From New York City FC
New York City FC II 2(4)-2(2) Chicago Fire FC II
2025 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season - Matchweek 11
Date: Friday, May 23, 2025 | Kickoff: 4:08pm ET
Location: Belson Stadium | Queens, NY
New York City FC II recorded an entertaining 2-2 draw against Chicago Fire II on Friday. Máximo Carrizo opened the scoring inside five minutes before Dean Boltz leveled for the Fire late on. Claudio Cassano then put Chicago ahead just before stoppage time, but Sebastiano Musu popped up with a vital equalizer deep into added time—forcing the game to penalties to decide who would claim the bonus point. In the end, City secured that point with a 4-2 shootout victory.
UP NEXT: The Boys in Blue wrap up their homestand by hosting New England Revolution II at Belson Stadium in Queens, New York on Saturday, May 31 at 4:00pm ET.
Today’s match was the eighth all-time meeting between New York City FC II and Chicago Fire FC II.
New York City FC II enters the contest with a 3-1-3 (W-L-D) record in the series, and leaves with a 3-1-4 following the draw at the end of this match.
Through eight matches, New York City FC II has scored 17 goals and conceded 14 goals.
At home, New York City FC II holds a 1-0-3 record against Chicago Fire II, having scored ten goals and conceded six.
Prior to today, the team’s most recent home meeting with Chicago Fire II also ended in a 2-2 draw in regulation before the Club won 7:6 in PKs from the spot.
During the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season, New York City II won the season series against Chicago Fire II 2-0-1, scoring eight goals and conceding four.
Three of the team’s last five matches against Chicago Fire II have resulted in 2-2 draws.
New York City FC II won two of the three shootouts.
The team’s opener in the fifth minute was the second time this season where New York City FC II scored inside of the first five minutes of a match, and the fourth time within the first 15 minutes.
The first time a goal within the first five minutes occurred this season for the Club was Matchweek 10, when New York City FC II hosted Toronto FC II and Forward Sebastiano Musu scored in the second minute of play.
In all three of New York City FC II’s draws this season, the Club has overcome deficits of two goals to nothing to rally back and tie the matches with goals coming after the 90th minute.
The goals were scored by Forward Seymour Reid (90’+6’ v. Crown Legacy FC), Midfielder Máximo Carrizo (90'+2' v. FC Cincinnati 2), and Forward Sebastiano Musu (90’+6’ v. CHI II).
The Club has won two out of three PK shootouts this season (only losing against FCC2 and winning over CLFC and CHI II).
Máximo Carrizo recorded his third goal of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season in the fifth minute of today’s match.
This is Carrizo’s sixth goal contribution of the season (3G, 3A), and his first goal since Matchweek 8 against Inter Miami CF II.
Sebastiano Musu scored his second goal of the season, tying the match in the very final seconds of the match to send it to PKs.
This is Musu’s fourth goal contribution (2G, 2A) of the season.
Midfielder Jacob Arroyave provided his first goal contribution of the season when he assisted Carrizo’s goal.
Midfielder Peter Molinari assisted his second goal of the season after assisting the tying goal.
NEW YORK CITY FC II HEAD COACH MATT PILKINGTON
On the team’s fight after conceding two late goals but still coming back to tie the match…
“The PKs [penalty shootout] were excellent. They didn't give up; they created a few corners and created a few opportunities towards the end. So, I’m happy with the spirit, and it's a good mentality test for them—to see if they can rebound from winning with 10 minutes to go, to looking like losing, and then to really put the effort forth to gamble and to take risks and to create moments. It was a great finish. So, I am happy and proud of the boys tonight.”
On what the team needs to do in the final home match before a road stretch…
“We have to be better on the ball. We had some good moments today, but when we concede possession cheaply, then we have to suffer. And we either get countered or we have to try and regain [possession]. Then just being a bit more secure defensively. But we're creating a lot of chances and should have scored more goals today, so that's a good sign. The group's constantly evolving and that's the whole part of the process, to keep pushing these guys forward.”
NEW YORK CITY FC II FORWARD SEBASTIANO MUSU
On coming into the game as a substitute and scoring the tying goal in the final minute…
“My mentality was to help the team and try to do what I have to do: score goals and at the same time, defend. We are a team, so we defend together and we attack together. Unfortunately, we went down 2-1 and my goal was like, ‘I have to do something, I have to help my team.’ That's why I came in. So, if I couldn't help before, I knew I was going to have one last chance and I believed in it.”
On what it means to help the team in defining moments…
“For me it's very important because even when you start on the bench, it doesn't mean that you can't come in and change the game. I want to, like I said, win for my team. I trust my coaches and I know that when it's my moment, I have to do everything to deserve to play and everything. And this is also thanks to my teammates because they help me every day in training.”
5’ - NYC II - Máximo Carrizo [29]
Left footed shot from the center of the box to the center of the goal. Assisted by Jacob Arroyave [47].
