Despite multiple close attempts, the Chicago Red Stars couldn’t find the equalizer to walk away with points; the Red Stars fell 1-2 to New Jersey/New York Gotham FC at the end of 90 minutes. Brazilian national, Julia Bianchi, connected with forward Ella Stevens to notch Chicago’s only goal and Stevens second goal of the regular season. 

KEY MOMENTS: 

 5’ Gotham cross a ball into Chicago’s 18-yard box that goes under Tierna Davidson’s leg. Gotham’s Jenna Nighswonger receives the cross feet from the goal line and taps it right under goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to score, 0-1 

6’ The Red Stars make a run up the field immediately upon the restart of play in an answer to Gotham’s early score. The ball finds the back of the net, but the goal is called back upon review due to a player being offside 

35’ Red Stars break out on a run with Ella Stevens leading the charge. Stevens slips a pass through the defense to Penelope Hocking who takes a left footed shot, but Gotham’s keeper is able to put her body in front of the shot and clear the danger 

45+2’ Lynn Williams strikes the ball low and from outside Chicago’s 18-yard box that just gets past the outstretched hand of Naeher to extend Gotham’s lead, 0-2 

53’ The Red Stars send a corner kick into Gotham’s box and Ella Stevens is able to get a head on the ball, bounce it down off the ground and over the keeper’s hand to pull one back for Chicago, 1-2 

62’ Ella Stevens carries the ball into Gotham’s defensive third, crosses a ball low to a trailing Hocking who gets a good strike on the ball, but it deflects off the wrong side of the post, and goes out for a goal kick 

GAME NOTES: 

• Yuki Nagasato’s start tonight was the storied midfielder’s 100th regular-season appearance in the NWSL. Nagasato has now logged 79 regular season appearances with Chicago. Across her 100 appearances, she has logged 19 regular season goals, 17 of which have been for the Red Stars. She has also tallied 20 of her 22 NWSL assists in a Red Stars jersey.  
• Julia Bianchi and Sandra Starke both had their first regular season starts in tonight’s match. Bianchi collected her first NWSL assist and an 82.1 percent passing accuracy tonight, with 32 accurate passes. Starke had a perfect passing accuracy in the final third for the Red Stars. 
• Defender Tatumn Milazzo continues to find her stride this season. Milazzo had a standout match, leading the team in recoveries (14) and touches (89). Controlling the ball, Milazzo had 20 more touches tonight than any other Red Star. 

Next Game 

Racing Louisville FC vs. Chicago Red Stars May 12, 2023, 6:30 p.m. CT at Lynn Family Stadium 

Goals by Half  

           1 2 F 

CHI 0 1 1 

NJY 2 0 2 

Scoring Summary: 

CHI: 53’ Ella Stevens (Bianchi) 

NJY: 5’ Nighswonger, 45+2’ Lynn Williams 

Disciplinary Report 

CHI: 79’ Bench (Yellow Card) 

NJY: 79’ Taylor Smith (Yellow Card), 89’ Taylor Smith (Yellow Card) 

Lineups 

CHI: Alyssa Naeher, Casey Krueger, Tierna Davidson, Tatumn Milazzo, Julia Bianchi, Yuki Nagasato, Bianca St-Georges (Jenna Bike), Arin Wright, Ella Stevens (Ally Schlegel), Penelope Hocking, Sandra Starke (Ava Cook) 

NJY: Mandy Haught, Kristen Edmonds, Ali Krieger, Kelly O’Hara, Bruninha, Jenna Nighswonger (Farrelly), Ali Long, Kristie Mewis (Zerboni), Yazmin Ryan (Onumonu) Lynn Williams, Taylor Smith (Sheehan)