Revolution II Preview: 8/31 vs Chicago Fire II
New England looks to keep its three-game unbeaten run alive!
Richie Williams and New England Revolution II return home as they look to keep their recent hot streak alive! Catch up on everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s match.
Opponent: Chicago Fire II
Date: Sunday, August 31st
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Broadcast: MLS Season Pass - Apple TV
Weather: Expect a pleasant afternoon in Foxborough on Sunday. Temperatures will start in the mid-70s and rise throughout the match. Winds won’t play much of a factor as gusts will remain in the single digits. While clouds will roll through, conditions will remain dry.
New England Revolution II:
Revs II have been on a roll as of late. Since the start of July, the club has gone 6-1-1 and has gone unbeaten in its last three outings.
Last Sunday, New England secured a second consecutive victory as a Philadelphia own goal plus a brace from Liam Butts led Revs II to a 3-1 victory on the road. A result that sees them come into Sunday’s match tied for fourth place with 41 points.
Liam Butts made history with his performance as he netted his 10th and 11th goals of the season to become the second player in club history to score 10 or more goals in a single season. Sunday could see Butts make history again as he’s one goal shy of tying Jordan Adebayo-Smith’s single-season goal record of 12.
It could also mark a milestone for club legend Marcos Dias. An appearance against Chicago Fire II would mark his 90th appearance for Revs II. It would also draw him closer to Colby Quiñones’ record of 92 appearances.
Sunday will give Alex Monis another chance to face off against his former club. The former Chicago Fire Homegrown made 40 appearances for Fire II during the 2022 and 2023 seasons before joining New England.
One name we won't see take the pitch on Sunday is Damario McIntosh. The Homegrown defender will serve his one-game suspension after being issued two yellow cards during last Sunday's meeting against Philadelphia.
Chicago Fire II:
2025 has been a solid season for Mike Matkovich and Fire II. They come into Sunday’s match tied alongside New England for fourth place with 41 points on an 11-6-5 record with three shootout victories.
Fire II will look to get back on track after having a five-game unbeaten run snapped with a 1-0 loss on the road to New York Red Bulls II.
Looking at the stats, it’s clear to see why Chicago Fire II finds itself toward the top of the Eastern Conference. Their 2.5 goals per match ties for the most in MLS NEXT Pro. They also rank sixth in average possession per match (53.4%), tie for fourth in shots on target per match (5.7), and fifth in accurate passes per match (404.1).
On top of stellar offense, they also rank fourth in interceptions per match (10.3) and are tied for fourth in saves per match (4.1). However, Fire II ties for the third-most penalties conceded with seven.
One player New England has to keep an eye on is forward Jason Shokalook. The 22-year-old is tied for fourth in the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot race with 12 goals in 18 appearances.
On top of Shokalook, Revs II have to be cautious of midfielder Claudio Cassano. The 22-year-old has 10 goals plus a league-leading 10 assists to his name over 21 appearances.
Previous Meetings:
Sunday will mark the ninth all-time meeting between New England and Chicago. Neither side has the historical advantage, as each side holds a 2-2-4 record against the other.
The inaugural meeting saw Chicago walk away with all three points following a 4-3 victory on June 26, 2022. Pierre Cayet’s lone goal in the 52nd minute was the deciding factor in August 14, 2024’s meeting as Revs II secured the 1-0 victory.
2023 saw both meetings end in draws. June 11 saw Revs II pick up two points following a 2-2 draw and a 4-3 shootout victory. Fire II took home two points on July 30 following a 1-1 draw and a 5-3 shootout victory.
May 4, 2024’s meeting was historic as Marcos Dias' penalty kick goal in second-half stoppage time led Revs II to securing a 3-2 victory while Dias netted his record-setting 18th goal to become the club’s all-time leading goal scorer. Chicago then picked up all three points on July 31, 2024, after Fire II secured a 3-2 victory.
Their final meeting of 2024 saw both sides split points once again after the match ended in a 1-1 draw on August 31. Revs II picked up the additional point following a 5-4 shootout victory.
Sunday will mark the third meeting of 2025. Their first came on June 9 when goals from Judah Siqueira and Josh Macedo led to Revs II securing two points following a 2-2 draw and 5-4 shootout victory. Revs II secured all three points on July 13th after goals from Cristiano Oliveira, Malcolm Fry, and a brace from Liam Butts led to a 4-3 victory.