HOUSTON, TX–If the Chicago Red Stars wish to return to BBVA Compass Stadium on October 9th for the NWSL Championship Game—announced before the match on Saturday night—it will need a vastly improved performance defensively.
Two goals in a three-minute span led Houston to a 3-1 win over the Red Stars. It was the Red Stars who scored first as they took advantage of an errant backpass. Press pounced on it and scored in the 13th minute.
The lead would last nine minutes as the Red Stars had a breakdown in communication of their own and that allowed Rachel Daly to score her first career professional goal.
Houston came with most of the pressure in the second half and were rewarded twice in three minutes. Daly crossed to an unmarked Carli Lloyd for one goal in the 51st minute and the Kealia Ohai crossed to Janine Beckie in the 54th minute. From that point on, the Red Stars hardly looked like closing the deficit, let alone get a result.
The Red Stars have their home opener on Saturday, April 23rd at Toyota Park against Western New York Flash. Kickoff is at 6pm and streamed live on YouTube.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Christen Press (unassisted) 13
HOU-Rachel Daly (unassisted) 22
HOU-Carli Lloyd (Daly) 51
HOU-Janine Beckie (Ohai) 54
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Alyssa Mautz (caution, persistent infringement) 61
CHI-Samatha Johnson (caution, tactical foul) 75
HOUSTON DASH (4-3-3): #18-Lydia Williams; #2-Poliana, #8-Ellie Brush, #4-Rebecca Moros, #15-Allysha Chapman; #10-Carli Lloyd (C), #12-Amber Brooks, #17-Andressa (#27-Caity Heap 87); #3-Rachel Daly, #11-Janine Beckie (#9-Chioma Ubogagu 71), #7-Kealia Ohai (#22-Stephanie Ochs 81)
Subs not used: #1-Biannca Henniger, #5-Cari Roccaro, #6-Morgan Brian, #23-Cami Privett, #0-Denise O’Sullivan, #21-Melissa Henderson
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-4-2): #1-Alyssa Naeher; #3-Arin Gilliand, #8-Julie Johnston, #16-Samantha Johnson, #6-Casey Short; #24-Danielle Colaprico, #4-Alyssa Mautz (#14-Sarah Gorden 83), #2-Jen Hoy (#15-Courtney Raetzman 63), #10-Vanessa DiBernardo; #11-Sophia Huerta (#12-Cara Walls 83), #23-Christen Press
Subs not used: #18-Michele Dalton, #5-Katie Naughton, #34-Mary Luba
TOTAL SHOTS: HOU 14-7 CHI
SHOTS ON GOAL: HOU 6-4 CHI
FOULS: HOU 5-8 CHI
OFFSIDES: HOU 4-2 CHI
CORNER KICKS: HOU 3-9 CHI
SAVES: HOU 3-3 CHI
Referee: Christopher Spivey
Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, Adrienne McDonald
Fourth Official: Leszek Stalmach
Attendance: 7,440
Woman of the Match: Rachel Daly (HOU)
Chicago Red Stars
