CHICAGO (May 12, 2023) - Chicago Fire FC II returns to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois to play Huntsville City FC on Friday, May 12. The match will be the first time that the two sides face off, as 2023 marks Huntsville’s inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season. The match will be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV five minutes prior to first kick at 7 p.m. CT.
Chicago Fire II (2-3-2-0) comes home following a 3-3 draw at MNUFC2 on Sunday, May 7. The match started dismally for the Fire, with Minnesota taking a 2-0 lead before the 25th minute of play. But the visitors struck back shortly before the end of the first half behind Harold Osorio’s first goal of the year. The team then rode that momentum into the second half, when goals by Billy Hency and Omari Glasgow completed a comeback effort for a short lead. But Minnesota struck back with a 90th minute own goal and shootout victory, giving the Fire a valuable road point but denying them a second.
As one of seven teams to join MLS NEXT Pro for the 2023 season, Huntsville City FC (0-4-2-2) has had a slower start to the campaign. The Nashville FC affiliate has played all of its six opening matches on the road and has yet to get its first victory of the year.
But the record may be misleading – Huntsville has lost no match by more than a goal and won shootouts in each of its two draws. Its latest result, a 1-0 loss at defending champions Columbus Crew 2 on Friday, May 5, encapsulates the team’s season. Despite outshooting and out-possessing Columbus – a feat against a possession-oriented squad like the Crew – the home side held on. Huntsville City will thus be hungry for a win before a raucous crowd of at least 3,000 in North Alabama welcomes the team home for the first time on May 19.
KEYS TO THE MATCH
Under Fire. After a hot start to the season, scoring five goals in the opening two matches, the Fire went on a scoring drought that saw the team record only one goal in four matches. But the attack came to life on Sunday, adding three goals in succession from the run of play. Meanwhile, the defense kept the team in every match, finishing the matchday as a top 10 unit in goals allowed in the league. The underlying numbers suggest a team that is ready to go on a run, starting with a match against last-place Huntsville.
Billy with the Boot. With a good number of returning attackers from 2022, the team’s golden boot looked certain to go to a familiar face. But it was a newcomer who took over last weekend as the Fire’s leading goal-scorer: 2023 MLS SuperDraft selection Billy Hency. The Loyola University Chicago forward has made his limited time count by scoring both of his goals off the bench. More importantly, Hency will now have a (friendly) target on his back that his teammates will aim for, improving the Fire’s attack.
#GlasGoal Time. Among the returning faces that fans sought out the most was Omari Glasgow, the Guyanese winger who tallied 5 goals in 2022. His 2023 started in a cold manner, being unable to connect in his first five matches. But Glasgow finally came through on Sunday, heading in a peach of a cross from Charlie Ostrem to tie the match less than 10 minutes after halftime in Minnesota. He was heavily involved in the Fire’s attack, adding an assist on Billy Hency’s goal to take the lead. His Man of the Match performance could be the spark that ignites the fan favorite’s campaign.
HOW TO WATCH
Chicago Fire FC II returns to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois to play Huntsville City FC on Friday, May 12. The match will be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV five minutes prior to first kick at 7 p.m. CT. Match entry and parking are free for this and every match of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season.
