BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (July 30, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC II (6-7-7-2) and New England Revolution II (10-5-5-4) played to a 1-1 draw on Sunday evening at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. Noeh Hernandez scored his second goal of the season for the Chicago Fire II, equalizing New England’s opening goal by Jack Panayotou. Following the conclusion of the match, Chicago would earn an additional point with a 5-3 shootout victory.
After an eventful first half with a handful of chances by each side, the teams exited the locker room with plenty of urgency to get on the board first in the second half. After a free kick was awarded outside the box in the 51st minute, Hernandez stepped up to take the kick. The powerful effort whistled just over the crossbar as the Fire inched closer to an opening goal.
However, New England would strike first in the 59th minute. Joshua Bolma turned away from goal to deliver a no-look heel pass to Peyton Miller. The winger then served up a comfortable cross to Panayotou, who volleyed the ball into the back of the net for his third goal of the season and a lead for the visitors.
The Fire would not wait long to equalize the match. Just four minutes later, Charlie Ostrem shook off a defender along the wing to deliver a cross to an open Hernandez in the box, who fed Luka Prpa on a give-and-go. Upon receiving the ball, the Chicago Fire Academy alumnus took a touch before rifling the ball home. The goal tied the match and marked Hernandez’s second tally of the year – his second against the very same opponent, this time at home.
Both teams continued to look for a lead throughout the second half, with New England even forcing a save off the line by the Fire defense. But neither team was able to break through and the match ended in a 1-1 draw, with a shootout to decide an additional point.
Chicago would win the coin toss and select to kick first. A confident Hernandez walked to the spot first and left no doubt on his effort to put the Fire up one. Fire goalkeeper Jeff Gal would follow up with a diving save on New England’s first chance. Despite the Revolution’s good accuracy in the remaining kicks, Lamonth Rochester closed out the shootout with a perfect finish to give his team another point in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Fire will next return to the pitch on Thursday, August 3, when they host ATL UTD 2 at SeatGeek Stadium. Coverage of the match on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV will begin five minutes prior to first kick scheduled at 6 p.m. CT. Match entry and parking is free for all fans.
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Box Score:
Chicago Fire FC II 1 (5) : 1 (3) New England Revolution II
Goals:
NE - Panayotou (3) (Miller 3) 59’
CHI - Hernandez (2) (Prpa 5) (WATCH) 63’
Shootout:
Chicago Fire FC II: Hernandez (scored), Fuderer (scored), Ostrem (scored), Kidd (scored), Rochester (scored)
New England Revolution II: Dias (saved), Rozhansky (scored), Akanyirige (scored), Rivera (scored)
Discipline:
CHI - Ostrem (Yellow Card) 26’
NE - McNamara (Yellow Card) 51’
CHI - Gal (Yellow Card) 54’
NE - Rozhansky (Yellow Card) 73’
NE - Cayet (Yellow Card) 82’
CHI - Glasgow (Yellow Card) 87’
CHI - Taillandier (Yellow Card) 89’
Chicago Fire FC II: GK Gal, D Rochester, D Fuderer, D Leonard (capt.), M Ostrem, M Oregel, Jr. (Nesci, 80’), M A. Rodriguez (Flores, 68’), M Glasgow, F Hency (Kidd, 46’), F Bezerra (Hernandez, 46’), F Prpa (Blake, 90+5)
Subs not used: GK Mišković, D Deppe, M Borso
New England Revolution II: GK Jackson, D Suárez (Akanyirige, 90+2’), D Souza, D Cayet, D McNamara (Rozhansky, 60’), M Bolma (Dias, 75’), M Rivera, M Bajraktarevic (Fry, 75’), F Panayotou, F Adebayo-Smith, F Miller
Subs not used: GK Campuzano, D Quiñónes, D Ítalo, M Awashie, F Escobar
Stats Summary: CHI / NE
Shots: 19 / 22
Shots on Goal: 9 / 10
Passing Accuracy: 77.2% / 87.9%
Saves: 9 / 8
Corners: 5 / 4
Fouls: 16 / 8
Offsides: 1 / 3
Possession: 38.7% / 61.3%
Referee: Muhammad Hassan
Assistant Ref 1: Rachel Smith
Assistant Ref 2: Jake Brochu
4th Official: Ryan Homik
