CHICAGO (April 21, 2023) - Chicago Fire FC II return to the road to face Atlanta United 2 for the first time on Saturday, April 22. The Fire will hope to bounce back from a pair of home losses in Kennesaw, Georgia, where ATL UTD 2 will hope to begin a home winning streak following a 3-1 victory on Sunday against Orlando City B. First kick at Fifth Third Bank Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and the match will be available to stream on MLSNEXTPro.com.
Chicago Fire II (2-2-0-0) hoped to cap off a three-game home stand against Philadelphia Union II with a victory, and for 70 minutes, their hopes seemed realized. But after conceding a penalty kick in the 71st minute, the visitors grabbed the momentum and scored two unanswered goals to win 2-1. The victory was the first of the season for Philadelphia, while the loss was Chicago’s second in a row, evening the season record. The result knocked the Fire down to sixth in the Eastern Conference and third in the Central Division, and lifted Philadelphia from the bottom of the East.
Atlanta United 2 (1-2-1-0) come in on a higher note, having earned their first win of 2023 against the best team in the Central Division, Orlando City B. Erik López started the scoring with a penalty kick in the 25th minute, but it was Nick Firmino who stole the show with two goals, bringing his total to three for the season. ATL UTD 2 are in the midst of their own three-game home stand; the match will also be the fourth of five at Fifth Third Bank Stadium to start the campaign.
The match will mark the first time the teams face each other, as ATL UTD 2 played the 2022 season in the USL Championship. Atlanta will be the first of five opponents the Fire will play for the first time in 2023; the others are New York Red Bulls II, Huntsville City FC, Crown Legacy FC and Sporting KC II.
KEYS TO THE MATCH
A Familiar Foe. Although the match will be the first between Chicago and Atlanta in MLS NEXT Pro action, ATL UTD 2 are no strangers to Luka Prpa. While playing with Hartford Athletic in 2022, Prpa featured in two matches against the Five Stripes, even scoring a goal in a 3-0 romp on June 18. The midfielder has been instrumental for the Fire in 2023, leading the team with three assists, and will look to leave his mark once more against Atlanta.
Missa Magic Returns. Missael Rodríguez ended 2022 in a torrid pace, scoring five of his seven goals in the last eight matches of the year. But the Homegrown forward had a quiet start to the 2023 campaign, being held scoreless in two matches and being off the roster in another. That quickly changed against Philadelphia, as Rodríguez took advantage of a defensive mishap to punish the Union. Whether with the first team or the second, the Chicago native will hope to show off some of that magic in Georgia this weekend.
Harold is Here. Harold Osorio made his first start with Chicago Fire II on Sunday against Philadelphia, playing a sterling first half in which the Fire held the advantage. The Salvadoran midfielder was composed on the ball, showing off the mentality that saw him named captain of El Salvador’s U-20 Men’s National Team in the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Men’s Championship. Having played in two consecutive matches and adjusting to life in the Windy City, Osorio is primed to be a contributor moving forward.
HOW TO WATCH
Chicago Fire FC II return to the road to face Atlanta United 2 on Saturday, April 22 in Kennesaw, Georgia. First kick at Fifth Third Bank Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and the match will be available to stream on MLSNEXTPro.com.
