CHICAGO – The Red Stars lost their second-consecutive game to Orlando Pride, falling 5-2 at Toyota Park. Sam Kerr scored both goals for Chicago.

In a matter of minutes after kickoff, Orlando found themselves with a two goal lead. A lobbed ball found its way inside the box, and with no clearance, Rachel Hill calmly controlled the ball and struck it past a diving Alyssa Naeher. The second goal came as Marta crossed a ball into the box, connecting with Alex Morgan, who headed it just out of Naeher’s reach.

Falling behind quick gave Chicago a momentum that paid off in the 20^th minute. After Kerr’s first shot was blocked by Ashlyn Harris, the Red Stars regained possession giving Yuki Nagasato a chance to lob the ball in for a Kerr header. Kerr finished the ball in the corner to get the Red Stars within one.

The Red Stars goalkeeper was called upon late in the first half as she punched out a close corner kick, while also receiving help from the goal post to block another Morgan header. Naeher was able to keep the Pride to two goals going into the second half.

Scoring her first ever brace for the Red Stars, Kerr tallied the game equalizer with the help of Nagasato again, slotting the ball past a diving Harris into the side netting. But Orlando found themselves back on top as substitute Sydney Leroux scored a brace within two minutes of each other. Marta hit a cross into the box to Leroux that caused the forward to lay herself out for a diving header that gave Orlando the go ahead goal.

Orlando found one more after Morgan found Dani Weatherholt in the box. Chicago defenders were unable to deflect the cross, giving Weatherholt a point-blank shot on Naeher, being the final goal of the match.

Chicago head coach Rory Dames spoke with media after the match regarding the loss.

“We went down 2-0 and fought back 2-2, which is a huge credit to the players,” said head coach Dames. “Games in this league are won and loss in the box. [Orlando’s] execution in the box was really good. I feel bad for the players, I know how hard they’ve worked.”

“We never found the pace and rhythm today that we had in training; kind of hit this funk at home. But we hit the midway point next week, then we get a little break. I think we will get Casey [Short] and Vanessa [DiBernardo] back at that point. Nothing gets decided until the last eight games.”

The Red Stars will hit the road to take on the Washington Spirit on June 2, at the Maryland SoccerPlex. The match will be broadcast live on the NWSL app and the go90 app.

– CHICAGO RED STARS MATCH REPORT – 

MATCH: Chicago Red Stars vs. Orlando Pride
DATE: May 26, 2018
VENUE: Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Illinois
KICKOFF: 2:30 p.m. CT
ATTENDANCE: 5,047
WEATHER: 81 degrees, sunny

Scoring Summary:      1          2          F
CHI                              1          1          2
ORL                             2          3          5

ORL – Rachel Hill                                            2’
ORL – Alex Morgan (Marta)                           6’
CHI – Sam Kerr (Yuki Nagasato)                     21’
CHI – Sam Kerr (Yuki Nagasato)                     60’
ORL – Sydney Leroux (Ali Krieger)                  62’
ORL – Sydney Leroux                                      64’
ORL – Dani Weatherholt (Alex Morgan)         83’

Chicago Red Stars Lineup: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 7-Taylor Comeau, 5-Katie Naughton, 16-Sam Johnson, 3-Arin Gilliland; 24-Danielle Colaprico (14-Sarah Gorden, 46), 8-Julie Ertz (capt.), 11-Sofia Huerta (22-Rosie White, 64); 12-Yuki Nagasato, 15-Michele Vasconcelos (4-Alyssa Mautz, 46), 20-Sam Kerr
Substitutes: 2-Nikki Stanton, 13-Lauren Kaskie, 19-Summer Green, 21-Emily Boyd
Head Coach: Rory Dames

Orlando Pride Lineup: 24-Ashlyn Harris (capt.); 19-Poliana, 4-Shelina Zadorsky, 21-Monica, 11-Ali Krieger (16-Carson Pickett, 70); 5-Emily van Egmond, 17-Dani Weatherholt, 14-Alanna Kennedy; 10-Marta (2-Sydney Leroux, 52), 13-Alex Morgan, 15-Rachel Hill (7-Christine Nairn, 65)
Substitutes: 6-Chioma Ubogagu, 8-Danica Evans, 12-Kristen Edmonds, 28-Haley Kopmeyer
Head Coach: Tom Sermanni

Stats Summary: CHI / ORL
Shots: 13/11
Shots on Goal: 7/6
Saves: 1/6
Corner Kicks: 3/6
Fouls: 10/7
Offside: 3/6

Misconduct Summary:
CHI – Sam Johnson (caution)                          42’

Officials:
Referee: Reyna Fonseca
Asst. Referee: John Krill, Tom Felice
4th Official: Joshua Kelley