CHICAGO – Chicago gained three points after defeating FC Kansas City 1-0 in the Red Stars 2017 home opener at Toyota Park.

From the kick off, Chicago used their midfield strength to control the ball for most of the first half, gaining their first opportunity five minutes in. Captain Christen Press was able to take a shot from the top of the 18-yard box, but grazed the fingertips of Kansas City’s goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart.

With Chicago continuing to take control of the game, more opportunities unfolded. In the 24th minute, Julie Ertz – playing in an attacking midfield position – ran up on a ball toward the end line. Ertz controlled and crossed it into the box for Press to take a one-touch shot, but the ball fell for Barnhart.

Minutes later, Short found herself alone with the ball on the flank and sent a cross toward the 6-yard box where Ertz was there to head the ball, but Barnhart made the diving save.

The Red Stars earned their first goal of the 2017 campaign minutes before halftime when Sofia Huerta took the ball toward the end line and crossed to Ertz along the 6-yard box. Ertz was able to easily slotted the ball past the goalkeeper for her first Red Stars goal since 2014, ending the half leading, 1-0.

Chicago continued to control possession to begin the second half. In the 49th minute, Ertz was taken down in the box, earning the first penalty kick for Chicago. Press stepped up to take it, but her shot went wide of the right goal post.

Press continued to be a threat as she received the ball in the attacking third, used her skill to dribble around Barnhart, but her shot narrowly missed, hitting the near post. This would be the Red Stars final scoring attempt, as Chicago earned the shutout in the 1-0 victory over Kansas City.

Catch Chicago’s next match on April 29 at 3 p.m. CT as they travel to Portland to face the Thorns. The Red Stars will return home on May 6 at 3 p.m. CT for Lifetime’s Game of the Week against the Houston Dash. Tickets for May 6 are available here or by calling 773-697-8699.

– CHICAGO RED STARS MATCH REPORT –
MATCH: Chicago Red Stars vs. FC Kansas City
DATE: April 22, 2017
VENUE: Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Illinois
KICKOFF: 3 p.m. CT
ATTENDANCE: 2,153
WEATHER: 50 degrees, partly cloudy

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

CHI – Julie Ertz (Sofia Huerta)                         41^’

Chicago Red Stars Lineup: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 16-Samantha Johnson, 5-Katie Naughton, 3-Arin Gilliland, 6-Casey Short; 24-Danielle Colaprico, 10-Vanessa DiBernardo, 11-Sofia Huerta (4-Alyssa Mautz, 87), 8-Julie Ertz (13-Morgan Proffitt, 87), 2-Jen Hoy (9-Stephanie McCaffrey, 72), 23-Christen Press (capt.)
Substitutes: 7-Taylor Comeau, 14-Sarah Gorden, 18-Michele Dalton, 19-Summer Green, 30-Lauren Kaskie, 34-Mary Luba
Head Coach: Rory Dames

FC Kansas City Lineup: 18-Nicole Barnhart; 31-Christina Gibbons, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (capt.), 10-Yael Averbuch, 13-Brittany Taylor; 3-Rebecca Moros (21-Caroline Flynn, 58), 88-Alexa Newfield (15-Erica Tymrak, 58), 6-Katie Bowen, 9-Lo’eau LaBonta; 14-Sydney Leroux (44-Maegan Kelly, 73), 2-Shea Groom
Substitutes: 19-Catherine Parkhill, 22-Brianne Reed, 25-Brittany Ratcliffe
Head Coach: Vlatko Andonovski

Stats Summary: CHI / FCKC
Shots: 17/11
Shots on Goal: 5/3
Saves: 3/4
Corner Kicks: 5/5
Fouls: 11/5
Offside: 0/1

Misconduct Summary
none

Officials:
Referee: Greg Dopka
Asst. Referees: Joshua Haimes, Jeremy Kieso
4th Official: Rebecca Pagan