Chicago City Wire

Chicago Fire FC II is set to begin a two-game road trip on the East Coast with a match against New York Red Bulls II on Sunday, August 24. The game will take place at MSU Soccer Park in Montclair, New Jersey.

The team enters the match after securing a 2-0 win over Philadelphia Union II at SeatGeek Stadium. In that game, forward David Tchétchao scored in the 81st minute, and Claudio Cassano added another goal five minutes later, marking his tenth of the season. Goalkeeper David Molenda made seven saves and earned his first clean sheet for Chicago Fire FC II, contributing to the team's current six-game unbeaten streak.

New York Red Bulls II returns home following a 4-2 defeat against New England Revolution II in Foxborough. Despite the loss, which featured two goals from Marcos Dias for New England, Red Bulls II remains at the top of the Eastern Conference standings but now faces a smaller lead as the season approaches its final stretch.

Chicago Fire FC II aims to replicate its previous performance against New York Red Bulls II when it achieved a record-setting 9-2 victory on July 27 in Bridgeview. That match set an MLS NEXT Pro record for most combined goals in one game.

The all-time regular season record between Chicago Fire FC II and New York Red Bulls II stands at two wins, three losses, and two draws for Chicago. Their last meeting resulted in Chicago's 9-2 win at SeatGeek Stadium, while their most recent visit to MSU Soccer Park ended in a 3-2 loss on April 6.

Sixteen-year-old goalkeeper David Molenda has received attention for his performances since joining Chicago Fire FC II from the club’s academy system. He was named MLS NEXT Rising Star of Matchweek 23 after making seven saves and recording a shutout against Philadelphia Union II. This recognition is Molenda’s first personal award and comes after only his second start in MLS NEXT Pro. In his debut on July 20, he recorded 13 saves during a win over Toronto FC II. Another academy goalkeeper, Patrick Los, also won the same award earlier this year after earning his third shutout of the season in a victory against Chattanooga FC.

"Chicago Fire fans have been spoiled by the quality of goalkeepers its Academy has developed in recent years. Since Gaga Slonina became the youngest goalkeeper in Major League Soccer history to start a match in an Aug. 4, 2021 0-0 draw with New York City FC, multiple homegrown goalkeepers have made noise in national circles with both the first and second teams."

"The latest is 16-year-old David Molenda, who was named MLS NEXT Rising Star of Matchweek 23 following his seven-save performance in a shutout win against Philadelphia Union II. The honor was Molenda’s first personal award of his career, coming after only his second start in MLS NEXT Pro."

"In his debut on July 20, the Academy goalkeeper recorded 13 saves in a 3-2 Fire victory at Toronto FC II."

"But an Academy goalkeeper receiving such an award could be considered old news; Molenda's teammate Patrick Los won the same award just weeks prior, following his third shutout of the year in a 1-0 win at Chattanooga FC on July 5."