Youthful Fire II make history, even without "big brothers"
A wet and mild Monday afternoon in Bridgeview isn’t exactly conducive to a beautiful game of soccer, so it’s no surprise that Chicago Fire II’s 4-2 loss to New York City FC II isn’t a result that will stick long in the memory. However, while head coach Ludovic Taillandier’s team has played an attractive brand of soccer this season, the outcome on the pitch won’t go down as the day’s main takeaway.
The shorthanded Fire II team – which could only name four outfield substitutes for a combination of reasons – fielded a staggeringly young team. Setting aside first-team backup goalkeeper Spencer Richey, an MLS veteran, every player on the field for Chicago was born in the 21st century, with a median age of 18 and a median birth month of July 2005.
Typically, Fire II calls upon a few more experienced players to balance the team, such as Omari Glasgow, Harold Osorio, and Javi Casas. In their absences, though, a group filled with teenage academy players saw the field.
“This team is a mix between young players and players a little older,” coach Taillandier said postgame. “When we say a little older, we mean 20 or 21 years old. That’s the big brothers of the team.”
“Yes, we didn’t have many big brothers today. It makes the challenge a little difficult, but it’s amazing for the development of the young players.”
Fire II have certainly had ups and downs this season, and have experienced several rollercoaster games. Against NYCFC II, the visitors jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, with their own youthful core displaying clinical finishing and making the most of errors from Spencer Richey and Diego Konincks.
A lengthy weather delay shortly before halftime slowed the pace of the game, and in the second period, Taillandier made several big tactical adjustments that enabled his team to score twice in quick succession and narrow the deficit to one goal. NYCFC homegrown forward Jonathan Jiménez then scored late to restore a two-goal cushion, handing New York City its first MLS Next Pro win over Chicago in four meetings.
Fire II’s head coach felt that the exposure at the pro level would benefit the team’s young talents, even if games may seem difficult on the surface.
“It's cool to see them struggling,” Taillandier said. “But also being able to to improve game after game, then a beautiful, beautiful feeling.”
Remarkably, three players born in 2008 – Christopher Cupps, Vitaliy Hlyut, and Chase Nagle – saw the field for Fire II on Monday, an MLS Next Pro record (in addition, Máximo Carrizo also came off the bench for NYCFC II, meaning there were four 2008s total in the game). Nagle, the youngest of the three, returned early from the MLS Next Flex tournament in Maryland to play in the game and replaced Lamonth Rochester for the final nine minutes of play, making his professional debut in the process.
Nagle’s introduction made him the youngest player in Fire II history, breaking goalkeeper Patrick Los’ record set last season by just under a month (15 years and 239 days). For a young defender who’s been associated with the Fire since he was six years old, the opportunity to put on the red jersey and step onto the field in Bridgeview was a moment of great pride, and he had the chance to do it alongside a longtime friend and teammate in Cupps.
“We've always dreamed of playing together professionally,” Nagle told MIR97 Media. “Now that we've done this, it's a great accomplishment, but we want to keep going and hopefully make it to the first team or even better.”
