BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (April 16, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC II (2-2-0-0, 6 points) fell 2-1 against Philadelphia Union II (1-3-0-0, 3 points) on Sunday evening at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. Chicago is currently in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, while Philadelphia sits in 10th place after earning their first victory of the season.
Homegrown forward Missael Rodríguez opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Rodríguez took advantage of a poor clearance by a Philadelphia defender, pouncing on the loose ball and breaking to goal. Philadelphia goalkeeper Holden Trent came off his line but Rodríguez sent a powerful shot from just inside the 18 that sailed into the net.
Philadelphia forced Chicago goalkeeper Spencer Richey to make his first save of the match in the 32nd minute. Forward Chris Donovan dribbled into the left side of the box and fired off a low shot that Richey did well to save.
It looked like Chicago would break through once again in the 32nd, when Rodríguez fed a ball past the defense for Alex Monis. Monis found himself alone against Trent, who came off his line to cut off the angle and save Monis’s close-range shot. The rebound fell to Sergio Oregel Jr., who tried his luck from distance but sent the ball wide right of the goal.
Chicago had another dangerous opportunity just before halftime when Monis was taken down just outside the box. Harold Osorio lined up to take the shot, but sent it over the goal. After the break, in the 53rd minute, Chicago played a ball through for Oregel Jr., who crossed it from the right side across the goalmouth, but the Philadelphia defense was ready and intercepted the cross right in front of the goal.
Philadelphia pulled even in the 71st minute when a cross into the box resulted in a foul. Referee Greg Dopka pointed to the spot and Brendan Craig set up to take the kick. The Philadelphia defender rifled a shot just past Richey’s outstretched hand and into the lower left of the net.
The Union pulled ahead in the 81st minute when Anton Sorenson carried the ball and squared it for Nelson Pierre. Pierre sent another square pass for David Vazquez on the left side of the box, and his shot was fast and low past a diving Richey.
Chicago looked for the equalizer and almost found it in the 90th minute. The ball bounced around slightly just outside the box, with Rodríguez kicking it just out of the melee to where Billy Hency could get to it. Hency hit a shot without much pace right to Trent. Philadelphia had one more attempt at increasing the score in the final play of the game but Richey was focused and got down to make the save in the 6th minute of stoppage time.
The Fire will look to rebound on the road when they travel south to face Atlanta United FC 2 at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, April 22, at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia. The match will be streamed on MLSNEXTPro.com.
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Box Score:Chicago Fire FC II 1:2 Philadelphia Union II
Goals:
CHI - Rodríguez (1) (WATCH) 13’
PHI - Craig (1) (penalty) (WATCH) 71’
PHI - Vazquez (1) (Pierre 2) (WATCH) 81’
Discipline:
PHI - Diallo (Yellow Card) 35’
CHI - Oregel (Yellow Card) 50’
CHI - Gallina (Yellow Card) 59’
CHI - Rodríguez (Yellow Card) 74’
PHI - Portella (Yellow Card) 85’
Chicago Fire FC II: GK Richey; D Dean, D Omsberg ©, D Burks (Gallina, 46’), D Aceves (Reynolds, 46’); M Osorio (Prpa, 46’), M Fleming III, M Oregel Jr.; F Hernandez (Glasgow, 67’), F M. Rodríguez, F Monis (Hency, 84’)
Subs not used: GK Mišković; D Leonard, D Ostrem; F Nesci
Philadelphia Union II: GK Trent; D Sorenson, D Craig, D Portella, D Castillo; M Rafanello (Stojanovich, 65’), M Odada, M Diallo, M Vazquez; F Pierre (Westfield, 90+1’), F Donovan (Sanchez, 79’)
Subs not used: GK Thompson; D Martelli, D Nkanji; M Álvarez, M Stopek; F Riasco
Stats Summary: CHI / PHIShots: 11 / 9
Shots on Goal: 3 / 4
Passing Accuracy: 70.1% / 63.2%
Saves: 2 / 2
Corners: 3 / 3
Fouls: 20 / 14
Offsides: 4 / 0
Possession: 54.8% / 45.2%
Referee: Greg Dopka
Assistant Ref 1: *Peter Balciunas
Assistant Ref 2: Jake Brochu
*4th Official: Alex Beehler
