CHICAGO(April 10, 2021) – Chicago Fire FC Academy kicked off the Club’s first matches as part of MLSNEXT against cross-town rival Chicago Sockers FC on Saturday. The Fire Academy finished the weekend with a 2-0-3 record and 11 goals from nine different goal scorers.
Action started with the Chicago Fire FC U-13 Academy defeating Sockers FC 4-2 on a hat trick from Vitaliy Hlyut and a penalty goal from Derrick Rafacz. Aaron Ineh and Derrick Rafacz assisted on two of Hlyut’s three goals.
At the U-14 level, the Fire tied 2-2 with the Sockers U-14 team, with two goals from Marius Aiyenero, who was assisted by Vladas Simkus and Jayden Quezada. The U-15 teams also ended in a draw, with Kevin Contreras scoring the lone goal for the Fire.
Christian Baumgartner and Costa Edlund each scored for the Fire U-17s, pulling them ahead for the final 2-0 score against the Sockers U-17 team.
The U-19 teams capped off the day with a thrilling 3-3 tie, with Fire goals from Missael RodrĂguez, Richard Fleming III and Justin Reynolds.