Chicago Fire FC II Triumphs Over Columbus Crew 2 in Thrilling Penalty Shootout

In a thrilling contest at Historic Crew Stadium, Chicago Fire FC II (6-2-5-4) emerged victorious over Columbus Crew 2 (5-5-4-3) in a penalty shootout, clinching an additional point on the road. This victory extends Chicago's unbeaten run to five matches, having earned 13 out of a possible 15 points, and positions them in the top three of the Eastern Conference.

The match kicked off with a flurry of aggressive play, as both sides created numerous chances. The first 45 minutes alone saw a combined 19 shots. Fire midfielder Christian Koffi came close to opening the scoring in the fourth minute, but his powerful right-footed strike hit the left post. Moments later, a long punt from Fire goalkeeper Patrick Los set up defender Omari Glasgow for a chance, though his effort narrowly missed the target.

A water break at the 30-minute mark allowed both teams to regroup. Columbus came out strong after the pause, pressuring Los, who made two crucial saves before halftime to keep the score level.

The breakthrough came in the 55th minute when Fire forward David Poreba's pressure caused a mistake from the Columbus goalkeeper, leading to midfielder Harold Osorio scoring with a one-touch strike into an empty net.

As the game neared its conclusion, Columbus equalized in the 89th minute with a well-crafted goal by forward Jayden Da, following precise passing. With nine minutes of stoppage time added, the match remained tied, leading to a penalty shootout.

Both teams converted their first two penalties, but Los made a pivotal save on Columbus' third attempt. Lapkes matched him with a save of his own, keeping the shootout even. After two more successful penalties from each side, the match went to sudden death. Fire midfielder Juan Calle clinched the victory with a decisive goal in the eighth round.

The final scoreline read Columbus Crew 2 1(6) : 1(7) Chicago Fire FC II, highlighting an intense battle that showcased the resilience and skill of both teams.

Goals:

• CHI - Osorio (55')
• CLB - Da (89', assist by Alaouieh)

Discipline:

• CLB - Mrowka (Yellow Card, 36')
• CHI - Glasgow (Yellow Card, 42')
• CLB - Pearson (Yellow Card, 70')

Lineups:

• Chicago Fire FC II: Los (GK), Glasgow (Borso, 46'), Diouf (Blake, 65'), Shannon, Konincks, Soudan, Koffi (Calle, 86'), Osorio (Prpa, 57'), Heuer, Oregel (Shokalook, 57'), Poreba (capt.)
• Columbus Crew 2: Lapkes (GK), Pearson, Almeida, Rogers, Presthus, De Libera (capt.), Gonzalez (Rincon, 75'), Brown (Williams, 85'), Mrowka (Alaouieh, 75'), Da, Adams (Rayo, 85')

Match Stats:

• Shots: CLB 12 / CHI 19
• Shots on Goal: CLB 6 / CHI 5
• Passing Accuracy: CLB 87.6% / CHI 79.1%
• Saves: CLB 4 / CHI 5
• Corners: CLB 6 / CHI 4
• Fouls: CLB 12 / CHI 10
• Offsides: CLB 1 / CHI 6
• Possession: CLB 63.2% / CHI 36.8%

Officials:

• Referee: Nabil Bensalah
• Assistant Ref 1: Eric Burton
• Assistant Ref 2: Sharon Gingrich
• 4th Official: Tre Gaither

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