BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (July 9, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC II (6-6-5-0) ended a brief two-match homestand with a 0-0 draw against FC Cincinnati 2 (4-8-4-2). Following a 4-3 shootout victory, Cincinnati earned an additional point. Spencer Richey recorded a solitary save and earned his first clean sheet of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season.
Cincinnati was happy to concede the ball in the first half, with the Fire enjoying over 60% possession in the opening 45 minutes. The visitors instead relied on heavy pressure up top to bottle up Fire defenders early on, but created little danger otherwise.
In the 22nd minute, Billy Hency found an opening to flick a header over Paul Walters. But the Cincinnati goalkeeper leapt and tipped the ball over the crossbar to stop the most serious opportunity of the half.
The teams came out of the break on a similar note, with the Fire on the front foot and Cincinnati absorbing the pressure. Five minutes in, Omari Glasgow came away with a contested ball to feed an open Charlie Ostrem at the far post, who was looking for his third goal in two matches. But the defender’s one-time effort went directly into the hands of Walters, maintaining a clean sheet for his team.
Glasgow again found room on the right wing in the 70th minute, looking to swing a cross in. But his pass was deflected and hit off the crossbar before bouncing harmlessly away from Ostrem near the far post.
Reynolds had perhaps the last clear chance of the match three minutes into stoppage time. The defender sprung forward untouched and unleashed a low shot that missed the goal by inches. Just a minute later, the referee blew his whistle, giving each team a point in the standings and a chance for another in a shootout.
The Fire won the coin flip and scored first, making their first two opportunities. But Cincinnati was perfect through three rounds and took a lead in the shootout following two misses by the Fire. Despite a wayward fourth shot, midfielder Salim Adams was able to make the fifth and final shot of the evening, giving the visitors another valuable point.
Chicago will next face NYCFC II on Sunday, July 16 in the borough of Queens, New York. Coverage of the match will start five minutes prior to first kick at 6 p.m. CT on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Social: Twitter - @ChicagoFireFCII (Hashtags: #ChicagoFireII) | Instagram - @chicagofirefcii | Facebook
Box Score:Chicago Fire FC II (3) 0:0 (4) FC Cincinnati 2
Goals:
None
Shootout:
Chicago Fire FC II: Hernandez (scored), Reynolds (scored), Ueland (missed), Glasgow (missed), M. Rodríguez (scored)
FC Cincinnati 2: Akpunonu (scored), Horton (scored), Foster (scored), Castellano (missed), Adams (scored)
Discipline:
CIN - Jimenez (Yellow Card) 34’
CHI - Egan (Yellow Card) 73’
CIN - Castellano (Yellow Card) 90+1’
Chicago Fire FC II: GK Richey, D Reynolds, D Ueland (capt.), D Burks (Egan 46’), M Aceves (M. Rodríguez 46’), M Gallina (Hernandez 63’), M Fleming III, M Ostrem, F Oregel, Jr. (Kidd 78’), F Hency (Monis 64’), F Glasgow
Subs not used: GK Mišković, D Leonard, M Flores, F Nesci
FC Cincinnati 2: GK Walters, D Akpunonu (capt.), D Foster, D Aghedo, M Conteh (Machado 72’), M Jimenez, M Castellano, M Adams, M Garcia, F Ordóñez (Horton 46’), F Stitz (Turcios 61’)
Subs not used: GK Morse, D Schenfeld
Stats Summary: CHI / CIN
Shots: 25 / 7
Shots on Goal: 9 / 1
Passing Accuracy: 83% / 74.4%
Saves: 1 / 9
Corners: 6 / 3
Fouls: 19 / 15
Offsides: 2 / 4
Possession: 61.6% / 38.4%
Referee: Brian Wood
Assistant Ref 1: Jacob Little
Assistant Ref 2: Jackson Krauser
4th Official: Alex Hofstetter
