NEW YORK CITY (May 23, 2025) – Chicago Fire FC II returns from a bye week and heads to the Big Apple to face New York City FC II in Matchweek 11 of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro regular season.
Chicago returns to action in the middle of a two-game winning streak. After dismantling Orlando City B at home on May 2, the Fire returned to SeatGeek Stadium a week later to face FC Cincinnati 2. One week after scoring their first goals of the year, defender Jean Alpha Diouf and forward Jason Shokalook tallied their second to hand Chicago its second win in as many matches at home.
NYCFC II will host Chicago in the third leg of a four-game homestand. New York is also coming off two consecutive home wins, defeating Hudson River Derby rivals New York Red Bulls II 5-2 on May 9 before shutting out Toronto FC II 3-0 last Thursday. With seven goals, including a hat trick against the Red Bulls, forward Seymour Reid leads the way for NYCFC II.
Friday’s match will be Chicago’s eighth against NYCFC II. The Pigeons have been a thorn on the side of the Fire, having drawn or won the last five meetings. But New York has only won once against the Fire at Belson Stadium.
By the Numbers
6 – Six players have appeared in every match for Chicago Fire II this season, a remarkable display of consistency for one of the hottest teams in MLS NEXT Pro. Leading the way are goalkeeper Patrick Los and captain Diego Konincks, who have appeared in all 720 minutes of action for the Fire. Jean Alpha Diouf and Claudio Cassano each have over 600 minutes in those appearances, while Dean Boltz and Juan Miguel Calle each have over 400 minutes playing in a variety of crucial roles.
7 – Only two teams in MLS NEXT Pro have scored seven goals or more in their last two matches – NYCFC II and Chicago Fire II. In New York’s two-game run, Seymour Reid has taken center stage, scoring a hat trick against rivals New York Red Bulls II. For Chicago, it’s been a team effort – no player has scored more than once in each of the last two games. Both teams have relied on quality passing, having passing accuracy rates of at least 84.6 percent in 2025.
9 – Chicago Fire FC II leads all of MLS NEXT Pro with only nine yellow card cautions issued in 2025. The Fire have played a more disciplined brand of soccer, as evidenced by the fourth lowest number of fouls committed in the league – 91, just four more than league leaders Austin and Philadelphia.
Player Spotlight: Jason Shokalook
Jason Shokalook jumps up high to win a header for Chicago Fire II (Barbara Calabrese | Chicago Fire FC)
Jason Shokalook has gotten hot at the right time for Chicago Fire II. The forward has scored in each of the last two matches, opening his goal account for 2025 as his side won two in a row.
Selected by Chicago Fire FC with the No. 35 overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Shokalook had a solid rookie year in 2024, scoring and assisting twice in 23 matches for Chicago Fire II. The Erie, Pa. native has already matched the last year’s goal output in just under a third of games. His familiarity with his team has helped, as has the development of an attacking game he displayed in one of the best conferences in men’s college soccer.
How to Watch
Kickoff at Belson Stadium in Queens, New York is set for 3 p.m. CT. The match can be streamed for free on MLSNEXTPro.com.
