Washington Spirit 0-1 Chicago Red Stars
LEESBURG, VA—The Chicago Red Stars entered the “Olympic Phase” of their season without Alyssa Naeher and Tierna Davidson as well as the suspended Danielle Colaprico. Still, they began the phase with an important victory on the road at Segra Field, 1-0, over the Washington Spirit. The win snaps a three-match winless streak.
The game’s only goal came in the 33rd minute off a corner. Kayla Sharples’s header deflected off keeper Aubrey Bledsoe, then off defender Julia Roddar, and over the line for an own goal.
Keepers at both ends were made to make a save early in the second half. The Red Stars’ Cassie Miller denied Trinity Rodman in the 47th minute and Bledsoe denied Kealia Watt two minutes later.
Watt thought she doubled the Red Stars’ advantage in the 74th minute as her shot went off the underside of the crossbar and replays showing the ball over the line. But absent goal-line technology and VAR in the NWSL, the goal was not given.
Despite that, the Red Stars defense held firm as they held the Spirit to just the one shot on target and held on for the important, character building win according to Sharples.
“If you asked any one of us, it was a must-win game,” said Sharples. “Hopefully, it will change our momentum and it was a complete character win. We also really dug deep and played together as a team and we fought for each other.”
The Red Stars return home on Sunday, July 11th, with a 5pm kickoff against the Houston Dash. The match will be streamed online on Paramount+.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Julia Roddar (own goal) 33
BOOKING SUMMARY:
None
WASHINGTON SPIRIT (4-3-3): #1-Aubrey Bledsoe; #23-Tori Huster, #14-Paige Nielsen (#17-Kumi Yokoyama 80), #3-Samantha Staab, #9-Tegan McGrady (#30-Camryn Bielgalski 80); #16-Julia Roddar (#21-Anna Heilferty 67), #10-Ashley Sanchez, #12-Andi Sullivan; #2-Trinity Rodman (#27-Tara McKeown 61), #19-Dorian Bailey, #33-Ashley Hatch
Subs not used: #18-Devon Kerr, #24-Chinyelu Asher, #11-Jordan DiBiasi #31-Sydney Schneider, #20-Mariana Speckmaier
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-2-3-1): #38-Cassie Miller; #11-Sarah Gorden, #28-Kayla Sharples, #3-Arin Wright, #6-Casey Krueger; #13-Morgan Gautrat, #16-Sarah Woldmoe; #2-Kealia Watt (#4-Alyssa Mautz 84), #10-Vanessa DiBernardo, #15-Makenzy Doniak (#5-Rachel Hill 70); #9-Mallory Pugh (#33-Katie Johnson 90+3)
Subs not used: #21-Emily Boyd, #19-Sarah Luebbert, #23-Tatumn Milazzo, #14-Zoe Morse, #18-Ella Stevens
TOTAL SHOTS: WAS 13-11 CHI
SHOTS ON GOAL: WAS 1-2 CHI
FOULS: WAS 9-6 CHI
OFFSIDES: WAS 0-1 CHI
CORNER KICKS: WAS 3-5 CHI
SAVES: WAS 2-1 CHI
Referee: JC Griggs
Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, Ashlee Varnosn
4th Official: Scarlet Agrawal
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 77º
Woman of the Match: Kayla Sharples (CHI)
