CHICAGO (April 29, 2023) - Chicago Fire FC II will host New York Red Bulls II for the first time in MLS NEXT Pro play on Sunday, April 30 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. The Fire return home following a tight 2-0 loss at Atlanta United 2 last Saturday, April 22. Coverage of the match on MLSNEXTPro.com will begin five minutes prior to first kick at 6 p.m. CT.
The Fire (2-3-0-0) return to SeatGeek Stadium for their third home match in four weeks after a 2-0 loss at ATL UTD 2. Despite creating multiple chances in the match and holding most of the possession in the second half, a pair of defense lapses by the Fire gave Atlanta all they needed to earn their second win of the season. The result helped Atlanta swap places in the Eastern Conference standings, taking eighth place and dropping the Fire to ninth. Chicago will now look to reverse a three-match losing streak after winning two straight to start the 2023 campaign.
RBNYII (2-1-2-1) come into Bridgeview on a roll, winning their last two matches against Eastern Conference opponents. The Red Bulls traveled up to New England to play the Revolution last Friday in a tight match that saw the hosts retain most of the ball throughout 90 minutes. But New York finally broke through in the 76th minute off an Oladayo Thomas penalty kick goal. The goal was the first of the season for the forward; the majority of the Red Bulls’ goals have come from Wiki Thomas, who has snagged three of the team’s five total tallies this season.
KEYS TO THE MATCH
Billy Balling. Chicago Fire II has seen six different players score the team’s six goals in 2023, a marked difference from a season ago, when Victor Bezerra established himself as the team’s top scorer. One of those hoping to get in the same discussion this year is Billy Hency, the Fire’s second selection in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Hency scored in the opening match of the season to get himself on the list. He has since contributed greatly on the field as one of five players to appear in all five Fire matches of the year.
Brick Wall Kendall. As a stalwart defender for the MLS NEXT Pro team, Kendall Burks has impressed in the 2023 season. But it was with the first team that Burks made his largest impression this year. On Wednesday, the center back scored two goals in the Fire’s 3-0 win over Chicago House AC in the third round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. His development in his second professional season was on display in the latest edition of the historic tournament, but his solid play has been on display all season long for Fire II.
Trip Thriving. Richard “Trip” Fleming III had a successful inaugural MLS NEXT Pro campaign, scoring twice and assisting four times in over 1,700 minutes for the 2022 Fire II. The midfielder has played fewer minutes in a congested midfield this year, but has steadily increased his minutes and contributions as the season has wound on. Fleming plays a quiet brand of soccer that sometimes does not show up on the statsheet, but his linkup play with all sectors of the field has been key for the team late in matches.
HOW TO WATCH
Chicago Fire FC II will host New York Red Bulls II on Sunday, April 30 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. Coverage of the match on MLSNEXTPro.com will begin five minutes prior to first kick at 6 p.m. CT. Match entry and parking are free for all fans.
