CHICAGO (Aug. 5, 2022) - Chicago Fire FC II (4-8-4-2, 19 points) continue the second leg of their three-game road trip against St. Louis CITY2 this Saturday at Ralph Korte Stadium in Edwardsville, Ill. The Fire head to Southern Illinois looking for a better result against CITY2 after a resounding 5-0 defeat at SeatGeek Stadium in June. First kick is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. CT and the match be streamed on MLSNEXTPro.com.
The Fire began their road trip last Sunday with a hard-earned point at Rochester New York FC. Coming off a 4-3 home loss to Orlando City B, Chicago conceded an opening goal midway through the second half in Western New York. But Missael Rodríguez responded with a goal of his own only six minutes later, his third of the season. The team held on for 14 minutes to earn a draw, mirroring a similar result against Rochester from April. However, Chris Brady made two crucial saves in the ensuing shootout to flip the script and win it 6-5, handing an additional point to the Fire. Christian Baumgartner, who had an assist on Rodríguez’s goal, starred in his last match with Chicago Fire II before leaving to attend the University of Kentucky this fall.
St. Louis CITY2 (11-4-2-1, 36 points) head into the match sitting in second place of the Western Conference. Their shot at the top of the conference fell short last Saturday, when they suffered a 5-1 defeat at first-place Tacoma Defiance, now four points ahead of CITY2. The result marked the first time St. Louis suffered a loss on the road this year. CITY2 are led by defender Kyle Hiebert, who signed an MLS first team deal this week, and leading goal scorer Josh Dolling, who has scored seven goals this season.
KEYS TO THE MATCH
Ready, steady, Fire! Chicago has benefitted from a steady backline all season long. Captain Carlo Ritaccio and Ryan Quintos are among the team leaders in minutes this season and have anchored an improving defense to become valuable contributors on and off the pitch. The centerback pair will be put to the test against a potent St. Louis attack that ranks sixth in the league in goals scored.
Cool, Calm, Chris Brady. Despite missing several matches due to national team or first team duties, the Homegrown goalkeeper has recorded a clean sheet in half the matches he has played. With only three goals conceded in six matches, his 0.5 goals conceded average (GAA) is the best in the league with at least five matches played. Brady’s save percentage, a league-best 88 percent, helps him serve as a calming presence for the team.
A Husky Contributor. University of Washington standout Charlie Ostrem may have been unheralded when signing for Chicago Fire II, but the defender has left his mark on the team. Ostrem leads the team in assists with five despite having more defensive responsibilities. The fullback makes bombing runs up and down the left flank that will also open up spaces for teammates like Josh Penn, who trails Ostrem by one assist this season and trails Victor Bezerra for the team’s golden boot by only two goals.
HOW TO WATCH
Chicago Fire FC II will face St. Louis CITY2 on Saturday, August 6 on the campus of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. First kick is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. CT. The match can be streamed live on MLSNEXTPro.com.
