HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Huntsville City Football Club concluded its 2023 inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season with a 2-2 draw and a 4-2 shootout loss against Chicago Fire II at the Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium.
Huntsville got on the board early, after a Sean Suber pass to Nebiyou Perry was fired into the back of the net in the seventh minute for Perry’s fourth goal of the season.
Chicago equalized minutes later when Omari Glasgow scored in the 10th minute and then grabbed the lead with a Billy Hency goal in the 25th minute.
Huntsville equalized in the 36th minute when Azaad Liadi found Jony Bolaños, who made his way around a defender and snuck a ball into the far corner for his sixth goal of the season.
Despite both teams having chances in the second half, regulation ended with both teams squared at 2-2. In the penalty shootout, the visitors earned the extra point with a 4-2 shootout win.
After the match, Head Coach Jack Collison and midfielder Jony Bolaños spoke about the game, the team’s end of season performance, the foundation laid by the team’s first season, and what the fans have meant to the squad. Bolaños also talked about scoring on Decision Day and how the team came together throughout the season.
Huntsville City FC 2024 season tickets are now on sale to the public. Fans can purchase season tickets by visiting MLSNextPro.com/HuntsvilleCityFC/Tickets or by calling 256-864-6426, ext. 2.
Notes:
- Huntsville City
- has scored in 22 of 28 matches this season
- has scored in 13 of 14 matches at the Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium
- scored multiple goals for the first time since Aug. 27 vs. Inter Miami CF II
- Jony Bolaños scored his sixth goal of the season
- Azaad Liadi recorded his second assist of the season
- Nebiyou Perry scored his fourth goal of the season
- Joey Skinner served as team captain for the eighth time this season
- Sean Suber recorded his first assist of the season
- Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez made his Huntsville City FC debut
Box Score:
Huntsville City FC (9W-12L-7D, 4SOW, 38 pts.) at Chicago Fire II (9W-8L-11D, 5SOW, 43 pts.)
Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium | Huntsville, Ala.
Final Score:
HCFC: 2
CHI II: 2
Chicago wins shootout 4-2
Scoring Summary:
HCFC: Nebiyou Perry (A: Sean Suber) 7’
CHI II: Omari Glasgow (A: Billy Hency) 10’
CHI II: Billy Hency (A: Omari Glasgow) 25’
HCFC: Jony Bolaños (A: Azaad Liadi) 36’
Discipline:
HCFC: Fernando Ciceron (caution) 13’
CHI II: Charlie Ostrem (caution) 21’
HCFC: Joey DeZart (caution) 33’
HCFC: Azaad Liadi (caution) 48’
CHI II: Eric Leonard (caution) 55’
CHI II: Mihajlo Miskovic (caution) 90+5’
Lineups:
HCFC Starters: Ben Martino, Joey Skinner (C) (Shaun Joash 69’), Fernando Ciceron, Sean Suber, Chris N’sa, Nebiyou Perry (Adem Sipić 84’), Joey DeZart (Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez 84’), Isaiah Johnston (Isaiah Jones 69’), Kemy Amiche (Ollie Wright 57’), Azaad Liadi, Jony Bolaños
Substitutes: John Berner, Perrin Barnes, Cyrus Rad, Christopher Pearson
CHI II Starters: Mihajlo Miskovic, Justin Reynolds, Andreas Ueland, Noah Egan (Kendall Burks 78’), Charlie Ostrem, Luka Prpa (Michael Nesci 86’), Eric Leonard, Sergie Oregel Jr. (Henrique Gallina 69’), Omari Glasgow, Missael Rodriguez (Dylan Borso 46’), Billy Hency
Substitutes: Patrick Los, Romain Blake, Lamonth Rochester, Michael Flores, Matteo Kidd
Attendance: 4,608
