RECAP: Red Bulls II Beat Chicago Fire II, Will Play Conference Final at Sports Illustrated Stadium, 5-3
New York Red Bulls II are playing for a trophy this weekend.
The MLS Next Pro side beat Chicago Fire FC II, 5-3, in a thriller at Montclair State University last weekend in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. However, the MLSNP Eastern Conference Final won’t be at MSU Soccer Park.
Instead, the Baby Bulls will take the field at Sports Illustrated Stadium this Saturday.
The #1 seed NYRB II will host #2 Philadelphia Union II, with kickoff at 7 PM in Harrison.
Leading, Then Not
Like last week against Carolina Core FC, NYRB II started the game off hot. In the 5th minute, midfielder Rafael Mosquera played a through ball to midfielder Andy Rojas. He sent a left-footed shot from the center of the box to the lower right corner of the net past Chicago keeper David Molenda. Off the restart, a quick play back saw the Fire’s Jean Diouf send a long ball to Jason Shokalook, who chipped NYRB keeper Austin Causey in the 6th minute.
The back and forth continued into the midpoint of the half. In the 25th minute, New York took its second lead when a cross from defender Juan Mina found a jumping Roald Mitchell in the box. With an extended right leg, Mitchell one-touched the ball into the net to make it 2-1. The cartwheel and flip celebration afterwards left something to be desired, but the home side had the lead.
Three minutes later, Shokalook leveled the game again. A long shot by Chicago was stopped by keeper Austin Causey, but he couldn’t hold onto it. Shokalook jumped on the loose ball and made it 2-2 with a shot from point-blank range. NYRB would end the half with the last laugh when a corner kick from former FC Tulsa midfielder Nate Worth was headed in by Jair Collahuazo in the 42nd minute.
In the second half, New York was unable to find the back of the net again and seal a result. On the other side, Chicago got their third equalizer. Sam Williams, a former FC Motown player, was at home on the MSU pitch. A corner kick from Damian Nigg was headed into the middle by Josue Pfrommer, where Williams finished in the 53rd minute.
The two teams could not be separated and ended regulation tied 3-3. Two 15-minute halves of extra time would be needed and, if necessary, a penalty kick shootout. After a quiet first half of extra time, New York exploded for two decisive goals. In the 112th, a pass from Nehuèn Benedetti found Royas, who shot into the lower right corner. Mijahir Jimenez added a final goal in the 120+2nd to make it 5-3.
Red Bulls II have scored five goals in each of their first two 2025 MLS NEXT Pro playoff matches. Their 10 total goals are the most by a club in the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs.
On to Harrison
On Monday, it was announced that the Eastern Conference Final will be played at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The top seed, New York Red Bulls II, will host #2 Philadelphia Union II on Saturday for a trophy and a spot in the 2025 MLS Next Pro Championship Final.
New York is undefeated against Philadelphia this season, going 1-0-1. The two clubs faced off for the first time in Red Bulls II’s second match of the season on March 30 at Subaru Park. Forward Tanner Rosborough scored a stoppage-time equalizer to level the match 1-1. The sides met again at MSU Soccer Park on August 11, where a brace from forward Mijahir Jimenez secured a 2-0 victory for New York.
Red Bulls II has previously won a trophy in Harrison. The team’s run to the 2016 United Soccer League championship included a win over Swope Park Rangers at then-named Red Bull Arena in the final. That trophy is the last one NYRB has won in its team’s lifetime.
This will be the team’s second game in Harrison this year. In March, to honor NYRB II’s tenth season, the team played New York City FC II in an MLS Next Pro edition of the Hudson River Derby.
Julian Hall scored a late penalty kick to give the Baby Bulls a 3-2 win.
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