Match Info:
Chicago Red Stars vs. North Carolina Courage
Friday, August 10; 7:00 p.m. CT
Toyota Park; Bridgeview, IL
BROADCAST: NWSL app, NWSLsoccer.com

Match Preview: 

CHICAGO – As the Red Stars continue its hunt for the postseason, Chicago will host North Carolina Courage in its second to last match at Toyota Park this regular season.

Due to a Bye Week, an international break and a postponed match, the Red Stars have not played a game since July 14, nearly a month ago.

Before all the time off, the Red Stars snatched all three points from a 1-0 victory against Seattle Reign FC. Sam Kerr and Yuki Nagasato combined for a goal in the 87^th minute, with Kerr notching her ninth of the season and Nagasato adding her fifth assist, all to Kerr. Chicago would have played one more time between Seattle and North Carolina, but due to traveling delays, Sky Blue FC was unable to make a flight to Chicago, postponing the match to Tuesday, September 4.

North Carolina has been busy, playing every week since early June, including the first-ever Women’s International Champions Cup during the all-league FIFA break. The Courage won the championship, defeating both French clubs, Paris Saint-Germain (2-1) and Lyon (1-0). Despite the victory, North Carolina lost one of their own, Yuri Kawamura, in the first half from an ACL injury, suffering the ailment for the second-consecutive season.

After the tournament, the Courage defeated Portland 2-1 as Lynn Williams notched a brace to take the three points at home. The victory sealed North Carolina as the 2018 NWSL Shield winners for the second year in a row.

The last match up between the two saw Chicago fall 4-1 to hosts North Carolina. The Courage took a 4-0 lead into the final minutes of the match, while Nagasato put the Red Stars on the board after a penalty kick in second half stoppage time.

The Red Stars will turn right around and head to Seattle to take on the Reign on Wednesday, August 15. Kickoff will begin at 9:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on the NWSL app and NWSLsoccer.com for all domestic and international viewing.

2018 Season History:
May 6: 1-1 D @ North Carolina (Kerr 37’/Zerboni 82’)
July 4: 4-1 L @ North Carolina (Dunn 20’/Williams 67’/Debinha 69’/Hamilton 87’)