Chicago Fire FC II wraps up a brief two-game homestand on Sunday with an Eastern Conference matchup against New England Revolution II.
The Fire return to SeatGeek Stadium hoping for a repeat performance of last Sunday’s 5-0 home win over Columbus Crew 2. Five different goal scorers tallied in the match, including captain Diego Konincks with his first goal of the season to open the scoring. Justin Reynolds, Trip Fleming, Jean Alpha Diouf and Jason Shokalook also scored to help goalkeeper Patrick Los record his fifth win and second shutout of 2025.
New England will cap off a five-game road trip on Sunday after defeating NYCFC II in their last match. In his season debut for Revolution II, Homegrown player Malcolm Fry came off the bench to score the game-winning goal in the 89th minute at Belson Stadium in Queens, NY. His return is welcome by a New England side in the bottom-10 for goals scored this season in MLS NEXT Pro.
Sunday’s contest will be the eighth regular season matchup between Chicago and New England in MLS NEXT Pro. New England holds a slight edge in the series with a 2-2-3-2 record in league play. However, the road teams have never won, with New England 0-2-1-0 all-time in Bridgeview.
By the Numbers
1 – Chicago leads MLS NEXT Pro with the fewest fouls committed (105) and fewest cautions issued (9).
The numbers make the Fire the only team with a single-digit number of yellow cards, and one of three with under 110 fouls this season. This discipline has reduced the number of free kicks in dangerous areas, and has helped keep the lineup consistent for much of the season.
3 – Forward Claudio Cassano is third in all of MLS NEXT Pro in a variety of stat categories that highlight his playmaking accumen this season.
Cassano is third in the leagues in key passes (29) and successful crosses (20), while tied for third in shots taken (30). He’s been a dual threat, creating chances for his teammates while also being aggressive in the final third, forcing defenses to zero in on him.
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 810 minutes of action for the Fire. Jean Alpha Diouf and Claudio Cassano each have over 700 minutes in those appearances, while Dean Boltz and Juan Miguel Calle each have over 480 minutes playing in a variety of crucial roles.
Player Spotlight: Vitaliy Hlyut
Vitaliy Hlyut fends off defenders before delivering a key pass (Dan Svoboda)
Chicago Fire II midfielder Vitaliy Hlyut has come into his own in 2025. The Chicago Fire Academy graduate has started seven games this season – two more than in the entirety of his debut year of 2024 – taking part in every match the team has won. “Vita” has recorded two assists this season playing in a variety of roles, including as a winger and as a midfielder. The versatility has been appreciated by head coach Mike Matkovich, who has played him in nine of the team’s 10 matches so far. His passing accuracy rate of 88 percent is among the highest of players with a minimum of 500 minutes this season. Hlyut has yet to tally a goal – but given his form, it may not be long before that changes. His recent form earned him a short-term contract with the first team ahead of their match against D.C. United on Saturday.
