CHICAGO – In a must-win match for Kansas City, the Red Stars earned a 0-0 draw, eliminating the Blues from the 2017 NWSL Playoffs for the second straight year. Chicago moved up to third place with two games remaining in the season, but failed to seal their semifinal spot by earning just one point.

The battle between rivals proved to be just that, as the first half showed equal play from both sides.

Chicago seemed to have the first look at goal in the first 10 minutes when defender Arin Gilliland brought the ball down the right flank. Crossing it into the box, Yuki Nagasato tried to get a head on it, but the ball was cleared to the top of the box. Awaiting the clearance, Danielle Colaprico took a shot, but was deflected off a Kanas City player and immediately out of danger.

With no shots on goal for either side, Chicago and Kansas City split possession while the first half ended in a scoreless draw.

Into the second half, Chicago found another solid sequence that led to a shot on goal by Sofia Huerta. After a corner kick, Christen Press drove to the end line and cut it back inside the box. Huerta met the ball and struck the volley from close range, but Kansas City goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart made the save.

With minutes left in the match, FC Kansas City found their first dangerous opportunity on a corner kick lobbed into the box. Substitute Maegan Kelly headed the ball down, but Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher showed her quick reflexes and made two huge saves back to back and the match remained scoreless.

Chicago is currently on a three-game road trip to end the 2017 NWSL season and will head to Houston after the FIFA break to take on the Dash on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 7:30 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on the go90 app and NWSLsoccer.com.

– CHICAGO RED STARS MATCH REPORT –

MATCH: Chicago Red Stars vs. FC Kansas City
DATE: September 9, 2017
VENUE: Children’s Mercy Victory Field; Kansas City, MO
KICKOFF: 3 p.m. CT
ATTENDANCE: 963
WEATHER: 86 degrees, partly cloudy

Scoring Summary:      1          2          F
CHI                                    0          0          0
FCKC                                0          0          0

Chicago Red Stars Lineup: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 16-Samantha Johnson, 5-Katie Naughton, 3-Arin Gilliland, 6-Casey Short; 8-Julie Ertz, 24-Danielle Colaprico, 11-Sofia Huerta (4-Alyssa Mautz, 86), 13-Morgan Brian (7-Taylor Comeau, 59); 12-Yuki Nagasato (9-Stephanie McCaffrey, 78), 23-Christen Press (capt.)
Substitutes: 2-Jen Hoy, 14-Sarah Gorden, 18-Michele Dalton, 30-Lauren Kaskie
Head Coach: Rory Dames

FC Kansas City Lineup: 18-Nicole Barnhart; 17-Sydney Miramontez, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (capt.), 10-Yael Averbuch, 3-Becca Moros; 11-Desiree Scott, 31-Christina Gibbons; 6-Katie Bowen (44-Maegan Kelly, 56), 9-Lo’eau LaBonta (25-Brittany Ratcliffe, 74), 2-Shea Groom; 14-Sydney Leroux
Substitutes: 15-Erika Tymrak, 19-Cat Parkhill, 21-Caroline Flynn, 88-Alexa Newfield
Head Coach: Vlatko Andonovski

Stats Summary: CHI / FCKC
Shots: 8/7
Shots on Goal: 3/2
Saves: 2/3
Corner Kicks: 3/2
Fouls: 12/12
Offside: 3/4

Misconduct Summary
FCKC – Lo’eau Labonta (caution)                                            67’

Officials:
Referee: Michael Radchuk
Asst. Referees: Amanda Ross, Joshua Haimes
4th Official: Wade Beall