Chicago Red Stars 2-1 Kansas City
BRIDGEVIEW, IL–The Chicago Red Stars took another step closer towards their push for the playoffs. A Makenzy Doniak second half goal lifted host Chicago past Kansas City 2-1 in the final regular season match at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday night.
The Red Stars have been pretty comfortable at home as they’ve posted an 8-2-2 mark this season. Chicago improved its record to 10-8-5 for 35 points and are sitting in the fourth spot in the NWSL standings. The Red Stars have one match remaining on the road in Orlando on Friday, October 29th at 6 p.m. CT.
“We’ve got a little break here,” Chicago Red Stars head coach Rory Dames said. “Let’s use the extra weeks to recover and get us back into form. When we go to Orlando, we will be playing for a home game at that point. We would like a home game in the first round of the playoffs.”
On Saturday, Chicago were the ones trying to maintain its legs playing its third match in a week and that was also the same situation for Kansas City (3-13-6, 15 points).
The Red Stars lead the league with own goals this season and found its sixth one that opened the scoring in the 35th minute, It came off a cornerkick from Mallory Pugh and after a header was redirected into the goal off Kansas City’s Kristen Edmonds.
However, Kansas City tied it up on its own corner kick in the 37th minute. Katie Bowen served up the corner for Hallie Mace with her header into the back of the net.
Chicago jumped ahead by a goal in the 51st minute. Doniak finished a sliding touch into the goal for the eventual game-winner that was started by Pugh on the left side, then passed to Kealia Watt and set up Doniak.
Kansas City has a demanding schedule playing recent games on the road, but they seem to be playing with some competitive teams at another level.
“It was a tough game,” Kansas City head coach Huw Williams said. “Though, we’ve been playing some tough teams on the road towards the end the season. I’m very disappointed with the result. The second goal was very questionable. But the girls didn’t give up and it just wasn’t enough.”
Kansas City will host Gotham FC next Friday at 8 p.m. ET and its final match will be hosting OL Reign on October 30th at 9 p.m., ET.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Own Goal (Kristen Edmonds) 35′
KC-Hallie Mace (Katie Bowen) 37′
CHI-Makenzy Doniak (Kealia Watt) 51′
BOOKING SUMMARY:
KC-Elizabeth Ball (yellow, unsporting behavior) 89′
CHICAGO RED STARS: #38-Cassie Miller, #6-Casey Krueger, #11-Sarah Gordon, #26-Tierna Davidson, #3-Arin Wright, #13-Morgan Gauutrat, #16-Sarah Woldmoe, #15-Makenzy Doniak ($3-Alyssa Mautz 80), #33-Katie Johnson (#10-Vanessa DiBernardo 67), #2-Kealia Watt, #9-Mallory Pugh (#5-Rachel Hill 94).
Subs not used: #21-Emily Boyd, #28-Kayla Sharples, #23-Tatum Milazzo, #18-Ella Stevens, #7 Nikki Stanton, #24-Danny Colaprico.
KANSAS CITY: #1-Adrianna Franch, #2-Rachel Corsie, #4-Hallie Mace (#21-Marianna Larroquette 92) #7-Elizabeth Ball, #22-Maddie Nolf (#77-Jessica Silva 67), #3-Kristen Edmonds, #6-Katie Bowen (#28-addie McCain 58), #9-Lo Labonta, #11-Desi Scott, #13-Darian Jenkins, #25-Kristen Hamilton.
Subs not used: #0-Katelyn Rowland, #5-Sydney Miramontez, #24-Taylor Leach, #29-Kate Del Fava.
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 10-12 KC
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 3-2 KC
FOULS: CHI 10-9 KC
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-0 KC
CORNER KICKS: CHI 7-7 KC
SAVES: CHI 1-2 KC
FOULS: CHI 10-9 KC
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-0 KC
CORNER KICKS: CHI 7-7 KC
SAVES: CHI 1-2 KC
Referee: Greg Dopka
Assistant Referees: Ashlee Varnson and Melissa Gonzalez
Assistant Referees: Ashlee Varnson and Melissa Gonzalez
Fourth Official: Emma Richards
Attendance: 4,488
Weather: Mostly clear and 54º
MVP of the Match: Makenzy Doniak (CHI)
