Chicago Fire FC II returns home to kick off June with a match against Eastern Conference rivals Columbus Crew 2. First kick at SeatGeek Stadium is set for 1 p.m. CT on Sunday.
The Fire return to Bridgeview after a 2-2 draw against NYCFC II in Queens last Friday. The hosts quickly took the lead in the fifth minute, holding on late into the match. Chicago struck back with two goals in the closing eight minutes, holding a 2-1 lead well into stoppage time. But Sebastiano Musu’s bicycle kick goal tied the match in the closing seconds, sending the game to a shootout that NYCFC won for the additional point.
Columbus will visit Chicago in its lone road match in a seven-week stretch of home games. The Capybaras are coming off a split of two home matches, winning a rivalry matchup against FC Cincinnati on May 18 before dropping its latest result, a 1-0 loss to New York Red Bulls II on Sunday. U.S. Youth National Team star Chase Adams leads Columbus with three goals in a down 2025.
Sunday’s contest will be the 10th regular season matchup between Chicago and Columbus in MLS NEXT Pro play. The teams are tied at 4-4-1 all-time, with a shootout win in favor of Chicago. But the Fire will be looking to avenge a 3-2 loss in last year’s MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs against the Crew.
By the Numbers
1 – With their 2-2 draw at NYCFC II, to finish May the Fire completed their first unbeaten calendar month since April of last year.
Extended winning streaks are hard to come by in a league with as much parity as MLS NEXT Pro, but Chicago managed to get two wins and a draw in May. With another win or draw, Chicago would get closer to a team-high six-game unbeaten streak to start the 2024 season, which followed two games in a row without a loss to end the 2023 season.
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.
24 – Claudio Cassano has recorded 24 key passes this season for Chicago Fire II.
Defined as a pass that leads directly to a shot on goal, the key pass metric is one way of the danger Cassano has posed in the final third. His 24 key passes is tied for the fifth best mark in the league, which, combined with his second-best 29 shots in the league, makes him a threat both as a passer and a shooter – to the chagrin of defenders.
Player Spotlight: Dean Boltz
Dean Boltz has been a threat in the final third (New York City FC)
Chicago Fire FC forward Dean Boltz has gotten hot at the right time in MLS NEXT Pro. Selected third overall in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, Boltz became the highest-drafted player in the history of the Wisconsin Badgers men's soccer program. This was an impressive feat, given some of the Badgers who have preceded Boltz in the league, like Chris Mueller and Tom Barlow, among others
After a slow start to the season, Boltz has now scored twice in the last three matches, including an 82nd minute goal in his last match at NYCFC II. That equalizer briefly gave him a share of the team lead for goals scored this season before Claudio Cassano reclaimed his lead with a 90th minute goal. But his dangerous play in the match, combined with his contributions off the ball throughout the season, indicate this won't be the last we see of Boltz in Chicago Fire Il's golden boot race in 2025.
