Fire II’s playoff opener is one you won’t want to miss
Playoff soccer is back in Chicago for another year, though it won’t be the Fire’s first team kicking off their campaign on Sunday — it will be Chicago Fire II in MLS Next Pro.
An impressive regular season resulted in playoff qualification for the second straight season, and the first round of playoffs will be held this Sunday against Orlando City B at 2:00. Here are five reasons the game is one you certainly won’t want to miss.
Click here to read more about Chicago Fire II’s season and philosophy
1. A Winning Team
Despite the shortcomings of the Fire first team in MLS this season, Fire II have been playing efficient, attractive soccer under third-season head coach Ludovic Taillandier. A Decision Day win over a stacked Philadelphia Union II team secured Fire’s place in the postseason, ensuring that they qualified in back-to-back seasons.
Stylistically, Taillandier played quite differently from Frank Klopas’ first team squad, with an easy-on-the-eye attacking style centered around the likes of Omari Glasgow and David Poreba. Their adventurous approach has resulted in some truly thrilling games this season, including high-scoring encounters and penalty shootouts.
2. The Future
Fire II games are an opportunity to glimpse into the first team’s future, and this season, the astonishingly young squad has made things even more interesting. It’s not just breakthrough homegrown fullback Justin Reynolds who has caught the eye, either; 16-year-olds Christopher Cupps and Vitaliy Hlyut have been role players, while 17-year-old Peter Soudan has mostly locked down a starting role.
In goal, 17-year-old Patrick Los has caught the attention of those all around the league for his emergence as Fire II’s main goalkeeper over the course of the season. Longtime teammate Patryk Stechnij has also often been the backup, with the academy duo often serving as Chris Brady’s understudies in training. Los, in particular, seems like a real candidate for a future homegrown deal, so fans will want to keep a close eye on his progress in MLS Next Pro.
3. Second Summer
The weather in Chicago has been perfect for soccer this weekend, and today’s game will be no different. With sun all day and projected temperatures of 75° F at kickoff, there’s no better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than at a playoff game.
In addition, it could be the last chance to see a Fire pro team on home soil this season, barring an unlikely sequence of results in the MLS Next Pro playoffs.
4. The Golden Boot
Fire II can claim to be the home of MLS Next Pro’s top goalscorer in 2024, David Poreba. The Chicagoland product, whose winding path home to the Fire took him through Poland and North Carolina, had an electric season, finishing the year with a league-high 18 goals.
Though Poreba is yet to debut in MLS, his progress with the second team has been phenomenal. He has captained the team as a 21-year-old and still has plenty of room to grow and progress as a player. Poreba has also trained with the Fire first team often throughout the season and made the bench a handful of times in MLS.
5. Free Entry and Parking
Fire II games may be Chicago soccer’s best-kept secret, especially considering their cost – nothing. Even in the playoffs, fans can attend Fire II games free of charge, including parking, something many high school teams can’t even claim. Fans also have the opportunity to visit Bridgeview, the Fire’s current training home, before it is replaced by the newly constructed Endeavor Health Performance Center in 2025.
In a difficult game against an impressive Orlando City team, Fire II will certainly need support from Fire fans – and turning out in Bridgeview on Sunday could provide a boost to a team looking to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Read More:
https://meninred97.com/fire-ii-creating-a-standard-in-third-season/
https://meninred97.com/guyanas-omari-glasgow-energizes-nyc-crowd/
https://meninred97.com/youthful-fire-ii-make-history-even-without-big-brothers/
