Montclair, N.J. (October 26, 2025) — In a dramatic playoff thriller that required extra time, the New York Red Bulls II defeated Chicago Fire FC II 5-3 on Sunday night at MSU Soccer Park to advance to the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference Final.
The back-and-forth affair saw both teams trade leads multiple times before Andy Rojas emerged as the hero, scoring twice—including the eventual game-winner in the 117th minute—to send the Red Bulls II one step closer to a championship.
First Half: Trading Blows
New York opened the scoring in the fifth minute when midfielder Rafael Mosquera played a through ball to midfielder Andy Rojas, who laced a left-footed shot from the center of the box to the lower right corner.
Chicago leveled the score just one minute later in the sixth minute with a right-footed shot from the center of the box by Jason Shokalook.
Forward Roald Mitchell restored New York’s lead in the 25th minute with a right-footed shot from the center of the box off a cross from defender Juan Mina.
Chicago’s Shokalook struck again in the 28th minute, leveling the score at 2-2 with another right-footed shot from the center of the box.
New York reclaimed the lead in the 42nd minute when defender Jair Collahuazo headed home a corner kick from midfielder Nate Worth, sending the home side into halftime up 3-2.
Second Half: Chicago Fights Back
For the third time in the match, Chicago pulled level in the 53rd minute as midfielder Sam Williams headed home a cross from defender Josue Pfrommer, making it 3-3.
Head coach Michael Bradley remained positive with his team despite the inability to hold leads.
“We were really positive at halftime because there had been a lot of really good stuff. We had scored some good goals,” Bradley said. “And so it was just the reminder to keep going in the game. We knew Chicago would really be ready to push and try to potentially change something to get themselves back in the game.”
Bradley acknowledged the challenge of the set-piece goal that allowed Chicago back into the match.
“I thought it was a pretty good start to the second half, and we couldn’t defend the set piece, and then that allowed them back in the game and back to 3-3,” Bradley said. “Then after 3-3, obviously there were different spells in the game, but by and large we were the ones really pushing to try to get the winner. We were the ones really trying to push the game and see if we could get ourselves ahead again.”
Extra Time: Rojas Delivers the Knockout Punch
As time ticked down in the second half of extra time, the home side pulled back in front once again. In the 117th minute, Rojas received a pass from midfielder Nehuèn Benedetti and drove a right-footed shot into the lower right corner, pushing the home side in front 4-3.
The home side added an insurance goal in the 122nd minute when forward Tanner Rosborough won a challenge in the midfield and slipped a pass to Mosquera. Mosquera fed Rojas, and he converted his second of the game to put the match away at 5-3.
Rojas, who scored both goals in extra time, reflected on the team’s resilience throughout the match.
“Throughout this whole year, we’ve always bounced back no matter what’s been thrown at us,” Rojas said. “Every single day in training, we push harder, regardless of the situation. And today, I had some goals that I’d like to take back, but the team had my back, and I had theirs in the end. And honestly, that’s what’s most important, to push for that win and keep going.”
Bradley praised his team’s ability to find different ways to win in high-pressure situations.
“Couldn’t hold on to the lead, got ahead again, couldn’t hold on to that lead, got ahead again, and couldn’t hold on to that lead either. And so there’s different ways to win games,” Bradley said. “And so tonight, this was how we had to do it. And still, when we got to the end, we had a bunch of guys who were still competing, still trying to play football, still trying to make the right plays, still doing all the things that we work on every day. So, that part, as a coach, I’m very proud of.”
Composure and Physicality
The match was physical from the opening whistle, and Bradley was pleased with how his team handled the intensity.
“When you get to big games, then you know that the level of competition goes up, that much more is at stake,” Bradley said. “And so there’s always the part of physicality of dealing with decisions from a referee that don’t go your way. So I thought we handled the game in a really good way. I thought we competed hard, but we still kept our heads and tried to play our football. And so that part was really good.”
Familiarity with Chicago
This was the third time Red Bulls II faced Chicago Fire FC II this season, and Bradley credited his team’s preparation and familiarity with their opponent.
“It’s a good team. Obviously, even in my time here, we’ve played them twice already. Tonight was the third time. So we feel like we know them well. We have a good grip on the things that they want to do, on their strengths, on their weaknesses,” Bradley said. “And we’re excited that now, as we get to the end of the year, we feel like we have our full group; we have our best group. Training’s good every day, and so we can really use the time to then work on our ideas, but also then prepare the group for the match.”
Fitness and Preparation
One of the most impressive aspects of the Red Bulls II’s performance was their fitness level, which allowed them to maintain intensity through 120 minutes of play.
“It’s not just this week. It’s every week. It’s the accumulation of the work of good training, of pushing these guys in the right moments during the week,” Bradley said. “Of course, making sure that they’re recovering as we get closer to the game. We still very much believe that you’ve got to push training in a way that challenges them in football ways, but also in physical ways to be able to sustain things for longer, to be able to play with more intensity.”
Bradley was particularly proud of his team’s conditioning.
“I thought when we got towards the end of the game tonight, when we got into overtime, we didn’t have one guy cramping. We didn’t have one guy asking to come off. We were still really pushing, so that part was great,” Bradley said.
Red Bulls News:
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- Red Bulls II Dominate Carolina Core, 5-1, Advance to Eastern Conference Semifinals
- Red Bulls Season Finale ends with a loss at Columbus
Goalkeeper Austin Causey Steps Up
With starting goalkeeper Aiden Stacey away at the World Cup, backup goalkeeper Austin Causey was thrust into the starting role and delivered a solid performance despite conceding three goals.
