CHICAGO (March 28, 2025) – Chicago Fire FC II returns to action on Sunday, March 30 when it faces FC Cincinnati 2 at NKU Soccer Stadium in Highland Heights, Ky. First kick is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT and the match will be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
The Fire return to the pitch after a bye week that followed a 1-0 win against Toronto FC II on Thursday, March 13. On a chilly evening at SeatGeek Stadium, the two sides fought to a stalemate for the better part of the match. But in the 83rd minute, Bryce Richards got on the end of a cross into the box to score his first goal in MLS NEXT Pro and give Chicago its first victory of 2025.
FC Cincinnati 2 return to NKU Soccer Stadium looking for their first win – and first goal – of the regular season. The Orange and Blue most recently hosted New York Pancyrian Freedoms in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup First Round, finishing the match 0-0 before losing 5-4 in the shootout.
The two sides have met eight times since the league’s inception in 2022. Chicago holds a 4-1-3-1 lead all-time against Cincinnati, including a 3-1-1-1 record at NKU Soccer Stadium.
BY THE NUMBERS
1 – Defender Bryce Richards scored the first goal of his MLS NEXT Pro career on March 13 against Toronto FC II. With seven minutes left in regulation, defender Peter Soudan looked for runners in the far post, sending a ball across goal that found Richards crashing in for the game-winner. His first goal, and first game-winner, came in only his seventh appearance for Chicago Fire II since his debut in 2024 against Cincinnati.
6 – Winger Claudio Cassano has suffered six fouls in the young season, or 25 percent of all fouls suffered by the team. The Italian midfielder has been a threat for opposing defenders, especially those on the right side, as he pinches in from the left to take right-footed shots or find open teammates. Expect opposing defenses to continue fouling him in and around the box, creating chances for his dangerous free kicks.
45 – Defender Olu Oyegunle made his Chicago Fire II debut against his hometown club, coming in at halftime of the match against Toronto FC II and playing 45 minutes of strong defensive soccer. The Canadian defender brings a strong pedigree to Chicago, having won the 2022 NCAA Men’s Soccer National Championship with Syracuse in only his sophomore season, before playing over 1,000 minutes en route to another NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament appearance in his junior year.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Goalkeeper Patrick Los recorded his first clean sheet of 2025 after a sterling defensive performance against Toronto FC II on March 13.
The Chicago Fire Academy goalkeeper made three saves in the match, none bigger than in the 43rd minute. A set piece for the visitors led to a shot from Toronto forward Charles Sharp that was just tipped away by Los. Midfielder Michael Sullivan pounced on the rebound just a few feet away from goal, but the goalkeeper made a point-blank save to maintain an eventual clean sheet.
The shutout was his fifth overall for Chicago Fire II, after recording four in 19 regular season starts for the team in 2024. He followed the performance with a call-up to the U.S. U-18 Men’s Youth National Team for an international training camp from March 17-25 in Marbella, Spain, where the team faced Morocco and Norway. Los started the match against Norway, leading the team to a 4-3 victory on March 25.
