BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (Aug. 13, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC II (8-7-8-3) earned a pair of points Sunday night against Inter Miami CF II (4-14-4-1) with a shootout victory following a 2-2 draw at SeatGeek Stadium. Luka Prpa recorded one goal and one assist for his teammate Romain Blake, both of whom scored in the shootout. Miles Perkovich scored twice for Miami, keeping his side alive for playoff contention.
The match began as a cagey affair, with Chicago employing a high press but having little to show for it. As the Fire moved further upfield looking for a goal before the break, Miami took advantage. In the 34th minute, Brian Destin broke away on a counter-attack before delivering a perfect ball for Perkovich to tap home. The Miami winger would score his second only five minutes later, this time assisted by Farid Sar-Sar, giving his side a 2-0 lead with minutes to go before halftime.
With time winding down in the first half, Chicago pushed forward furiously looking for a goal. Omari Glasgow intercepted a clearance in the 44th minute before resetting and finding Prpa. The experienced midfielder shook off a defender in the box, settled and curled a shot into the far corner of the net to cut the deficit in half. His fourth tally of the season brought some momentum back to the Fire as the teams entered the locker rooms.
Chicago sought to take advantage of the momentum as soon as the whistle blew to start the second half. After his side won a corner in the 49th minute, Wyatt Omsberg beat out his defender in the box to put a header on frame. But Miami’s Owen Finnerty made a diving stop at the line to deny the defender a goal. Omsberg would once again strike in the ensuing corner kick, but the visitors’ defenders again stopped the effort at the line to keep the score the same.
Miami’s lead would not survive for long. Entering in the 67th minute, Blake would leave his mark upon the match only three minutes in. The Jamaican defender pushed forward into the box to find Prpa, who put the ball on a silver platter for him to blast into the back of the net. His first goal as a member of the Fire invigorated the Fire attack and the home fans, as they threatened to take the lead with 20 minutes left.
Despite the momentum change, the visitors held on to finish the match with a 2-2 draw, a point and a coin flip that gave them the first shot in the post-match shootout. The teams were perfect throughout the first four rounds, leaving little for the goalkeepers to get their hands on. But on Miami’s fifth kick, Mihajlo Mišković stood tall and made a diving stop to deny the Herons the lead. Fresh off an equalizing goal and strong performance, Blake finished his kick cleanly to earn Chicago an additional point and a strong start to a brief two-match homestand.
Chicago will next welcome NYCFC II to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois on Wednesday, August 16. First kick is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, with gates opening to fans for free one hour earlier. Coverage of the match will begin five minutes prior to first kick on MLSNEXTPro.com.
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Box Score:
Chicago Fire FC II 2 (5) : 2 (4) Inter Miami CF II
Goals:
MIA - Perkovich (2) (Destin 1) 34’
MIA - Perkovich (3) (Sar-Sar 1) 39’
CHI - Prpa (4) (Glasgow 4) (WATCH) 44’
CHI - Blake (1) (Prpa 6) (WATCH) 70’
Shootout:
Chicago Fire FC II: Prpa (scored), Egan (scored), M. Rodríguez (scored), Ostrem (scored), Blake (scored)
Inter Miami CF II: Sunderland (scored), Meek (scored), Flores (scored), Taghvai-Najib (scored), Basabe (saved)
Discipline:
MIA - Taghvai-Najib (Yellow Card) 81’
Chicago Fire FC II: GK Mišković, D Ostrem, D Omsberg (capt.), D Burks (Egan, 90+2’), D Reynolds, M A. Rodriguez (Casas, 62’), M Oregel, Jr. (Blake, 67’), M Prpa, F Monis (M. Rodríguez, 62’), F Hency, F Glasgow
Subs not used: GK Los, D Fuderer, D Rochester, D Ueland, M Kidd
Inter Miami CF II: GK Finnerty, D Montenegro, D Hall, D Sar-Sar, D Abadia-Reda (Basabe, 77’), M Sunderland (capt.), M Perkovich (Meek, 77’), M Flores, M Boatwright, M Pymm (Taghvai-Najib, 63’), F Destin (Sessock, 60’)
Subs not used: GK Steinhaesuer, M Valencia, M Barton, M Morales
Stats Summary: CHI / MIA
Shots: 23 / 5
Shots on Goal: 8 / 2
Passing Accuracy: 85.7% / 73.9%
Saves: 0 / 6
Corners: 12 / 0
Fouls: 13 / 12
Offsides: 1 / 0
Possession: 62.4% / 37.6%
Referee: Chris Ruska
Assistant Ref 1: Jacob Little
Assistant Ref 2: Eric Wood
4th Official: Calin Radosav
