Orlando City B (10 pts, 2-2-2) went on the road to take on Chicago Fire II (9 pts, 1-3-2), after a thrilling victory over Carolina Core at home. With the first team playing in DC the night before, there weren’t many first team options to put into this game.
Lineup
Orlando City B rolled out a younger lineup but a powerful one nonetheless. Gustavo Caraballo and Yutaro Tsukada are the two first team players in this lineup, with both starting. Caraballo came in looking to repeat his great performance against Carolina Core from the match before.
Ignacio “Nacho” Gómez returns to OCB after a stellar first team stint earlier in the week. He goes right into the starting in the midfield with MLS SuperDraft pick Issah Haruna and OCB standout Dylan Judelson. Jaylen Yearwood plays his 3rd position of the season as he gets the start at left back with Bernardo Rhein getting some time with the first team. Tristan Himes gets the armband and looks to continue his solid season.
First Half
The half started a bit disjointed for both sides as neither team could get on the ball and link some play together. Chicago Fire II did have two opportunities in the first ten minutes but couldn’t find a way to have a solid chance.
In the 9th minute, after a head-to-head collision, a player on each side ended up going down and required not only medical attention but also a substitution for each side. Titus Sandy Jr was forced off with 17-year-old Albright Chikamso coming on to replace him.
OCB was able to put pressure on after this incident and earned a free kick in the 16th minute but weren’t able to capitalize as the team went a bit too direct. Chicago Fire II continued to find ways to be physical, almost to the point where the game became a bit too choppy for both sides.
OCB had one of their best chances of the half in the 21st minute where Yutaro Tsukada beat his man in the left wide channel and crossed it over to Nacho Gómez who made a near post run but just missed it wide of the post.
After the chance, the play for both sides was choppy and physical which resulted in Chicago Fire II getting a chance in the 30th minute where Himes was asked to make a big near post save to push the ball away. A bit of loose defending led to the shot opportunity for Fire II but OCB cleared it away. Unfortunately, the next opportunity came again for Chicago Fire II after Himes fouled a Fire II player in the 32nd minute forcing a penalty. Boltz took the penalty for Fire II and put it away putting the Fire II squad up 0-1 over OCB.
Cool as you like from Dean Boltz 🧊
1-0 @ChicagoFireFCII pic.twitter.com/7VYV03X0Ow
— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) April 26, 2026
The young Lions would try to roar back as they broke some stints of high pressure from Fire II. The push led to a nice shot opportunity for Nacho Gómez but he put it a bit over the bar and missed the target.
Fire II would get another shot in the 41st minute after they earned a corner. Fire II set the ball near post and Chikamso would get beaten by his man, with Himes not close enough to the near post resulting in the ball sailing in putting Fire II up 0-2. OCB’s defense looked disjointed for most of the half and Himes was asked to react more often than the staff would like.
HYTE MAKES IT 2-0!! #cf97 pic.twitter.com/wJgY9dQqpQ
— Chicago Fire FC II (@ChicagoFireFCII) April 26, 2026
Chicago Fire II would have another really great chance three minutes into stoppage time as a ball was laid off to the center of the box but Boltz skied the ball over the bar
The young Lions would have a couple of half chances to end the half but really didn’t string too much together going into the half resulting in the score at the break of 0-2, in favor of Fire II.
Second Half
The half started with a substitution where Nacho Gómez was taken off to make way for Dominik Baczewski. OCB had a few quick chances to start the half, with Caraballo and Tsukada each having an early half chance.
OCB would continue with some chances as they would get two set pieces: a free kick and then a corner. Off the corner in the 51st minute, Tsukada would curl the ball in towards the front post and forced the Fire II keeper to swat at it which caused it to end up in the net making the score 1-2 in favor of Fire II. It was great service by Tsukada to put it in a dangerous spot.
OCB would keep the pressure on after the own goal by Fire II, really pushing them to defend in the wide spaces. Caraballo especially, was causing Fire II trouble when going down the right flank. Tsukada had some moments but was often pushed off the ball when driving forward on the left.
In the 59th minute, Okonski put in a great long ball to Tsukada down route 1 but Tsukada wasn’t able to chip it over the keeper and it was deflected out for a corner. The team continued to look dangerous in these multiple efforts. The game would become more back and forth after that sequence, with both teams having a chance here or there.
