Chicago Fire FC II (2-0-3-2) defeated Carolina Core FC (0-5-0-0) 2-1 at SeatGeek Stadium on Monday night. Javier Casas Jr. tallied his first goal of 2024 to open the scoring, while Harold Osorio scored the match-winning goal in the first half.
Chicago established possession in the match early before breaking through only 14 minutes in. David Tchetchao Karo jumped on a deflection before laying off a pass to Casas in the right side of the box. The Homegrown midfielder took a touch before blasting the opener home for his first of the year.
The home side continued its push forward throughout the half, with Juan Miguel Calle hitting the woodwork in the 32nd minute of his first start in MLS NEXT Pro. But it would take stoppage time to give the Fire another chance at the goal following a foul on David Poreba in the box. Team-leading goal scorer Osorio stepped up to the spot and again finished cleanly, adding his fifth tally of the year and tying up the first half neatly for his side.
Carolina made some tactical changes at halftime and pushed from the whistle for a goal. Ten minutes into the half, the visitors earned a corner kick that found the head of David Polanco. The forward’s header was goal-bound, but Patrick Los was able to swat it away in mid-air to maintain his shutout.
The Fire defense held until the 76th minute, when Jacob Evans intercepted a pass from the Fire backline to hit a screamer into the goal. Evans’ first goal of the year gave the momentum to the visitors, but the Men in Red held on through 90 minutes to earn yet another win at home.
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Box Score:
Chicago Fire FC II 2:1 Carolina Core FC
Goals:
CHI - Casas Jr. (1) (Tchetchao 1) (WATCH) 14’
CHI - Osorio (5) (Penalty) (WATCH) 45+4’
CCFC - Evans (1) (WATCH) 76’
Discipline:
CCFC - Canete (Yellow Card) 19’
CCFC - Polanco (Yellow Card) 31’
CCFC - Juarez (Yellow Card) 37’
CHI - Koffi (Yellow Card) 61’
CHI - Calle (Yellow Card) 74’
CHI - Los (Yellow Card) 89’
CHI - Blake (Yellow Card) 90+2’
Chicago Fire FC II: GK Los; D Rochester, D Konincks (Cupps, 82’), D Shannon, D Glasgow; M Calle, M Osorio (Blake, 82’), M Casas, Jr. (Shokalook, 23’; Oregel, Jr., 82’), M Poreba (capt.); F Koffi, F Tchetchao Karo (Granda, 52’)
Subs not used: GK Dowd; D Soudan
Carolina Core FC: GK Pannenberg (capt.), D Juarez (Ndoye, 86’), D Covi, D Thomas, D White IV (Cisneros, 72’), M Evans, M Canete, M Subah (Gregoire, 76’), M Lugo (Diaz, 45’), M Cuevas, M Polanco (Rodriguez, 72’)
Subs not used: GK Sutton, M Orejuela
Stats Summary: CHI / CCFC
Shots: 13 / 14
Shots on Goal: 5 / 4
Passing Accuracy: 79.1% / 72%
Saves: 3 / 3
Corners: 4 / 6
Fouls: 26 / 15
Offsides: 0 / 2
Possession: 51.7% / 48.3%
Referee: Calin Radosav
Assistant Ref 1: Art Arustamyan
Assistant Ref 2: Erid del Rosario
4th Official: Igor Bych