FC Kansas City hosted the Chicago Red Stars in a tight 0-0 draw on Friday as two of the league’s best keepers battled it out. Chicago came out strong, testing Kansas City keeper Nicole Barnhart in the 10th minute when a Red Star corner was whipped into the box but just headed wide by Da Costa. Seconds later Red Star forward Christen Press took a shot that was narrowly tipped by Barnhart and then headed away by defender Alex Arlitt. Kansas brought it back the other way in a build-up that ended with a right footed blast from FCKC midfielder Jen Buczkowski that Chicago keeper Alyssa Naeher barely got a hand on.
Chicago defender Casey Short.
In Arlitt’s first ever start for Kansas, she proved to be a threat on both ends of the field. Breaking through two defenders in the 27th she was able to get off a cross that was just headed high. A few minutes later FCKC forward Frances Silva made a run, getting to the other end of the field to be taken down in the box. No penalty called. In the 38th Red Star defender Samantha Johnson earned a yellow after a hard foul on Shea Groom which left Groom on the ground for several minutes. The back and forth continued throughout the first half, as both sides built and executed strong attacks, but no one could find the back of the net.
Second half action started with Chicago’s Alyssa Mautz taking a hard shot to the face off a header in the 49th. After regrouping the Red Stars made a series of attacks on Kansas City’s back-line. With another Chicago corner in the 54th the Red Stars almost had their moment when the ball slipped from Barnhart’s hands but was eventually cleared. Chicago kept the runs coming with Press once again slipping past the KC defense forcing Barnhart to make an incredible save. Moments later Chicago’s Sofia Huerta made a dangerous run inside but sent it high after being forced into a bad angle by KC defender Yael Averbuch.
High level play continued on both sides as the two teams went back and forth. FCKC made runs late in the game with Groom sending one just over the bar in the 62nd followed by Silva beating Naeher in the 71st only to be denied by the Chicago crossbar. A break away run by Groom in the 80th ended when she was brought down inside the box, but once again, no penalty called.
A mistake by the Chicago defense in the 85th almost tipped the scales when the Red Stars headed the ball directly to Kansas City’s Katie Bowen, who sent a hard shot toward Naeher that she just managed to clear. The final threat came in the 90th minute from Press, who put it in another gear to beat the KC defense only to be stopped by Barnhart.
In what has already been a challenging season for FCKC they face another hurdle as this was the final game for standout midfielder Jen Buczkowski who is leaving to pursue a career as a physical therapist. Buczkowski has played over 6600 minutes in the league and played all 90 for FCKC on Friday. Her departure leaves another gap for the reigning NWSL champions to fill. FC Kansas City remains second to the bottom with no wins yet this season.
Next they head to Boston to take on the Breakers. Coverage begins at 6:30 ET.
Game Stats:
SHOTS
- FC Kansas City 12
- Chicago 11
SHOTS ON GOAL
- FC Kansas City 5
- Chicago 8
SAVES
- FC Kansas City 8
- Chicago 5
CORNER KICKS
- FC Kansas City 3
- Chicago 3
OFFSIDES
- FC Kansas City 1
- Chicago 0
FOULS
- FC Kansas City 11
- Chicago 7
Officials:
Referee: Chipalo Street
Asst. Referees: Ben Wooten; Maggie Short
Fourth Official: Shane Kennard
Attendance: 2217
FC Kansas City
