HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (Aug. 10, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC II (8-7-7-2) earned a convincing 5-1 road victory over FC Cincinnati 2 (5-12-4-2) Thursday night in Northern Kentucky. Luka Prpa opened the scoring in the first half with a penalty kick goal, while Alex Monis scored a brace before the halftime whistle to tie Charlie Ostrem for the team lead in goals. Missael Rodríguez and Billy Hency tallied late in the second half to complete the bountiful scoring for Chicago.
After a quiet start to the match, with the teams probing for an opening in each other’s lines, the Fire attack came to life and got a corner kick in the 11th minute. An awkward jump by a Cincinnati defender led to a handball in the box and a penalty call from the referee. Prpa immediately stepped up to the spot and left no doubt, finishing neatly to the right of a diving Evan Louro to begin the scoring.
Chicago continued to make the most of its chances in the first half. After recovering a ball in their own half, the Fire struck back on a counter in the 26th minute. Justin Reynolds drove forward through the right side before passing the ball toward Billy Hency. The forward faked out the Cincinnati defense with a dummy move, allowing the ball to zip between his legs to a wide open Monis, who took a touch and finished far post to double the Fire’s lead.
Monis doubled his output shortly before the half ended. Chicago overloaded the box, leaving him open on the left side after a first touch pass from Wyatt Omsberg. The Homegrown forward strolled untouched into the box and once again finished far post, making it 3-0 as the referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the first half.
The match resumed with no goals through much of the second half as neither team was able to finish the chances they created. But the Fire mounted a late push with less than five minutes remaining in regulation to add to their lead. Omari Glasgow outraced his defender on the right side to drop a pinpoint cross for Rodríguez, who headed the ball sharply to make it 4-0.
The onslaught continued as Ostrem made his way down the byline and centered into the six-yard box during stoppage time. Hency peeled off a defender and finished with a flourish, heeling the ball into the goal for a fancy fifth. Despite a late penalty kick goal by Cincinnati, Chicago closed out the result shortly after to finish the night in playoff position.
The Fire are back in action for the start of a two-match homestand on Sunday, August 13, when they host Inter Miami FC II at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. First kick is slated for 6 p.m. CT. Coverage of the match will begin five minutes prior to first kick on MLSNEXTPro.com and entry and parking are free for all fans.
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Box Score:
Chicago Fire FC II 5:1 FC Cincinnati 2
Goals:
CHI - Prpa (3) (Penalty) (WATCH) 12’
CHI - Monis (4) (Reynolds 3) (WATCH) 26’
CHI - Monis (5) (Omsberg 1) (WATCH) 45+1’
CHI - M. Rodríguez (2) (Glasgow 3) (WATCH) 86’
CHI - Hency (5) (Ostrem 3) (WATCH) 90+2’
CIN - Ordoñez (8) (Penalty) 90+5’
Discipline:
CHI - Reynolds (Yellow Card) 34’
CIN - Pinto (Yellow Card) 39’
CHI - Monis (Yellow Card) 42’
CIN - Akpunonu (Yellow Card) 49’
CIN - Aghedo (Yellow Card) 53’
CHI - A. Rodriguez (Yellow Card) 58’
CHI - Gallina (Yellow Card) 83’
Chicago Fire FC II: GK Mišković, D Ostrem, D Omsberg (capt.) (Ueland, 73’), D Burks, D Reynolds (Blake, 63’), M A. Rodriguez (Rochester, 73’), M Oregel, Jr. (Gallina, 50’), M Prpa, F Monis (M. Rodríguez, 63’), F Hency, F Glasgow
Subs not used: GK Los, D Egan, D Fuderer
FC Cincinnati 2: GK Louro, D Halsey (Stitz, 57’), D Akpunonu, D Aghedo, M Foster (Conteh, 46’), M Pinto (Tamarez, 66’), M Adams (Machado, 81’), M Thomas (Schenfeld, 81’), F Castellano, F Ordoñez, F Horton
Subs not used: GK Morse
Stats Summary: CIN / CHI
Shots: 13 / 14
Shots on Goal: 3 / 8
Passing Accuracy: 80.9% / 79.9%
Saves: 3 / 2
Corners: 1 / 5
Fouls: 14 / 21
Offsides: 1 / 2
Possession: 51.1% / 48.9%
Referee: Kyle Armstrong
Assistant Ref 1: Noah Matos
Assistant Ref 2: Andrew Charron
4th Official: Kevin Fikar
