Chicago Fire II (3-2-3-2) dropped its first home match of 2024 in a 4-2 loss to New York City FC II (3-3-2-1) Monday afternoon. David Poreba scored the Fire’s first goal in the match, preceding an own goal by New York’s defense.
New York City FC II came out to a blistering start, threatening Spencer Richey’s goal within minutes of the opening whistle. In the seventh minute, left back Christopher Tiao found an open Calheira on the left, who outraced the Fire defense to the box and blasted a shot into the top of the net for the opener.
In the 18th minute, the visitors doubled their lead. This time, Ronald Arévalo found Jacob Arroyave on the left of the box, who similarly finished near post for the second goal. Just three minutes later, Andrew Baiera took advantage of a slip in the Fire defense to dribble several yards down an open right flank and slip the ball past the fingers of a diving Richey for a third tally.
With inclement weather throughout the Chicagoland area, the match was paused in the 39th minute. The Fire could not generate further chances upon resumption of play in the first half. But an invigorated Chicago stormed back quickly in the second half. Christian Koffi was fouled in the box in the 56th minute, giving his team a penalty kick that Poreba scored.
Just two minutes later, the Men in Red struck again. David Tchetchao Karo retrieved a rebound off a corner kick and passed to an open Romain Blake. The Jamaican defender then lashed a shot that deflected off the back of Baiera and into the goal, cutting the NYCFC II lead down to just one.
The visitors were able to stem the tide and regain a two-goal lead thanks to Jiménez in the 72nd minute. Chicago’s comeback effort was cut short by strong defending, giving New York three points upon the final whistle.
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Box Score:
Chicago Fire FC II 2:4 New York City FC II
Goals:
NYC - Calheira (2) (Tiao 1) (WATCH) 7’
NYC - Arroyave (2) (Arévalo 3) (WATCH) 18’
NYC - Baiera (1) (Haxhari 1) (WATCH) 21’
CHI - Poreba (4) (Penalty) (WATCH) 57’
CHI - Baiera (Own Goal) (WATCH) 59’
NYC - Jiménez (3) (Rando 2) (WATCH) 72’
Discipline:
CHI - Oregel, Jr. (Yellow Card) 3’
CHI - Blake (Yellow Card) 44’
NYC - Jiménez (Yellow Card) 62’
NYC - Calheira (Yellow Card) 65’
CHI - Konincks (Yellow Card) 72’
Chicago Fire FC II: GK Richey; D Rochester (Nagle, 86’), D Konincks, D Cupps, D Blake (Heuer, 72’); M Oregel, Jr., M Poreba (capt.), M Soudan; F Koffi, F Hlyut (Nesci, 80’), F Tchetchao Karo (Granda, 80’)
Subs not used: GK Dowd
New York City FC II: GK Rando, D Tiao, D Owusu, D Haxhari (Hauschild, 60’), D Baiera; M Arroyave, M Rozhansky (Elias, 60’), M Calheira (capt.); F Arévalo (Carrizo, 60’), F Bednarsky (Shore, 45’), F Jiménez
Subs not used: GK K. Hope-Gund, GK Meyer, D Leong
Stats Summary: CHI / NYC
Shots: 14 / 17
Shots on Goal: 4 / 10
Passing Accuracy: 81.1% / 79%
Saves: 6 / 3
Corners: 5 / 7
Fouls: 13 / 10
Offsides: 6 / 2
Possession: 53.1% / 46.9%
Referee: Katherine McCormack
Assistant Ref 1: Tyler Spiczka
Assistant Ref 2: Jared Michael Kuehl
4th Official: Ryan Hornik