Chicago Red Stars Keeper Alyssa Naeher (Photo by Don Mac Gregor).
Chicago Red Stars 1-1 Portland Thorns
BRIDGEVIEW, IL–Matches are few and far between for the expectations for the Chicago Red Stars in the latter half of their NWSL schedule. Every point means something in a return into the NWSL playoffs for another year.
Seeing the Red Stars in the middle of the table at this point of the season and after dealing with a number of injuries, something needs to change whether its the chemistry of the current players or adding to the club.
Right before its match against Portland, the club announced a pending trade keeping a certain number of players off the field including defenders Sam Johnson and Taylor Comeau and forward Sophia Huerta. Also, they waived midfielder Lauren Kaksie.
Still, the Red Stars (3-3-7, 16 points) had a chance to see the return of Vanessa DiBernardo and Casey Short off the bench after injuries and get some playing time.
Chicago managed to have an almost complete 90-minute effort with visiting Portland in playing a 1-1 draw at Toyota Park on Saturday night.
“You can control what’s on the field and what your responsibilities are and get on with it because they are pros,” Chicago head coach Rory Dames said. “Transactions that are going on will affect different payers in different ways, but at the end of the day, we still have a really good group in that locker room and we have a very committed group in that locker room. Anybody thinks that we’re throwing in the towel or moving on, doesn’t know us very well. I think we made our statement (against Portland).”
Chicago came out with a different look and made sure that they would be competitive from the outset. They wanted to come away with three points. But settling with another draw wasn’t the worst thing under these certain conditions with the group.
“I’m really proud of the group after we had a really tough week,” Dames added. “Especially, emotionally for some of them. I thought we came out and played really well creating chances. We really didn’t give away a lot. I thought the response from the group with everything we’ve been through this week and playing a very good Portland team.”
Chicago got on the board first in the 43rd minute of play when Yuki Nagasato had taken a penalty kick. Which was stopped by the Thorn’s keeper Britt Eckerstrom. But the ball came right back to Nagasato which she slid and poked it into the back of the net for a -0 lead. The PK was set up after Samantha Kerr was taken down in the penalty area by Portland’s Kelly Hubly.
The Thorns (4-4-4, 16 points) recovered early in the second half tying the match in the 48th minute off a set piece which Lindsey Horan was able to score in front of the goal.
Julie Ertz was a big part of the restructured Red Stars defense along with Arin Gilliland, Sarah Gordon, and Katy Naughton.
“I felt really comfortable back there but I have played back there,” Ertz said. “I wasn’t too surprised I was really comfortable. I thought, we were really compact and defended more. That’s what we took away at the halfway point of the season. We’re giving away a lot more goals since I’ve been here. We just looked at the importance on the best way to defend. I thought collectively together we made it a little bit difficult especially in the first half. I thought we defended well for the most part.”
Portland will next travel to play the Dash in Houston on Friday night while Chicago will be hosting Utah Royals FC on Saturday night.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Yuki Nagasato (unassisted) 43
POR-Lindsey Horan (unassisted) 48
BOOKING SUMMARY:
POR-Kelli Hubly (caution, reckless foul) 42
POR-Lindsey Horan (caution, reckless foul) 54
CHI-Nikki Stanton (caution, reckless foul) 62
POR-Tyler Lussi (caution, reckless foul) 71
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-3-3): #1-Alyssa Naeher, #11-Arin Gilliland, #8-Julie Ertz, #5-Katy Naughton, #14-Sarah Gordon (#6-Casey Short 65), #20-Yuki Nagasato, #2-Nikki Stanton, #24-Danielle Colaprico, #4-Alyssa Mautz, #20-Samnatha Kerr, #15-Michele Vasconelos (Vasessa DiBernardo 79),
Subs not used: #19-Summer Green, #21-Emily Boyd.
PORTLAND TIMBERS (4-2-3-1): #33-Britt Eckerstrom, #2-Katherine Reynolds, #4-Emily Menges, #25-Meghan Klingenberg, #20-Kelli Humley (#34-Tyler Lussi 46), #15-Ellie Carpenter, #10-Lindsey Horan, #12-Christine Sinclair, #8-Andressinha (#33-Celeste Bourielle 60),#26-Mallory Weber (#21-Hayley Raso 76), #7-Ana Marie Cmogorcevic.
Subs not used: #16-Emily Sonnett, #22-Ifeoma Onumonu, #31-Bella Guist, #36-Angela Salem.
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 19-11 POR
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 7-4 POR
FOULS: CHI 13-9 POR
OFFSIDES: CHI 3-1 POR
CORNER KICKS: CHI 6-3 POR
SAVES: CHI 3-6 POR
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 7-4 POR
FOULS: CHI 13-9 POR
OFFSIDES: CHI 3-1 POR
CORNER KICKS: CHI 6-3 POR
SAVES: CHI 3-6 POR
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Assistant Referees: Ian Mckay, Gjovalin Bori
4th Official: Rebecca Pagan
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 91º
Attendance: 4,093
Woman of the Match: Julie Ertz (CHI)
Assistant Referees: Ian Mckay, Gjovalin Bori
4th Official: Rebecca Pagan
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 91º
Attendance: 4,093
Woman of the Match: Julie Ertz (CHI)
Chicago Red Stars
