Chicago Fire FC Academy Kicks Off 2021-22 MLS NEXT Season

CHICAGO (Aug. 23, 2021) – Chicago Fire Academy kicked off the 2021-22 MLS NEXT season with a trip to Michigan to face Vardar on Saturday, Aug. 21, and Michigan Wolves on Sunday, Aug. 22. 

On Saturday, the Fire Academy U-13 squad opened the season with a 1-0 win against Vardar with a goal from Harrison Bernhardt. A goal from Parker Amoo-Mensah (Chase Nagle) wasn’t enough for the U-14 side as the team dropped a tough match to Vardar. 

Marius Aiyenero (Jayden Quezada), Carlos Melo (Aiyenero), Daven Arias (Juan Villa) and Anthony Masino (Melo) led the way for the U-15 squad as the Fire defeated Vardar 4-2. The Fire U-17 team closed out the day with a 2-2 draw with Vardar, with goals from Michael Ramirez and Michael Nesci. 

MLS NEXT play continued on Sunday, with the Fire U-13 defeating Michigan Wolves 4-1 with two goals from Darris Hyte (Robert Turdean, Rocco Johnson), Nolan Weiss (Turdean) and Christian Flores.  

Vitaliy Hlyut (Aiden Goldberg) lead the way for the U-14’s with two goals and was joined by Michael Sarna (Aaron Ineh), John Nesci (Goldberg) and Ineh in the 5-1 against the Wolves. 

Aiyenero set the tone for the Fire U-15 6-0 win against Wolves with a hat trick assisted by Nick Mitrega. Carlos Melo, Vladas Simkus (Arias) and Daniel Zepeda (Quezada) scored the team’s other three goals. 

Ramirez (Max Padua) and M. Nesci (Celestino Vasquez) led the U-17s to a 2-1 win against Wolves to close out the weekend.