Chicago Fire - Orlando City 10/23/25

The MLS playoffs are finally here – and from here on out, it's all about survival. After a long and chaotic season, it's win or lose for the teams that fell just outside the top seven.

The format is simple but brutal: the teams that finished 8th and 9th in each conference meet in a simple “shootout” match, with the winner advancing to a best-of-three series in the first round of the playoffs. The loser? It’s over for the season.

First up in this crucial round is Chicago Fire against Orlando City, and the stage is Soldier Field, where the hosts are hoping that home court and fan support will tip the margins in their favor. Because we're talking really small margins here – Chicago and Orlando finished tied on points in the regular season, and the only thing separating them was goal difference. Now they meet again – and it smells like goals in Illinois.

Chicago Fire - momentum and goal-scoring ability at home

For Chicago Fire, the road to the playoffs has been anything but straightforward, but they finished the season on a solid run of form. The team has scored in nine of their last ten games, and in five of the last six there have been over 2.5 goals.

Fire are a team that rarely park the bus. They attack with many, and they open up at the back – and that is exactly why they are often involved in some of the most entertaining matches in the league. Offensively, Hugo Cuypers has delivered consistently, while Haile-Selassie and Shaqiri constantly find space between the lines.

At home at Soldier Field, they also tend to set the pace, and with everything on the line here, they are expected to go straight for Orlando's throat. That bodes well for chances – and for those of us who bet on goal games.

Orlando City – everything to gain and nothing to lose

For Orlando City, it's all about revenge. Having missed out on a playoff spot on goal difference, they now have to take the long road. But the team has proven to be a dangerous away team – and one that rarely lets up.

They finished the regular season with several high-scoring games, and in six of their last eight games there have been over 2.5 goals. Facundo Torres and Duncan McGuire have been among the most productive offensively, while the full-backs continue to contribute high up the pitch under Oscar Pareja.

Orlando hasn't been rock solid at the back either. They're conceding an average of over 1.4 goals per away game, and when we add that they're facing a Chicago team that MUST attack, this looks to be a high-tempo game from the start.

Conclusion

This is exactly the kind of matchup we love in MLS: two teams on the same level, everything on the line, and zero room for caution.
Chicago has the home field and offensive form, Orlando has the quality to respond – and it smells like a fast-paced playoff game with goals both ways.

I think it will explode a bit going forward, especially when the game opens up in the 2nd half. Neither team is going to play at 0-0 here.

Bet suggestions

MLS - Playoffs at 01:30: Chicago Fire - Orlando City: Over 2.5 goals + both teams to score (1.67)

Alternative game 1:

MLS - Playoffs at 01:30: Chicago Fire - Orlando City: Over 3 goals (Asian) (1.87)

Alternative game 2:

MLS - Playoffs at 01:30: Chicago Fire - Orlando City: Over 3.5 goals + both teams score (2.43)

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