Reign FC 0
Chicago Red Stars 4
NWSL Regular Season
July 28, 2019
Cheney Stadium – Tacoma, WA
The first year for Reign FC was a rough one in 2013. They didn’t win many matches at Starfire Stadium. A move to Memorial Stadium in 2014 coincided with a change in fortunes for the club and a five year run where losses at home were rare, and a big loss at home even more so. The move to Tacoma for 2019 has also had good fortune in home matches, not losing in the first half of the campaign. Sunday was not a good day for the home side for the first time in Cheney Stadium.
photo by Vanya Tucherov
With world cup players returning and a sell out crowd of over seven thousand, Chicago Red Stars emphatically followed up a win over North Carolina with a four nil victory. Chicago scored early, extended their lead, held off a late first half run that with some good fortune could have halved the lead at the interval, grabbed a third goal early in the second half, and finished it off with the late fourth goal. On paper, Chicago is a dangerous side. Recent results would indicate a run to the NWSL Championship could be in order.
An early goal by Arin Wright gave the Red Stars a quick and early lead after less than four minutes. The home side appeared unsettled and when it hit two nil in the 14th from a Vanessa DiBernardo goal. The first thirty found Chicago winning balls and asserting itself across the pitch. As the half winded down, Reign FC found some opportunities and had some finishing gone their way they could have found themselves only down a goal at the interval. A first half stoppage time equalizer could have really altered the match.
Reign FC has endured a brutal stretch of road matches and injuries, still finding themselves in the standings in a decent place. There are no excuses coming from the Tacoma camp, but on a day when Chicago was mostly at full strength and clicking, it would be tough to beat this Red Stars side. Chicago pressed high, held its shape, and pushed the pace of the match.
photo by Vanya Tucherov
Chicago’s third goal early in the 2nd half took whatever momentum Reign FC might have been looking to swing and stifled it for another chunk of the match. Offense oriented fresh legs came on as the game wound down as coach Vlatko Andonovski always coaches for the win, but it would not pay off as Samantha Kerr would ice the match in the 81st minute and the Cheney Stadium crowd went home after a loss for the first time.
Reign FC should be getting Megan Rapinoe back within the next few matches and a few others. They are still only a point off the playoff pace looking up the standings, but given the resilience they have shown this season it is not unreasonable to expect that they could get a match like this behind them and grab points and contend for a playoff spot.
Chicago looks to be on a roll and moving towards being considered one of the teams to beat in 2019. More performances like Sunday in Tacoma and no one will be surprised if they catch Portland or North Carolina for the NWSL Shield.
article kicker photo by Vanya Tucherov
photo by MEL
REPORT
Attendance: 7479
Goals by half 1 2 Total
RFC 0 0 0
CHI 2 2 4
Scoring Summary
CHI – Arin Wright 4’
CHI – Vanessa DiBernardo (Sam Kerr) 14’
CHI – Yuki Nagasato (Casey Short) 51’
CHI – Sam Kerr (Katie Johnson) 81’
Misconduct Summary
RFC – Lauren Barnes (caution) 34’
CHI – Julie Ertz (caution) 59’
RFC: GK Casey Murphy, D Steph Catley, D Lauren Barnes, D Megan Oyster, D Theresa Nielsen (Shea Groom 80’), M Allie Long, M Bev Yanez, M Morgan Andrews (Rosie White 61’), F Ifeoma Onumonu, F Jodie Taylor (Addison Steiner 61’), F Bethany Balcer
Substitutes Not Used: GK Sammy Jo Prudhomme, D Kristen McNabb, M Morgan Proffitt, M Rebecca Quinn
Head Coach: Vlatko Andonovski
Shots: 13
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 6
Corner kicks: 11
Saves: 5
CHI: GK Alyssa Naeher, D Casey Short, D Katie Naughton, D Sarah Gorden, D Tierna Davidson (Katie Johnson 67’), M Julie Ertz, M Vanessa DiBernardo (Savannah McCaskill 81’), M Morgan Brian, F Arin Wright, F Yuki Nagasato, F Sam Kerr (Nikki Stanton 84’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Emily Boyd, D Brooke Elby, D Kayla Sharples, D Zoey Goralski
Head Coach: Rory Dames
Shots: 19
Shots on goal: 9
Fouls: 5
Corner kicks: 4
Saves: 2
photo by Maddy Grassy
