Chicago City Wire

Chicago Fire FC II returned home with a 1-1 draw against FC Cincinnati 2 on Sunday afternoon at SeatGeek Stadium. Lamonth Rochester scored the lone goal for Chicago, while Ben Stitz netted his team-leading seventh goal of the year for Cincinnati. The visitors secured an additional point with a shootout victory.

Despite a strong start by Chicago, marked by their high press, Cincinnati controlled possession for much of the first half. Goalkeeper Jeff Gal turned away several clear-cut chances from the visitors. The teams entered halftime without any goals.

In the second half, Chicago capitalized on their aggressive play. Ten minutes in, Jonathan Dean delivered a ball to Rochester, who volleyed it into the net to score his third goal of the season and give Chicago the lead.

Cincinnati responded in the 70th minute when Kenji Mboma Dem broke through Chicago's defense but was tripped by Gal, resulting in a penalty kick. Stitz converted the penalty to equalize the match at 1-1, which remained until the end of regulation time.

The momentum carried over into the shootout where Cincinnati won after scoring four times despite one save by Gal. Chicago failed to keep pace and lost both the shootout and additional point.

Box Score:

Chicago Fire FC II 1 (3):1 (4) FC Cincinnati 2

Goals:

CHI - Rochester (3) (Dean 1) 55’

CIN - Stitz (7) (Penalty) 71’

Shootout:

Chicago Fire FC II: Poreba (scored), Soudan (saved), Koffi (scored), Calle (scored), Rochester (saved)

FC Cincinnati 2: Mboma Dem (scored), Stitz (scored), Benalcazar (saved), Ramos (scored), Valoyes (scored)

Discipline:

CHI - Oregel Jr. (Yellow Card) 7’

CIN - Daley (Yellow Card) 49’

CHI - Rochester (Yellow Card) 67’

CIN - Benalcazar (Yellow Card) 82’

CIN - Tablante (Yellow Card) 90+3’

Lineups:

Chicago Fire FC II: GK Gal, D Rochester, D Shannon, D Reynolds [Nagle], M Soudan, M Casas Jr., M Oregel Jr., M Dean, F Osorio [Calle], F Shokalook [Koffi], F Poreba

Substitutes not used: GK Stechnij, D Konincks, D Pfrommer, D Granda, D Richards, M Prpa

FC Cincinnati 2: GK Walters, D Keller [Castellano], D Aghedo [Machado], D Schaefer, M Halsey [Tablante], M Pinto [Ramos], M Benalcazar ,M Daley,F Mboma Dem,F Mangione[Valoyes]F Stitz

Substitutes not used: GK Morse,M Guido,M Samways

Stats Summary: CHI / CIN

Shots:10/10

Shots on Goal:3/5

Passing Accuracy:79.8%/84.1%

Saves:4/2

Corners:3/3

Fouls:17/20

Offsides:2/1

Possession:49.8%/50.2%

Referee: Matt Thompson

Assistant Referee 1:Ethan Buege

Assistant Referee2 Tyler Spiczka

4th Official Ryan Homik

Social Media Handles:

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