Chicago Red Stars 2-2 Angel City FC
BRIDGEVIEW, IL—The second largest standalone crowd for the Red Stars (8,961) saw a thrilling contest between the Red Stars and Angel City FC as Alyssa Naeher and Cheyna Matthews played in their first home matches since playing at the Women’s World Cup this summer.
While it was a thrilling contest, the result—a 2-2 draw—does not really help either team as it tries to reach the playoffs. The Red Stars remain bottom of the NWSL and five points out of the sixth and final playoff spot with five to play. Angel City, who extend their unbeaten streak to 11 in all competition, remain in eighth, just one point behind sixth place Washington.
It was end-to-end action for most of the match. The Red Stars had their chances, but the visitors took the lead 39th minute as a corner came to Amandine Henry whose initial shot was saved by Naeher, but Ali Riley pounced on the rebound and scored. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but VAR determined that the play was onside and awarded the goal.
Red Stars Chris Petrucelli made four subs in the 66th minute and one of them made an immediate impact as Ava Cook took control of a loose ball and then beat DiDi Haracic far post to level the score at 1-1. It was Cook’s first goal of the season at home and third against Angel City in the last two matches.
Parity lasted just three minutes, though, as Clair Emslie sent a dime of a pass to Jun Endo who scored from close range and restore Angel City’s lead. The lead would last just four minutes as Cheyna Matthews out fought Mary Vignola for a ball in the box and then put it in to make it 2-2.
Angel City had one more chance to win it in stoppage time, but a point blank chance for Madison Hammond was stopped by Naeher. Naeher made seven saves on the night to preserve the draw for the Red Stars.
As mentioned before, it was the second largest standalone crowd in Red Stars history after the 17,388 on July 23, 2019. It provided some motivation to put on a great performance.
“This is the biggest crowd I’ve seen since I’ve been a Red Star,” said Matthews. “You could feel it when you walked out. It just goes without saying that crowd support really does motivate all of us. And so, when you have a unique opportunity to come into a game and know that we we’re trying to get points. At this point, it’s do or die. And so those are the kind of moments you live for as a player. So it was pretty easy coming in and being motivated.”
While one point does not help either team’s cause, for the Red Stars, it still keeps them in the race for the playoffs.
“We need every point we can get,” said Petrucelli. “So, I think both teams tonight needed three and I don’t think one helps anybody. But we’re still alive, and when you get to this point of the season, it’s like if you can have some success, which we have over the last few matches, it just makes the next game more important and the game after that more important and that kind of thing. And wanna play in those kind of games.”
It will be two more weeks before the Red Stars return to action. That will be at home against Racing Louisville. Kickoff is at 7pm on Saturday, September 30th on Paramount+ and WCIU Channel 26.2 (The U).
(Editor’s Note: For more of Leslie Smith’s photos from this match, please click here.)
SCORING SUMMARY:
LA-Ali Riley (unassisted) 39
CHI-Ava Cook (unassisted) 68
LA-Jun Endo (Emslie) 71
CHI-Cheyna Matthews (unassisted) 75
BOOKING SUMMARY:
LA-Sarah Gorden (caution, tactical foul) 47
LA-Ali Riley (caution, tactical foul) 77
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-2-3-1): #1-Alyssa Naeher; #6-Casey Krueger, #12-Tierna Davidson, #3-Arin Wright, #23-Tatumn Milazzo; #5-Julia Bianchi, #4-Cari Roccaro; #55-Penelope Hocking (#25-Ava Cook 66), #7-Yuki Nagasato (#20-Cheyna Matthews 66), #22-Bianca St. Georges (#24-Jenna Bike 66); #8-Ella Stevens (#34-Allie Schlegel 66)
Subs not used: #21-Emily Boyd, #14-Jill Aguilera, #2-Sam Fisher, #32-Taylor Malham, #28-Kayla Sharples
ANGEL CITY FC (4-2-3-1): #13-DiDi Haracic; #16-Mary Vignola, #14-Paige Nielsen, #11-Sarah Gorden, #5-Ali Riley; #26-Amandine Henry (#21-Alyssa Thompson 56), #99-Madison Hammond; #15-Scarlett Camberos (#18-Jun Endo 56), #9-Savannah McCaskill (#2-Sydney Leroux 68), #10-Clair Emslie (#33-Katie Johnson 84); #29-Clarisse Le Bihan
Subs not used: #19-Angelina Anderson, #28-Lily Nabet, #6-Megan Reid, #3-Jasmyne Spencer, #17-Dani Weatherholt
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 10-13 LA
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 5-9 LA
FOULS: CHI 11-9 LA
OFFSIDES: CHI 1-8 LA
CORNER KICKS: CHI 7-9 LA
SAVES: CHI 7-3 LA
Referee: Alyssa Nichols
Referee’s Assistants: Chris Schurfranz, Mike Nickerson
Fourth Official: Peter Bernardy
VAR: Emma Richards
AVAR: Tony Obas
Weather: Mostly Cloudy and 67º
Attendance: 8,961
Woman of the Match: Alyssa Naeher (CHI)
