Chicago Fire FC II closed out the road portion of its 2026 MLS NEXT Pro regular season Friday night with a difficult 4-0 loss to Crown Legacy FC at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex at Matthews.
The result leaves Chicago at 10-10-6-3 with 39 points, while Crown Legacy improves to 14-5-7-5 and 54 points.
For Chicago, the defeat comes with the club still within reach of the playoff picture entering the final stretch of the regular season. The Fire II now return home for their final three matches, beginning with a Sept. 13 meeting against Philadelphia Union II.
Crown Legacy Breaks Through Before Halftime
Chicago stayed competitive through much of the opening half, but Crown Legacy found the breakthrough in the 34th minute.
Defender Andrew Johnson rose to meet a set piece from Nathan Richmond and headed the hosts in front.
Richmond then doubled Crown Legacy’s advantage just eight minutes later, finishing a move created by Subotić to send the home side into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
The two-goal deficit put Chicago in a difficult position heading into the second half, particularly against a Crown Legacy side that entered the night with 54 points and one of the stronger records in the conference.
Chicago finished the match with 14 shots and eight shots on goal, compared with 17 shots and 11 shots on target for Crown Legacy.
Red Card Changes the Game
Chicago pushed numbers forward after the restart in an attempt to get back into the match.
That attacking approach, however, left space behind the Fire II defensive line.
The opening became even more difficult in the 63rd minute when Damian was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, leaving Chicago with 10 players for the remainder of the match.
Chicago continued to compete despite the numerical disadvantage, but Crown Legacy eventually found additional space late.
The hosts added two goals deep into stoppage time. Blama scored in the fifth minute of added time before Mendoza added another two minutes later, turning the match into a 4-0 final.
The late goals also highlighted how quickly the match changed once Chicago was reduced to 10 players.
Crown Legacy finished with a slight edge in possession-related efficiency, completing 88.9% of its passes compared with Chicago’s 87.8%. Chicago did create more corner opportunities, holding a 5-1 advantage from the spot.
But Crown Legacy was more efficient in front of goal, putting 11 of its 17 attempts on target.
Chicago Fire FC II Still Has Home Matches Ahead
The loss ends Chicago Fire FC II’s 2026 road schedule, but the season is not finished.
Chicago will open its final homestand on Sunday, Sept. 13, when Philadelphia Union II visits SeatGeek Stadium for a 3 p.m. CT kickoff.
Entry and parking will be free for fans, giving Chicago supporters one final opportunity to see Fire II at home during the regular season.
The match will also be available to stream worldwide through OneFootball and MLSNEXTPro.com.
With Chicago entering the final stretch at 39 points, the remaining home matches take on added importance. The Fire II were just a few points outside playoff position entering Friday’s match, meaning the opportunity to make up ground remains in front of them.
The challenge now is turning the home schedule into results.
Friday’s loss against one of the conference’s stronger teams exposed the margin for error Chicago faces. Crown Legacy’s ability to punish mistakes, combined with the impact of Damian’s red card, ultimately put the Fire II in a hole they could not escape.
For Chicago, the response begins at SeatGeek Stadium.
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Chicago Fire FC II’s road schedule is over, but the season is far from settled.
The 4-0 scoreline against Crown Legacy is harsh, particularly considering Chicago remained within striking distance of the playoff picture entering the match. The biggest turning point was Damian’s 63rd-minute ejection, which left Fire II chasing the game with a numerical disadvantage.
The positive for Chicago is simple: the final stretch comes at home.
At 39 points, Fire II still have an opportunity to make the closing matches matter. The next objective is to turn that opportunity into points when Philadelphia Union II arrives at SeatGeek Stadium.
Author: Quique Lopez
Quique Lopez doesn’t just cover soccer—he deconstructs it with the precision of a veteran and the wit of a storyteller. A former player who sees the pitch as both a tactical chessboard and a cultural stage, Quique balances sharp critiques with a genuine love for the game’s soul. He’s as quick to call out the ego of a superstar as he is to find the hidden beauty in a local derby.