CHICAGO (Sept. 29, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC II will make its MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs debut in opposition to New York Red Bulls FC on Sunday, October 1 at MSU Soccer Park in Montclair, New Jersey. Following a a hit 2023 marketing campaign, the Fire will glance to avenge its closing defeat in law in opposition to a skilled Red Bulls facet that includes MLS NEXT Pro Best XI variety Ibrahim Kasule. First kick is slated for 1 p.m. CT and the fit may also be streamed without spending a dime on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Chicago (9-8-11-5) starts its first MLS NEXT Pro Playoff run because the 6th seed in a aggressive Eastern Conference. To get to the playoffs, the Fire first needed to earn some extent in a highly-contested street fit at Huntsville City FC on MLS NEXT Pro Decision Day closing Sunday afternoon.
The hosts struck first within the 7th minute, however Omari Glasgow equalized most effective 3 mins later, assisted by means of Billy Hency. The Guyanese striker would go back the choose within the twenty fifth minute on a pass that Hency would head in for the lead. Although Huntsville responded again, the Fire tenaciously hung on for over 50 mins to clinch some extent and a spot within the Playoffs. The resulting penalty shootout was once capped off with two consecutive saves by means of Mihajlo Mišković, giving the staff a the most important additional level over 7th position Philadelphia Union II.
New York Red Bulls II (14-8-6-3) in the past clinched a place within the Playoffs at house on August 27 – a 5-4 win in opposition to the Fire. With a spot secured, the Red Bulls hosted the Union in a must-win fit for the guests on Decision Day. Philadelphia jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead sooner than the hosts responded again, however a stoppage time objective gave them a 3-1 win to clinch a postseason berth only one spot under the Fire.
The Red Bulls earned an early cross into the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs at the backs of league Best XI participant Kasule and teammates Frank Ssebufu and Wikelman Carmona, who recorded a mixed 31 objectives and 11 assists in 2023. The trio was once aided by means of some of the best possible defenses within the league, permitting most effective 36 objectives throughout the year – just right for 0.33 best possible within the league (tied with San Jose and Tacoma) and moment within the Eastern Conference, in the back of most effective top-seeded Crown Legacy FC.
The Team No One Wanted. The moment season of MLS NEXT Pro had many firsts, together with a brand new pick-your-team opponent construction within the first two rounds of the Playoffs. With a staggering 66 issues, Crown Legacy FC earned a first-round bye, leaving second-place New England Revolution II and third-place Columbus Crew 2 their selection of warring parties for the primary around. While New England picked the bottom seeded staff in Philadelphia, the Columbus Crew interestingly picked Orlando City B – the 5th seed – to open its postseason. This left New York no selection however to host the Fire, which is able to use this as bulletin board subject material to inspire an already assured squad looking for their first October win.
Billy Billy! With a wealth of Homegrown avid gamers and returning starters, it isn’t a surprise few had Billy Hency pegged as Chicago’s Golden Boot winner at the beginning of the yr. But the 67th total choose within the 2023 MLS SuperDraft left certainly about his worth closing Sunday, capping off a a hit rookie yr with perhaps a very powerful objective in Fire II historical past so far – a blank, one-time end that will be sufficient to earn the staff’s first postseason spot. The Fire will glance to his completing and link-up play within the ultimate 0.33 to dissatisfied the Red Bulls at the street on Sunday.
Road Warriors. The Decision Day draw at Huntsville City FC gave Chicago a 5-5-4 document at the street in 2023 – a certain development over a 3-7-2 mark in 2022. The staff’s shape clear of house was once on show past due, when the Fire most effective misplaced a unmarried street fit within the closing two calendar months of the season. More importantly, 3 of the staff’s 5 wins as guests got here in opposition to playoff groups like Columbus, Philadelphia and Sporting KC II. The Fire will hope to proceed this sturdy shape at a venue the place they dropped 4 objectives on some of the best possible defenses within the league.
Chicago Fire FC II will make its MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs debut in opposition to New York Red Bulls FC on Sunday, October 1 at MSU Soccer Park in Montclair, New Jersey. First kick is slated for 1 p.m. CT and the fit may also be streamed without spending a dime on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.