the end of it and powered it home for Chicago’s third of the night.
65’ Justin Reynolds (Dylan Borso, Claudio Cassano) – CHI 4, ORL 1
Just four minutes later the hosts would add another. Dylan Borso broke down the right flank after Claudio Cassano fed the ball to him out wide, finding space outside on the wings. Borso then sent a cross to Orlando’s back post where Justin Reynolds was all alone to head it on frame. Goalkeeper Carlos Mercado made a diving effort back towards the post, getting a hand on the attempt, but unable to keep the ball out of the net.
85’ Dean Boltz – CHI 5, ORL 1
The hosts struck once more just before the end of the match, after a saved shot by goalkeeper Carlos Mercado rebounded out in front to second-half substitute Dean Boltz. Boltz then let rip a shot and added the fifth for Fire II.
Match Notes:
- Orlando City midfielder Shak Mohammed scored his team-leading fifth goal of the 2025 campaign and his 22nd across all competitions all-time.
- Forward Justin Ellis provided the first assist of his OCB career on the Mohammed finish, marking his third goal contribution of the 2025 campaign.
- First Team defender Thomas Williams also earned an assist on the Mohammed finish, picking up the secondary assist, his first of his OCB career.
- Midfielder Diego Pareja made his first appearance of the 2025 campaign.
- Head Coach Manuel Goldberg made two changes to the Starting XI after his side’s last match against New York Red Bulls II, with goalkeeper Carlos Mercado and midfielder Juan Quevedo returning to the starting lineup.
