The Chicago Red Stars and the Mexican Women’s National Team (MWNT) delivered an action-packed match this afternoon that, unfortunately, did not go Chicago’s way, as the team fell 5-2 to Mexico. The inaugural MexTour W match saw the professional debut of three Red Stars and the debut of new Red Stars players who saw their first minutes with the club.
Julia Bianchi, one of the players to debut as a Red Star this afternoon, helped swing momentum toward the Chicago side with a goal she scored from a corner kick attempt. Bianchi’s goal helped stun a formidable Mexico team that was poised to enter halftime with a 3-0 lead. Soon after Bianchi’s goal, the Red Stars struck once more. This time it was Naperville native, Sarah Griffith, who got her head on a crossed ball from Jenna Bike to pull the Red Stars within one goal heading into the half.
The Red Stars put up a fight entering the second half, but Mexico got their second wind and put the game away with two second-half goals. Despite the loss, Mackenzie Wood showed some flashes of brilliance for the Red Stars. At times,the rookie goalkeeper faced a barrage of shots that she punched or deflected out of harm’s way.
KEY MOMENTS:
6’ A mix up on the defensive end leaves Chicago’s net exposed but Amanda Kowalski is able to step in and make a save by heading away a ball that was dangerously close to falling into the net
10’ Diana Ordoñez on the break gets a clear shot at goal, but Mackenzie Wood gets a glove on the ball and Kowalski is able to clear the rebound
16’ Tatumn Milazzo races Ordoñez to the ball and is able to stop the forward from getting a clear shot on goal with a well-timed slide tackle
18’ A mistake in the Red Stars’ 18-yard box gives Mexico a penalty attempt. Charlyn Corral takes the shot for Mexico and is able to convert giving Mexico the lead, 1-0
22’ A ball rattles around the outside of the 18-yard box for Chicago, lands at the feet of Karla Nieto who is able to get her shot past the goalkeeper, 2-0 Mexico.
30’ Ella Stevens takes a shot from outside Mexico’s 18-yard box that bends toward goal, but goes just over the cross bar
34’ Mexico go on a break and find María Sánchez alone and she’s able to get a left footed shot past Wood to make it 3-0 Mexico
39’ Julia Bianchi’s lob into the box from a corner kick for the Red Stars bends all the way past Mexico’s keeper pulling a goal back for the Red Stars, 3-1
45+1’ Jenna Bike sends a right-to-left cross into Mexico’s 18-yard box that finds the head of Sarah Griffith, who is then able to get the ball past Mexico’s keeper and into the net, 3-2
53’ Mexico’s forward gets a clear shot at goal after a Mexico corner kick, but Mackenzie Wood gets a foot on the ball to keep it out of the net
61’ Diana Ordoñez’ shot from outside the 18-yard box gets past Mackenzie Wood to put Mexico back up by two, 4-2
78’ Mexico’s Jaramillo takes a free kick attempt and bends it past Wood, 5-2 Mexico
GAME NOTES:
- Professional Debuts: Sophie Jones, Ally Schlegel, Mackenzie Wood
- Debuts as Red Stars: Julia Bianchi, Brenna Lovera, Taylor Malham
Next Game
Chicago Red Stars vs. Kansas City Current April 15, 2023, 7:00 p.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium
Goals by Half
1 2 F
CHI 2 0 2
MEX 3 2 5
Scoring Summary:
CHI: 39’ Julia Bianchi, 45+1’ Sarah Griffith (Jenna bike)
MEX: 20’ Charlyn Corral (PK), 22’ Karla Nieto (Ovalle), 34’ María Sánchez (Ovalle), 61’ Diana Ordoñez (Rodriguez), 78’ Jaramillo
Disciplinary Report
CHI: 51’ Penelope Hocking (Yellow Card)
MEX: 67’ Jasmine Casarez (Yellow Card), 90+1’ Carolina Jamarillo (Yellow Card)
Lineups
CHI: Mackenzie Wood, Tatumn Milazzo (Sami Feller), Arin Wright, Amanda Kowalski (Taylor Malham), Julia Bianchi (Cari Roccaro), Yuki Nagasato (Sophie Jones), Sarah Griffith (Jill Aguilera), Jenna Bike (Brenna Lovera), Penelope Hocking, Ally Schlegel (Sam Fisher), Ella Stevens (Ava Cook)
MEX: Itzel Rodriguez, Kenti Robles (Anika Rodríguez), Greta Espinoza (Cristina Ferral), Kimberly Rodriguez, Miah Zuazua (Karol Bernal), Alexia Delgado (Carolina Jaramillo), Karla Nieto (Andrea Hernández), María Sánchez (Katie Johnson), Diana Ordoñez (Myra Delgadillo), Charlyn Corral (Jasmine Casarez), Jacqueline Ovalle (Gabriela Valenzuela)