82’ - CFC II - Dean Boltz [28]
Right footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jason Shokalook [44] following a corner.
90’ - CFC II - Claudio Cassano [51]
Right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner.
90+4’ - NYC II - Sebastiano Musu [81]
Left footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Peter Molinari [71] with a headed pass.
Team
First Half
Second Half
Full Time
New York City FC II
1
1
2
Chicago Fire FC II
0
2
2
Team
New York City FC II
(W-L-D)
Chicago Fire FC II
(W-L-D)
Shots
0
0
Shots on Goal
0
0
Pass Accuracy %
0%
0%
Fouls
0
0
Corner Kicks
0
0
Saves
0
0
Full Match Statistics - Click Here
New York City FC II (4-2-3-1)
Chicago Fire FC II (4-3-3)
Head Coach: Matt Pilkington
[44] Alex Rando
[23] Max Murray
[38] Drew Baiera
[68] Chris Tiao
[73] Collin McCamy
[29] Máximo Carrizo (45’ - [64] Julien Lacher)
[42] Piero Elias (90+3’ - [72] Luka Sunjic)
[47] Jacob Arroyave (63’ - [99] Uriel Zeitz)
[71] Peter Molinari
[78] Evan Lim (90+3’ - [75] Leo Guarino)
[74] Seymour Reid (63’ - [81] Sebastiano Musu)
Head Coach: Michael Matkovich
[70] Patrick Los
[36] Justin Reynolds (80’ - [54] Mbongeni Kanyane)
[41] Jean Diouf
[42] Diego Konincks
[53] Peter Soudon (80’ - [45] Harold Osorio)
[28] Dean Boltz
[47] Sam Williams
[48] Trip Fleming (90’ - [43] Oluwaseun Oyegunie)
[51] Claudio Cassano
[68] Vitaly Hlyut (65’ - [46] Juan Calle)
[44] Jason Shokalook
Subs Unused
[33] Prince Amponsah
[58] Pierce Infuso
[80] Brennan Klein
[87] Jack Loura
Subs Unused
[56] Bryce Richards
[90] David Molenda
NYC II
Yellow Cards (5)
14’ - Máximo Carrizo [29]
23’ - Evan Lim [78]
29’ - Piero Elias [42]
68’ - Peter Molinari [71]
69’ - Max Murray [23]
Red Cards (0)
CHI II
Yellow Cards (0)
Red Cards (0)
Referee: Thomas Snyder
Fourth Official: Adam Cook
Assistant Referee 2: Joseph Knoff
Assistant Referee 1: Johnathan Luk
A spring Friday in Queens set the stage for New York City FC II’s latest home outing against Chicago Fire FC II.
Both teams came into the game fresh off back-to-back victories in the league, with City knowing a win could push them up into third.
Matt Pilkington made two changes to the side that beat Toronto FC II last time out, bringing in Seymour Reid and Máximo Carrizo.
And it was one of those inclusions that broke the deadlock inside five minutes. Carrizo opened the scoring after collecting the ball in the final third, driving inside on his left, and firing a shot toward the near post.
Chicago sought a rapid response and came close in the 18th minute after a foray forward by defender Justin Reynolds.
His shot from the left flew across goal and clipped the crossbar before bouncing away from danger. The visitors grew into the game as the half wore on, forcing City into some dogged defensive work.
In the 28th minute, Drew Baiera drove inside from the right and got off a shot with his left foot that tested goalkeeper Patrick Los.
As halftime neared, a driving run from Reid almost put him through on goal, only for a last-ditch tackle to deny him and concede a corner.
The second half saw one change for City, as Carrizo made way for Julien Lacher.
Further changes arrived just after the hour mark, with Reid and Jacob Arroyave making way for Sebastiano Musu and Uriel Zeitz.
Musu managed to get a shot off in the 71st minute after wriggling free with the ball at the top of the box. His effort, however, landed comfortably in the goalkeeper’s hands.
Piero Elias then came close to creating a second goal when he flashed a dangerous delivery across the six-yard box.
Rain showers added a late twist to the contest, and in the 83rd minute, Chicago found an equalizer.
After some pinball in the box, the ball eventually found Dean Boltz, who slotted it home.
City was then dealt a further blow just before stoppage time when Claudio Cassano put the visitors in front. Pilkington's side rallied, however, and Musu delivered a dramatic bicycle kick to equalizer to level the game. The substitute popped up in the box with an amazing bicycle kick
That proved to be the final act of the match, and the two sides settled for a 2-2 draw, a result that forced penalties to determine who would claim the bonus point. Thankfully for City, confident spot kicks and heroics from Alex Rando secured a 4-2 shootout win and the much-coveted bonus point.
Editor's Note: Please see the Facebook Page of Soccer Long Isalnd Magazine 2 for photos.