MLS NEXT Pro Chicago Fire FC II

Chicago Fire Weekly Update: Fire Return to Action, Training Schedule, Fire II Postseason Hopes Alive

Published on September 11, 2023 under MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Chicago Fire FC II News Release


FIRE HEAD TO MONTREAL ON SATURDAY

Following a bye week, Chicago Fire FC returns to action against Eastern Conference foe CF Montréal on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. CT at Stade Saputo in Montréal, Québec. The match can be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Saturday marks the 27th all-time meeting between the two sides, with this weekend's contest being the 15th taking place in Montréal. Since Montréal's arrival to MLS during the 2012 season, the Fire have posted an all-time record of 8-12-6 against the Canadian side. Additionally, Saturday marks the second and final time these two sides will meet in the 2023 regular season.

In the first contest between Chicago and Montréal this season, the Fire came out victorious, picking up a 3-0 victory over CF Montréal on July 12 at Soldier Field. The match saw plenty of highlights for Chicago, beginning with Homegrown Brian Gutiérrez recording his first goal of the season off an assist from Greek forward Georgios Koutsias a mere nine minutes into the contest. Two minutes later, Koutsias would set up yet another goal, assisting in midfielder Maren Haile-Selassie's fourth goal of the campaign.

The highlight of the match came in the 34th minute, when Designated Player Xherdan Shaqiri scored a showstopping goal that found the upper right corner of the net to record his third goal of the season in jaw dropping fashion. Finally, the win saw the MLS debut of Homegrown forward Missael Rodríguez, who checked into the match in the 76th minute.

INTERNATIONAL BREAK update!

As we approach the final few days of the FIFA international break, Chicago Fire FC has four players representing their respective home countries in the FIFA international window, including Designated Player Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland), defender Miguel Navarro (Venezuela), Young Designated Player Jairo Torres (Mexico), and Georgios Koutsias (Greece). Additionally, Chicago Fire FC II forward Omari Glasgow was also called up for international duty (Guyana).

Shaqiri, picked up the start and logged 84 minutes of action in a 2-2 draw against Kosovo on Saturday, Sept. 9. A homecoming for the Swiss midfielder, it marked the first national team start for Shaqiri back in Kosovo, the country in which he was born. Shaqiri and Switzerland continue their EURO 2024 qualifying matches tomorrow when they face Andorra on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 1:45 p.m. CT at the Stade de Tourbillon in Sion, Switzerland.

Navarro and Venezuela suffered a 1-0 loss to Colombia on Thursday, Sept. 7 in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying play. While Navarro did not make an apperance for the Vinotinto, they will resume their international break when they host Paraguay on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. CT at the Monumental Stadium of Maturín in Monagas, Venezuela.

Torres, joined the U-23 Mexico Youth National Team and started in their opening friendly against Colombia on Saturday, Sept. 9. Torres picked up an impressive assist in the 36th minute to open the scoring for Mexico en route to a 2-0 victory for El Tri over Colombia. The U-23's look to continue their winning ways when they face Colombia again on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 11 a.m. CT at the Mexican Federation's Centro de Alto Rendimiento in Mexico City.

For Koutsias and Greece, they opened U-21 EURO qualifying with a 1-1 draw against Belarus. With the draw, they picked up a point in group stage play. While Koutsias did not appear for Greece, group stage play continues as they face Andorra at 12 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at the Estadio Nacional in Andorra la Vella, Andorra.

Finally, Glasgow had a day to remember, picking up a hat-trick in Guyana's 5-1 opening victory against Antigua and Barbusda in the CONCACAF Nations League tournament. The Golden Jaguars look to continue their hot start in the competition, rounding out their League B, Group D action when they host Bahamas on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. CT at the Synthetic Track and Field Facility in Leonora, Guyana.

ALEX MONIS LOANED TO RGVFC

On Sept. 6, Chicago Fire FC announced that the Club loaned Homegrown midfielder Alex Monis to Rio Grande Valley FC of the USL Championship for the remainder of the 2023 USL season.

Monis, 20, spent most of the 2023 season playing at the MLS NEXT Pro level, where the young forward was a consistent contributor for Chicago Fire FC II. Making appearances in 19 matches (13 starts), he logged 1,056 minutes of action and was second on the team with six goals, behind only Billy Hency and Luka Prpa lead the Golden Boot race at seven.

After becoming the 18th Homegrown player in Fire history on March 11, 2020, Monis made his MLS debut with the Chicago Fire against the Columbus Crew on Nov. 7, 2021, playing the final 19 minutes of the match. HIs most notable contribution came in the 90+2nd minute against the New England Revolution on Oct. 7, 2022, when he scored his first career MLS goal just one minute after taking the field. HIs marker propelled the Fire to a come-from-behind 1-1 tie at SeatGeek Stadium in the final game of the 2022 MLS regular season.

Best of luck in Rio Grande Valley, Alex!

FIRE II ONE STEP CLOSER TO MLS NEXT PRO POSTSEASON!

Chicago Fire FC II scored three unanswered goals to stun Sporting Kansas City II with a 3-2 road victory on Sunday afternoon. Luka Prpa led the winning effort with two penalty kick goals, while Chicago Fire Academy midfielder Dylan Borso marked his MLS NEXT Pro debut with a match-winning goal and a Man of the Match designation.

As it stands, the Fire are sitting four points clear of the playoff line, with 40 points and two games remaining in the 2023 regular season. With a win on Friday evening against Orlando City B, the Fire can clinch their very first postseason berth since joining MLS NEXT Pro in 2022.

The Fire will wrap up the home portion of their 2023 regular season schedule on Friday, Sept. 15, when they host Orlando City B at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. First kick is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and coverage of the match will begin five minutes prior on MLSNEXTPro.com. Match entry and parking will be free for all fans.

Check out the Chicago Fire FC II Statistics

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