After the back and forth play, Tsukada would win the ball and get clattered into in the 76th minute, giving OCB a free kick in a threatening spot which would then result in a corner. The corner would go high and too deep for anyone to get on it. After the kick, Nicolas Lasheras and Matthew Belgodere would come on for Pedro Leão and Yutaro Tsukada. The young Lions would try to create some more chances but nothing more than some half chances. This would result in another sub in the 90th minute where Landon Okonski would make way for Brady Kendall, in the hopes that OCB could get another goal.
In the final minute of stoppage time, Orlando City B pull it out again and this time off another set piece. Caraballo put in a beautiful corner that found the head of Lasheras, who made the game level at 2-2, forcing the game into penalty kicks.
THE CARDIAC CATS STRIKE AGAIN 🦁
Lasheras equalizes it for @OrlandoCityB deep into stoppage time!
Catch the shootout with @OneFootball and https://t.co/X8W22JsRvf: https://t.co/omkxzrlT1y pic.twitter.com/2CFs1r3qTm
— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) April 26, 2026
The penalty kick shootout started with the first two OCB takers (Caraballo and Judelson) making theirs, while Fire II only made their first but missed their second. Baczewski missed his kick with Fire II making it in the third round drawing the PK shootout even. Brady Kendall would then make the fourth kick for OCB and Himes would save Fire II’s fourth penalty putting OCB up by one. Parker Amoo-Mensah would then step up for the 5th kick and put it away to give OCB the PK victory to give OCB the extra point.
Players to Highlight
- Gustavo Caraballo-He had another solid game in this one and really showed his speed and shiftiness. He was a bit disjointed to start the game but when he got into it, he was dynamic again. He pushed the left back of Fire II a ton and it was lethal for this team. He ended the day with an 80% passing rate, 1 chance created, 2 shots (one on target), 50% on successful dribbles, 2 long balls completed, 1 interception, and 4 recoveries. His ground duels were a bit low in the match at 30% but he was still lively.
- Jaylen Yearwood-the man out of North Florida had another quality game for OCB, really locking down Fire II’s right side and distributing well the whole afternoon. He had a very good defensive match but also found times to get forward, when asked. He had an excellent slide tackle in the 64th minute that helped clear the ball for OCB. He ended the match with a 96% passing rate, 1 successful dribble, 4 long balls completed, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 interceptions, 7 recoveries, and he won 50% of his ground duels as well as all his aerial duels.
- Landon Okonski-This young center back continues to impress me with his week-in and week-out performances. He was a solid presence in the back line and played strong all match, considering he had two partners. He ended the match with a 90% passing percentage, 5 long balls completed, 3 tackles, 1 block, 1 clearance, 3 interceptions, and 4 recoveries while also winning 80% of his ground duels. He continues to get better each game and I’m looking forward to what he can bring in future matches.
- Dylan Judelson-Judelson makes the list again as he’s had some really quality play throughout the season. He was a rock in the midfield and really set the tone for the squad. He ended the afternoon with a 90% passing rate, 1 chance created, 2 long balls completed, 1 tackle, 3 interceptions, 6 recoveries, and won 50% of his ground duels.
Those that just missed the cut:
- Nacho Gómez-Gómez took his great play with the first team midweek and turned it into a quality first half performance for OCB. He was everywhere in the field and was able to connect some nice passes together as well as a few shots. He ended with 75% passing accuracy, 2 shots, 1 long ball, a tackle, clearance, and a recovery. The stats may not jump off the page but he was buzzing all over the middle of the park.
- Nicolas Lasheras-I have to give the credit to Lasheras who drew the game late. He was lively since he came on and was dangerous on set pieces, really showing off in this one. He ended with an 85% passing rate, the tying goal, and 1 recovery.
- Tristan Himes-Though his performance throughout the game was a bit back and forth, but his penalty kick shootout performance was top notch. During the match he made 1 save, 80% passing rate, and 3 recoveries. In the penalty-kick shootout, he saved 2 penalties to see OCB through to an extra point. He’s had some tough moments over the last few matches but he continues to show up in big moments.
What’s Next?
Orlando City B (12 pts., 2-3-2) return home on Sunday, May 3rd at 7:00pm to take on the Eastern Conference leaders Crown Legacy FC (21 pts., 6-2-0). The first team plays in Miami the day prior, so if there are younger players who don’t get into the first team game, we could see them in this matchup. Players like Taifi, Sarajian, and Rhein are on that list as an example. This will be a proper test for OCB as they look to get stronger throughout the season.
Highlights
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