North York, Canada (May 31, 2024) – Chicago Fire FC II (5-2-3-2) defeated Toronto FC II (4-3-2-0) 4-1 at York Lions Stadium on Friday night. Forward Jason Shokalook scored his first goal with Chicago Fire II to take the lead in the first half, while captain David Poreba scored twice in second half stoppage time to wrap up a road victory for his side.
Toronto opened the scoring early, exploiting the Fire’s high line in the 10th minute. Defender Charlie Staniland spotted an open Theo Rigopoulos behind the Fire defense, crossing the ball toward him. The winger then sprinted down the right flank before playing the ball across goal for an open Markus Cimermancic to tap in.
Chicago responded quickly, forcing a corner kick just a few minutes later. Jaylen Shannon got on the end of the kick, aiming his header toward the far post. The ball found the legs of a Toronto defender instead, deflecting into the goal for the Fire’s equalizer in the 16th minute.
Ten minutes later, the visitors took the lead for good. With little pressure, Diego Konincks lofted a long ball up the field to Shokalook. The forward allowed the ball to bounce before pouncing, beating his defender before rifling a shot past Toronto goalkeeper Adisa de Rosario to go into the locker room with a lead.
The home side sought to get back into the match, coming close to doing so on two penalties conceded by the Chicago defense. But the score remained the same after a missed kick in the 28th minute and a diving save by Fire goalkeeper Patrick Los in the 83rd minute.
After ninety minutes of play, Toronto’s search for an equalizer led to tired legs during stoppage time. In his first minutes of action in 2024, midfielder Michael Ramirez found Poreba with acres of space in front of him. The Fire captain broke away from the defense and rounded the goalkeeper to extend his side’s lead, before adding another goal on a penalty kick awarded after a foul on Christian Koffi. With a stoppage time brace in hand, the referee blew his whistle to hand Chicago its fifth win of the season and first away from home.
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Box Score:
Toronto FC II 1:4 Chicago Fire FC II
Goals:
TOR - Cimermancic (2) (Rigopoulos 1) (WATCH) 10’
CHI - Batiz (Own Goal) (WATCH) 16’
CHI - Shokalook (1) (Konincks 1) (WATCH) 26’
CHI - Poreba (6) (Ramirez 1) (WATCH) 90+4’
CHI - Poreba (7) (Penalty) (WATCH) 90+6’
Discipline:
TOR - Sharp (Yellow Card) 76’
Chicago Fire FC II: GK Los; D Rochester (Diouf, 59’), D Konincks, D Shannon (Blake, 86’), D Glasgow; M Oregel Jr., M Heuer (Calle, 69’), M Prpa (Koffi, 45’), M Poreba (capt.), M Soudan (Ramirez, 87’); F Shokalook
Subs not used: GK Dowd
Toronto FC II: GK De Rosario, D Pearlman, D Curic (Barrow, 79’), D Ythallo (Stefanovic, 45’); M Rigopoulos (Stojadinovic, 70’), M Dumitru (Catavolo, 85’), D Staniland (Olguin, 70’), D Cimermancic, M Edwards; F Batiz, F Altobelli (Sharp, 45’)
Subs not used: GK Wilson, D Pusztahegyi, F Ayari
Stats Summary: TOR / CHI
Shots: 17 / 13
Shots on Goal: 5 / 5
Passing Accuracy: 86.4% / 83.3%
Saves: 2 / 4
Corners: 3 / 6
Fouls: 9 / 12
Offsides: 1 / 2
Possession: 55.3% / 44.7%
Referee: Fabrizio Stasolla
Assistant Ref 1: Brad Doubrough
Assistant Ref 2: Vasyl Dzikh
4th Official: Nivin Raizada