“I’m working all year just for an opportunity, and you never know when it’s going to come,” Causey said. “I’m lucky to have a few games throughout the year, and the coaches kind of told me going into it that this was, with Aiden going away, that this was kind of the next step. So I’m happy to step into this role, and I’m going to do it as best as I can.”
Causey acknowledged some moments he’d like to have back, but credited his teammates for supporting him.
“Today, I had some goals that I’d like to take back, but the team had my back and I had theirs in the end,” Causey said. “And honestly, that’s what’s most important, to push for that win and keep going.”
Bradley had confidence in his goalkeeper despite some challenging moments.
“No, made a bunch of good plays. You know, it’s football. Things aren’t always perfect,” Bradley said. “I remind these guys every day that it’s not a perfect game for anybody at any point. There’s a million plays in 90 minutes. There’s a million decisions, a million reactions. And the best players and the best teams are the ones that just find ways to keep going.”
Fan Support Makes the Difference
Both players and coaches praised the strong fan support at MSU Soccer Park, which included first-team staff, academy players, families, and front office personnel.
“Loved it! We love it! We love having the fans out. It gives us that extra boost that we need, you know?” Rojas said. “Especially all being young pros, it’s an exciting feeling when you have everybody behind you. And honestly, you guys pushed us over the edge for the last bit today, and we really need it again next week as well.”
Bradley echoed the sentiment.
“It means a lot. We spoke about it yesterday at the end of training,” Bradley said. “People notice how good these guys are. People notice the football that we play. People are excited by it. And it means a lot, then, when you get a lot of people also from inside our club: academy players, families, front office, first team, staff, you name it, that come and are here and supporting these guys. It makes it count for that much more.”
Causey emphasized the importance of the entire Red Bulls organization’s support.
“It’s huge for development. It’s great when you have a club where everybody’s bought into it and you feel that support,” Causey said. “We see the first team every day. We see the academy kids on the field after us and around. When everybody’s around like that, it builds a really good community, and we all feel it, and we all wish the best for the academy and the first team and we know that they support us as well. That’s most important.”
Individual Milestones and Records
Andy Rojas:
- Scored his first and second career MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs goals
- Third player on New York this postseason to score a brace, joining Mosquera and Benedetti
- Has three goals in his last three appearances across all competitions
Bradley praised Rojas’s complete performance.
“First of all, it’s a huge game for Andy in terms of just, yes, the goals, but as you said, the reactions backwards, the sprinting, the intensity,” Bradley said. “It’s amazing to see because Andy has talent, he has football ability, he can do things that not everybody can. But in certain moments this year, now we’ve challenged him to do even more, to have more of an impact, to take his good qualities and make them count for more. Also, when you get to the big moments, ready to push. That part for him tonight, he made a big difference.”
Roald Mitchell:
- Scored his seventh career goal against Chicago, with all seven coming in the last four appearances against the side
- Has scored in back-to-back MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs matches
Rafael Mosquera:
- Two assists tie him with Vincent Bezecourt for the most postseason assists in club history
- Second career two-assist match, joining Ibrahim Kasule and Benedetti as the only players to have two or more career two-assist matches across all competitions in club history
Jair Collahuazo:
- Scored his second career goal across all competitions and his first in MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs
Nate Worth:
- Tallied his second career postseason assist
- Tied with Stefano Bonomo and Florian Valot for the third-most postseason assists in club history
- Has assisted in back-to-back MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs matches
Nehuèn Benedetti:
- Tied Frank Ssebufu for the ninth-most assists across all competitions in club history with nine
Juan Gutierrez:
- With his 67th career start, he passed Vincent Bezecourt for the fourth-most appearances across all competitions in club history
Team Records:
- 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
- New York’s 10 playoff goals are the most in any of the club’s first two postseason matches in a singular postseason campaign
- The 10 playoff goals are the second-most postseason goals scored in club history, behind the 2016 team, which had 13
Looking Ahead: Eastern Conference Final vs. Philadelphia Union II
With the victory, Red Bulls II advance to the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs Eastern Conference Final, where they will host Philadelphia Union II at home. The date, time, and location will be announced at a later date.
Bradley emphasized the importance of focusing on one game at a time.
“The message is it’s only one game left, right? We’ve got to earn the second game. So it’s very much 90 minutes at a time right now,” Bradley said. “We talked about that before the game, that everything that has happened up until now this season means essentially nothing. It means that we get to play at home. But other than that, when the whistle blows, there’s no standings, there’s no points on the board. It’s just that it’s 90 minutes, potentially 30 more.”
Bradley highlighted the advantage of playing at home.
“We’re really excited now to play a good Philadelphia team, knowing that you’re a game away from playing at home,” Bradley said. “We love playing at home. We feel like we can really make a game that we want, in terms of a game that has tempo, a game that really moves. When you’re playing the biggest games, and now you get to play at home, that part counts for a lot.”
Causey expressed confidence heading into the Eastern Conference Final.
“We expect a tough game. Like I said, we’re up for it. We’re going to be at home on our field, so the game plan doesn’t change,” Causey said. “We’re still going to play the way we play, attack the way we attack, and get the job done.”
Bradley concluded with pride in his team’s commitment and passion.
“Excited. Excited for these guys. I can see how much it means to them every day. It’s a great group. They’re so into it every single day when we go out on the field, when we’re sitting in video and I look them in the eye,” Bradley said. “Yeah, you can see how much it all means to them. When you get to the end of the year, a chance to play another game, be a step closer to a final, that is why you play. I’m really excited for them.”
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