FOXBOROUGH, MA– The New England Revolution II were victorious in a 2-2 match (4-3 in penalties) versus Chicago Fire II in an MLS NEXT Pro Match on Sunday, June 11th.
The match kicked off at 7:00 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.
How we're lining up for Sunday night soccer 🤩
📺https://t.co/PesMXknypE pic.twitter.com/SEfj9nhukC
— New England Revolution II (@NERevolution2) June 11, 2023
The team started their lineup in a 3-4-3 formation with Jacob Jackson starting in net with a backline of Pierre Cayet, Victor Souza, and Santiago Suarez as the center backs. The wingback roles were manned by Colby Quinones (left) and Malcolm Fry (right). The midfield consisted of Joshua Bolma (left), and Ben Awashie (right). The forward roles were manned by Peyton Miller (left) Jack Panayotou (right), and Jordan Adebayo-Smith as the lone striker.
The match features 3 first team players with Jack Panayotou and Joshua Bolma getting the starts, while Esmir Bajraktarevic started the match on the bench.
Former Revolution defender Andreas Ueland captained the match for Chicago Fire II. (Ueland was selected 68th in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft and released by the Revolution 54 days later.)
Sunday's starters 👊 pic.twitter.com/Hmuh8md7Cy
— New England Revolution II (@NERevolution2) June 12, 2023
The match kicked off with New England starting from the center circle. The ball was played backwards towards their Victor Souza, who was pressured quickly, and then sent the ball toward the right flank of the midfield.
The first moment came in the 13th minute, when Chicago got on the board early.
Minutes later, New England leveled the match.
.@ChicagoFireFCII's press works to perfection and Hernandez opens the scoring! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dUN5IU4U1I
— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) June 12, 2023
After a terribly misplaced pass by midfielder Malcolm Fry, Chicago Fire’s #44 Noeh Hernandez intercepted the misplaced pass, took one touch, and scored the ball past Jacob Jackson into the bottom right corner.
Picking corners 🎯
Panayotou kisses it off the inside of the post and @NERevolution2 are level! pic.twitter.com/Pml9K1uk8f
— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) June 12, 2023
A throw-in taken by Santiago Suarez was played down the line to Joshua Bolma who managed to outsprint former teammate #64 Andreas Ueland. His quick cross found Jordan Adebayo-Smith in the box. He took two touches before playing the ball behind him to find Jack Panayotou. He then took two touches before unleashing a low driven left-footed shot that struck the bottom left post and past goalkeeper #41 Marko Miskovic.
Just 4 minutes later, New England took the lead.
Adebayo-Smith capitalizes on the mistake and now @NERevolution2 leads! 😲 pic.twitter.com/UiJFdttu4y
— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) June 12, 2023
Following a square pass by Chicago Fire II defender #64 Andreas Ueland, his counterpart defender #43 Noah Egan took an atrocious first-time pass attempt that went literally a yard. The ball was quickly intercepted by Jordan Adebayo-Smith who unmarked and with zero defender around smashed the right footed shot past #41 Mihajlo Miskovic. It is his team leading 5th goal of the season.
In the 31st minute, Revolution forward Jordan Adebayo-Smith entered the referee’s booklet with a yellow card for a harsh challenge on defender Chicago Fire defender #43 Noah Egan.
Just before halftime, Revolution midfielder Joshua Bolma entered the referee’s booklet with a yellow card for a harsh challenge on defender Chicago Fire defender #64 Andreas Ueland.
Following the yellow card, the match entered halftime with New England leading Chicago Fire II by a score of 2-1.
Leading at the half 💪 pic.twitter.com/brkRdYTglE
— New England Revolution II (@NERevolution2) June 12, 2023
Entering the second half, Revolution head coach Clint Peay made his first change of the match by substituting Jack Panayotou and replacing him with Esmir Bajraktarevic.
In the 48th minute, Chicago Fire defender #43 Noah Egan entered the referee’s booklet with a yellow card for a harsh challenge on Jacob Jackson.
