BRIDGEVIEW, IL—A much better performance by the Chicago Red Stars and for the first time in front of fans since the 2019 NWSL Semifinal. Still, the finishing product is still missing as a crowd of 3,121 saw the Red Stars play Gotham FC to a goalless draw.
The Red Stars got to have Kealia Watt, Rachel Hill, and Mallory Pugh on the pitch at the same time and Morgan Gautrat back from suspension.
While the hosts had numerous chances and got balls into the box, one of three things would happen. Kailen Sheridan would make a save, the Gotham defenders would box out, or the finish touch just lacked.
While Gotham did not have a shot on target, they would have two shots go off the woodwork in the first half. Carli Lloyd’s chip shot went off the bar in the 14th minute, while Evelyne Viens headed one off the bar in the 40th minute.
Still, there was plenty to be encourage about for Red Stars head coach Rory Dames.
“That’s the first time we were able to run those three [Watt, Hill, and Pugh] all together and they were very lively,” said Dames. “We just finished the third week of having those three together for training. We’ve been preaching all along that it’s going to take some time. But you could certainly see some glimpses tonight. Still a long way to go, but I though [Watt, Hill, and Pugh] were very good tonight. They did everything but kick it into the goal. That will come.
After the Portland match, some appeared to have written off the Red Stars and Dames embraces that.
“We get it. We’re the eighth or ninth best team in the league. Everybody’s caught us or passed us by. Our midfield’s not mobile enough and can’t keep up. We never replaced [Sam Kerr], so we can’t score goals. We’ll embrace that. We’ll try to get into that sixth spot by the end and hope that we’re able to do something in the playoffs. That’s what everybody thinks we are, so I think the group’s embraced that and we’ll get on with it.
There is a quick turnaround coming up for the Red Stars with two away matches coming up starting on Wednesday at Kansas City. Kickoff is at 7pm CT on CBS Sports Network.
SCORING SUMMARY:
None
BOOKING SUMMARY:
NJNY-Evelyns Viens (caution, reckless tackle) 43
CHI-Kayla Sharples (caution, reckless tackle) 70
NJNY-Midge Purce (caution, reckless tackle) 74
CHI-Danielle Colaprico (caution, persistent infringement) 86
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-3-3): #1-Alyssa Naeher; #28-Kayla Sharples, #11-Sarah Gorden, #26-Tierna Davidson, #6-Casey Krueger; #24-Danielle Colaprico, #5-Rachel Hill (#33-Katie Johnson 82), #10-Vanessa DiBernardo; #9-Mallory Pugh, #13-Morgan Gautrat, #2-Kealia Watt
Subs not used: #38-Cassie Miller, #15-Makenzy Doniak, #22-Zoey Goralski, #23-Tatumn Milazzo, #7-Nikki Stanton, #18-Ella Stevens, #16-Sarah Woldmoe, #3-Arin Wright
GOTHAM FC (4-3-3): #1-Kailen Sheridan; #8-Erica Skroski (#11-So-Dam Lee 60), #24-Estelle Johnson, #22-Mandy Freeman, #3-Caprice Dydasco (#15-Sabrina Flores 77); #6-Jennifer Cudjoe, #10-Carli Lloyd, #16-Alexandra Batista; #23-Midge Purce, #20-Evelyne Viens (#25-Ifeoma Onumonu 60), #4-Paige Monaghan (#9-Nahomi Kawasumi 77)
Subs not used: #13-DiDi Haracic, #5-Nicole Baxter, #19-Elizabeth Eddy, #12-Gina Lewandowski, #17-Domi Richardson
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 13-7 NJNY
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 5-0 NJNY
FOULS: CHI 14-17 NJNY
OFFSIDES: CHI 3-1 NJNY
CORNER KICKS: CHI 6-2 NJNY
SAVES: CHI 0-5 NJNY
Referee: Adorae Monroy
Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, Ben Pilgrim
Fourth Official: Erin Pattersons
Attendance: 3,121
Weather: Mostly Sunny at 86º
Woman of the Match: Mallory Pugh (CHI)
