Chicago Fire FC II will take a three-game winning streak into Manhattan to face New York City FC II on Friday, August 8.
Just one week after posting a record-breaking 9-2 victory over New York Red Bulls II, Chicago returned to SeatGeek Stadium to face Columbus Crew 2 on Sunday, August 3. Midfielder Trip Fleming opened the scoring in only the second minute of play when he connected with winger Claudio Cassano on a header. The Italian winger then followed with his eighth of the season, followed by Fleming’s second early in the second half. Forward Dean Boltz added on shortly thereafter before midfielder Harold Osorio came in as a second-half substitute and registered a brace of his own to close out a 6-1 victory for the Fire.
NYCFC II posted a similarly good result of its own on the same day, defeating Orlando City B 4-1 in Central Florida. Four different players scored a goal for the Pigeons, whose victory pushed them over the line and into eighth place at the Lions’ expense. The Friday night contest will be their second at home against Chicago this season, the first of which resulted in a 2-2 draw at Belson Stadium on May 23.
Game Information
CHICAGO FIRE FC (10-5-4-2, 36 points) at New York City FC II (7-8-5-2, 28 points)
Friday, August 8, 2025
Icahn Stadium – New York City
All-Time MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season Record vs. NYC: (1-3-4-2)
Last Game vs. NYC: July 14, 2024 (0-2 L) – SeatGeek Stadium – Bridgeview, Ill. (Match Recap)
Last Game at NYC: May 23, 2025 (2-2 D) – Belson Stadium – New York City (Match Recap)
Player Spotlight: Claudio Cassano
Winger Claudio Cassano has been one of the most dangerous players in MLS NEXT Pro this season (Dan Svoboda | Chicago Fire FC)
Amid broken scoring records and unbeaten streaks for Chicago Fire II is Claudio Cassano, who has climbed up the ranks of MLS NEXT Pro history this season. The Italian winger has quietly put together one of the most solid campaigns in league history, highlighted by his 10th assist of the year in the Fire's 6-1 win over Columbus last Sunday. The mark is the current MLS NEXT Pro record, shared with four other players since the league's inception in 2022. The current league leader in the category, Cassano has a chance to break the single-season record today against NYCFC II.
How to Watch
Chicago Fire FC II will travel to the Big Apple for an Eastern Conference rematch against NYCFC II on Friday, August 8. Kickoff at Icahn Stadium in Randalls Island is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and can be streamed for free on MLSNEXTPro.com.
