MATTHEWS, N.C. (June 25, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC II (5-6-4-0) fell 4-2 on the road Sunday at Crown Legacy FC (10-2-3-2). Omari Glasgow returned from international duty with Guyana to score both Fire goals, while Ghanaian striker Patrick Agyemang scored two of his own to give the home side a lead it would never relinquish. The result kept both teams in their respective places in the Eastern Conference, with the Fire finishing the afternoon in eighth and Crown Legacy FC at the top.
After withstanding a withering press in the opening 15 minutes, the Fire regained their footing and found a few looks of their own in the first half. In the 25th minute, Richard Fleming III lofted a ball to Glasgow on the right. Fresh off a goal-scoring performance in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup preliminary round for Guyana, the wingback bent a ball from 20 yards out and into the far corner of the net. Glasgow’s second goal of the year stunned the crowd as the teams reached a 30th minute hydration break on a hot summer afternoon in North Carolina.
Upon the restart, Crown Legacy got to work looking for an equalizer. In the 36th minute, Brandon Cambridge struck from the right side, forcing Mihajlo Mišković to make a kick save. Unfortunately, his effort fell in front of an open Agyemang, who simply slotted the ball home unopposed. The home side pushed hard throughout the rest of the half, but Mišković’s saves and strong defensive work kept the match tied at 1-1 at the half.
The Fire came out of the locker room on the front foot, committing numbers forward as they looked for the lead. But the home side took advantage of the space left behind by Chicago. Agyemang retrieved a ball at midfield and sprinted to the goal behind the Fire’s defense before rounding the goalkeeper for his second of the match.
Upon taking the lead, Crown Legacy FC pushed forward for another goal. Fresh off the bench, Iuri Tavares won a penalty kick after being brought down in the box. Teammate Vinicius Mello took the kick, but Mišković once again stood tall and made a diving save to keep the score at 2-1. Mello later atoned for his miss with a goal off the second hydration break, however, giving the Charlotte FC affiliate a 3-1 lead.
Crown Legacy FC continued to send long balls forward hoping to exploit the Fire’s high line. Mišković continued to make spectacular saves, keeping the score within reach through the end of regulation time. Glasgow once again struck from the right wing two minutes into stoppage time, giving the Fire hope for a late equalizer. But the home side sealed the result only two minutes later, when Marko Filipovic added a fourth goal following a turnover outside the box. The whistle blew soon thereafter, giving the home side three points and first place in the East.
Chicago Fire FC II return home next Sunday, July 2 to host Columbus Crew 2 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. First kick is set for 5 p.m. CT, with gates opening to the public for free at 4 p.m. The match is available to stream on MLSNEXTPro.com.
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Box Score:
Crown Legacy FC 4:2 Chicago Fire FC II
Goals:
CHI - Glasgow (2) (Fleming 1) (WATCH) 25’
CLT - Agyemang (4) 36’
CLT - Agyemang (5) (Hegardt 1) 55’
CLT - Mello (5) (Tavares 2) 79’
CHI - Glasgow (3) (Oregel, Jr. 1) (WATCH) 90+2’
CLT - Filipovic (3) 90+4’
Discipline:
CHI - Prpa (Yellow Card) 27’
CLT - Privett (Yellow Card) 30’
CHI - Gallina (Yellow Card) 45’
CLT - Mello (Yellow Card) 66’
CHI - Oregel, Jr. (Yellow Card) 81’
CLT - Rodrigues (Yellow Card) 83’
CLT - Guilherme (Yellow Card) 90+7’
Chicago Fire FC II: GK Mišković; D Ostrem, D Rochester, D Egan, D Reynolds. D Glasgow; M Gallina (Nesci, 78’), M Fleming III, M Prpa © (Oregel, Jr., 46’); F Bezerra (Hency, 46’), F Monis (Hernandez, 46’)
Subs not used: GK Stechnij, D Leonard, M Rocha, M Kidd, M Flores
Crown Legacy FC: GK Marks; D Scardina, D Privett (Guilherme, 90’), D Pedro; M Williams (Neeley, 71’), M Mayaka, M Poreba ©, M Hegardt (Filipovic, 71’); F Agyemang (Tavares, 61’), F Mello, F Cambridge (Rodrigues, 61’)
Subs not used: GK Walker, D Cruz-Garcia, M John, M Pena Boardman
Stats Summary: CLT / CHI
Shots: 26 / 13
Shots on Goal: 12 / 6
Passing Accuracy: 83% / 79.2%
Saves: 4 / 8
Corners: 5 / 3
Fouls: 12 / 17
Offsides: 1 / 1
Possession: 50.8% / 49.2%
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Assistant Ref 1: Bryson Condrey
Assistant Ref 2: Colin Ashley
4th Official: Joe Surgan