Not even 4 minutes later, in the 52nd minute, Chicago Fire defender #43 Noah Egan entered the referee’s booklet with a second yellow card for a harsh challenge on Colby Quinones. With this second yellow card, Chicago Fire II would play the remainder of the match with 10 men.
Entering the 62nd minute, Chicago Fire II leveled the match.
10 men? Don't matter!
Fleming rifles one home and @ChicagoFireFCII are level! pic.twitter.com/W2f13afeA9
— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) June 12, 2023
After Esmir Bajraktarevic was dispossessed, Chicago Fire II midfielder from #45 Harold Osorio found midfielder #52 Richard Fleming making a darting run on the opposite side of the field. His one-time right footed outside the foot shot went directly past goalkeeper Jacob Jackson to level the match at 2-2.
Entering the 70th minute, Revolution head coach Clint Peay made his second and third change of the match by substituting Santiago Suarez and Joshua Bolma and replacing them with Jake Rozhansky and Marcos Dias.
In the 78th minute, Revolution head coach Clint Peay made his final changes of the match by substituting Malcolm Fry and Jordan Adebayo-Smith and replacing them with Weverton and Brandonn Bueno.
After the 90+3 minutes, the match entered a penalty shootout.
90' – We head to the shootout.#NERevsII 2 | CHI 2
— New England Revolution II (@NERevolution2) June 12, 2023
Chicago Fire II stepped up to take the first penalty kick. #45 Harold Osario converted the right footed shot past Jacob Jackson into the bottom left corner for the 1-0 lead.
The Revolution’s first penalty kick taker was Marcos Dias. His right footed shot was also converted into the top left corner past #41 Mihajlo Miskovic to level it 1-1.
Chicago Fire II’s second penalty kick taker was #42 Henrique Gallina. He converted the right footed shot past Jacob Jackson into the bottom left corner for the 2-1 lead.
The Revolution’s second penalty kick taker was Jake Rozhansky. His right footed shot was also converted into the bottom left corner past #41 Mihajlo Miskovic to level it 2-2.
Chicago Fire II’s third penalty kick taker was #49 Luka Prpa. He converted the left footed shot past Jacob Jackson into the top left corner for the 3-2 lead.
The Revolution’s third penalty kick taker was Weverton. His left footed shot was also converted into the bottom right corner past #41 Mihajlo Miskovic to level it 3-3.
Chicago Fire II’s fourth penalty kick taker was #32 Missael Rodriguez. His right footed shot was saved by Jacob Jackson in the bottom left corner to keep the match level at 3-3.
The Revolution’s fourth penalty kick taker was Peyton Miller. His left footed shot was also saved. Goalkeeper #41 Mihajlo Miskovic dove into the bottom right corner to keep the scoreline level it 3-3.
Moments after the save, Chicago Fire goalkeeper #41 Mihajlo Miskovic stepped up to take the fifth and potentially final penalty kick. His right footed effort was saved by Revolution goalkeeper Jacob Jackson, to keep the match level at 3-3.
To win the match, Revolution midfielder Esmir Bajraktarevic stepped up to take the fifth and final penalty. His left footed shot was flush into the bottom left corner past #41 Mihajlo Miskovic to give New England the 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout.
.@NERevolution2 claims the extra point after a thrilling affair at Gillette Stadium! pic.twitter.com/C77JceDQ8K
— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) June 12, 2023
With this result, the Revolution II remain in second place in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference, and fourth place overall in MLS NEXT Pro.
The New England Revolution II (7-4-2, 25 pts.) remain in Foxborough, MA to face New York City FC (7-3-1, 22 pts) on Wednesday, June 14th at Gillette Stadium. The match is set to kickoff at 5:00 p.m. All MLS, MLS NEXT Pro matches will be available through the new MLS Streaming Service on the Apple TV app.
(Editor’s Note: For more of Burt Granofsky’s photos, click on the link)
