MNUFC2 hosted Chicago Fire FC II for its first home game of the 2023 season, earning two points after a 3(3)-3(2) draw against Chicago Fire II on Sunday night, featuring goals from Jesse Khan and Patrick Weah in regulation time before a shootout.

The match began with end-to-end play, with an early attempt from Fire II in the 3^rd minute but goalkeeper Fred Emmings made the save. The Twos saw promising chances from the squad’s leading goal-scorer Diogo Pacheco and new-arrival Cedrik Gbo in his MNUFC2 debut. In the 14^th minute, MNUFC2 was able to capitalize on its scoring opportunities when Jesse Khan struck a right footed shot, first deflected by Fire II goalkeeper Mihajlo Miskovic, but Khan found the back of the net off the rebound, notching his first goal of the season.

Less than 10 minutes later, Patrick Weah chased down a through-ball from Pacheco, entering a 1v1 situation with Chicago’s goalkeeper in their box, who stopped the run but fouled Weah in the process, resulting in an awarded penalty kick. The forward stepped up to the mark and converted the attempt, finding the top right corner and scoring his second goal of the season while doubling the Twos’ lead.

Fire II pressed in Minnesota’s half looking to open the scoring for the Chicago side and with only the team’s second shot of the half, Harold Osorio sent a low-driven ball just past Emmings to the far-post, putting Chicago Fire II right back into the match with a one goal deficit.

After the half, Chicago came out strong with multiple attempts at goal and a high press in Minnesota’s defensive third. Fire II was able to secure the equalizer in the 53^rd minute with a shot from Omari Glasgow that Emmings was able to get his hands on, but the ball deflected off the post and past the goal line.

But, the momentum for the Fire was only building. Just 10 minutes after their game-tying goal, Chicago made a pressing run into Minnesota’s box, creating a 2v2 scenario for the Twos, when an unmarked Billy Hency redirected the ball off the cross for the go-ahead goal and a 3-2 lead.

With less than a minute to spare, MNUFC2 received an own goal after a scoring opportunity and pressure from Diogo Pacheco, finishing the match with a 3-3 draw, sending the teams into a shootout from the mark. The Twos came out on top, converting three attempts to Chicago’s two, with two big saves by Fred Emmings to put the home squad on top.

With the draw, MNUFC2 stand in sixth place in MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference regular-season action with a 3-2-2 record (W-L-D) and 12 points.

MNUFC2 will travel to Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila, Washington to face the Tacoma Defiance on May 14 at 10:00pm CT. The contest will be streamed on MLSNEXTPro.com.

GOALS
1-0 MIN – Jesse Khan,(14’)
2-0 MIN – Patrick Weah, PK (18’)
1-2 CHI – Harold Osorio, assisted by Justin Reynolds (36’)
2-2 CHI- Omari Glasgow (55’)
3-2 CHI – Billy Hency, assisted by Omari Glasgow (63’)
3-3 MIN – CHI own goal (90’)

SHOOTOUT SUMMARY
MIN 
Uche – Scored
Pacheco – Scored
O’Driscoll – Missed
Richardson – Scored
Gbo – Saved

CHI
Rodriguez – Missed
Hency – Scored
Prpa – Scored
Gallina – Saved
Glasgow - Saved

DISCIPLINAIRY SUMMARY
Caution, MIN – Rory O’Driscoll (38’)
Caution, CHI – Luca Prpa (44’)
Caution, MIN – Emmanuel Iwe (48’)
Caution, CHI – Sergio Oregel (55’)
Caution, MIN – Britton Fischer (70’)
Caution, MIN – Carlos Leatherman (82’)
Caution, CHI – Billy Hency (88’)

NOTABLE STATS
6/7 – With midfielder Molik Jesse Khan’s 14h-minute goal, MNUFC2 has scored first in six out of its first seven matches played so far in 2023
2 – Goalkeeper Fred Emmings made two saves at the end of the shootout to help the Twos earn two points on Sunday night
12 – Midfielder Cedrik Gbo, in his first start and appearance with MNUFC2, made 12 successful dribbles on the night – the most among his teammates

TEAM LEADERS (Updated through May 7)
Goals – Diogo Pacheco (5)
Assists – Loïc Mesanvi (2)
Saves – Fred Emmings (21)
Wins – Fred Emmings (3)
Shutouts – Fred Emmings (1)