Seattle Reign FC 0
Chicago Red Stars 0
NWSL Regular Season
Seattle, WA – Memorial Stadium
Seattle and Chicago entered Saturday night jockeying for early season table position. Although goalless, both sides brought intensity to their defensive challenges and a willingness to attack, so the scoreline does not match the flow of play. The match began with early pressure and stellar goalkeeping kept both teams in all phases of the match from ever gaining an advantage.
Chicago’s defense was clearly set on limiting the touches Seattle forward Megan Rapinoe and Seattle was not afraid to put a body on Red Star attacker Sam Kerr.
With time on the ball already at a premium due to the defensive pressure each side brings, the rain at kickoff added an element to the match. Chicago defends well collectively, whenever Seattle would begin an attack their front six would find Red Stars in large numbers dropped back clogging passing lanes making wing play and set pieces more valuable and dangerous.
Goals change games. A lack of goals also tends to do so. As the second half progressed and scoring opportunities continued at a premium, the defensive pressure both applied led to a number of stronger and stronger physical challenges and some frustration as play was generally allowed to continue. Seattle appeared fortunate to finish the match with eleven on the pitch as a strong tackle by Kristen McNabb in the 86th minute only brought out a yellow card.
In second place with fewer games played, Reign FC had the opportunity to put a cushion of points between them and the field in the early season battle for second place and the home playoff game that provides. Chicago displayed a sense of urgency given the games in hand and a chance to grab points away head to head. The tie probably suits Seattle more in the big picture, even if the points dropped are at home.
photos by Vanya Tucherov
Match Report
Match: Chicago Red Stars vs. Seattle Reign FC
Date: May 19, 2018 Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. PT
Venue: UW Medicine Pitch at Memorial Stadium, Seattle, WA
Attendance: 3,597
Weather: 65 degrees, rainy
Scoring Summary: N/A
Misconduct Summary:
Yellow – Stanton, 26’
Yellow – Naughton, 47’
Yellow – McNabb, 86’
Yellow – Gorden, 90’
Seattle Reign FC
Total shots: 10
Shots on goal: 4
Crosses: 14
Total Passes: 451
Passing Accuracy: 66.1%
Possession: 55.3%
Saves: 4
Yellow cards: 1
Fouls: 12
Corner kicks: 5
Offsides: 4
Chicago Red Stars
Total shots: 11
Shots on goal: 4
Crosses: 24
Total Passes: 349
Passing Accuracy: 56.7%
Possession: 44.7%
Saves: 4
Yellow cards: 3
Fouls: 10
Corner kicks: 5
Offsides: 2
Seattle Reign FC
Lydia Williams, Steph Catley, Kristen McNabb, Lauren Barnes, Alyssa Kleiner, Rumi Utsugi, Allie Long, Jess Fishlock (Bev Yanez, 87’), Megan Rapinoe, Jodie Taylor, Nahomi Kawasumi (Jasmyne Spencer, 72’)
Substitutes Not Used: Elizabeth Addo, Morgan Andrews, Maddie Bauer, Michelle Betos, Theresa Nielsen
Chicago Red Stars
Alyssa Naeher, Sarah Gorden, Sam Johnson, Katie Naughton, Arin Gilliland, Nikki Stanton, Danielle Colaprico, Julie Ertz (Yuki Nagasato, 76’), Alyssa Mautz, Sofia Huerta, Sam Kerr
Substitutes Not Used: Taylor Comeau, Lauren Kaskie, Michele Vasconcelos, Summer Green, Emily Boyd, Rosie White
Referee: Katja Koroleva
Assistant Referees: Chris Elliott, Joshua Haimes
4th Official: Sya Magee
