CHICAGO – The Red Stars earned its league-record 10th draw after a battled 2-2 scoreline against the Portland Thorns. Sam Kerr notched her 11th and 12th goals of the season to take over the Golden Boot race.
Despite Portland maintaining much of the possession early on, Chicago was able to find several shots. Thirty minutes into the first half, captain Julie Ertz narrowly notched her first goal of the season after trying to time a bouncing cross from Arin Gilliland, but her flick on went just high of the crossbar.
But minutes before halftime, Chicago was able to take the 1-0 lead as the dynamic duo struck again with Yuki Nagasato assisting Sam Kerr on the goal. It was the sixth Nagasato assist to a Kerr goal this season.
Starting things off right in the second half, Kerr completed a brace with help from Vanessa DiBernardo, furthering Chicago’s lead, 2-0.
Portland narrowed the lead with 30 minutes remaining in the match. A lobbed ball into the box was punched out by Alyssa Naeher, who was taken to the ground. The ball only went as far as the top of the box, where Tobin Heath was able to place a header in an open net.
Chicago’s lead was cut short as the Thorns’ captain Christine Sinclair notched the equalizer as the shot grazed under the crossbar to get out of the reach of Naeher.
With just three minutes of stoppage time added to the match, DiBernardo nearly had the game-winning goal as her strike was parried by Franch and deflected off the goal post to eventually be cleared, leaving the match with a 2-2 final.
The Red Stars will head down to Orlando to take on the Pride on Saturday, August 25. The match will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on the NWSL app and NWSLsoccer.com.
CHICAGO GOALS:
Sam Kerr (44’) – After an unfortunate back pass from Portland, Sam Kerr was able to steal the ball back and toe poke it to Yuki Nagasato. With Kerr on the run, Nagasato controlled the ball and lobbed it to the forward running into the box. Finding room to get around two defenders, Kerr struck the ball just inside the near goal post, giving goalkeeper Adrianna Franch no time to react.
Sam Kerr (49’) – Charging forward, Vanessa DiBernardo weaved in and out of defenders to advance up the field. After being disposed, Casey Short picked up the ball and laid it off once against for DiBernardo to run onto to send into the box. The lobbed ball found the head of Sam Kerr, who placed the ball perfectly in the back of the net through a chaotic box.
– CHICAGO RED STARS MATCH REPORT –
MATCH: Chicago Red Stars vs. Portland Thorns FC
DATE: August 18, 2018
VENUE: Providence Park; Portland, OR
KICKOFF: 9:30 p.m. CT
ATTENDANCE: TBA
WEATHER: 85 degrees, sunny
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
CHI 1 1 2
POR 0 2 2
CHI – Sam Kerr (Yuki Nagasato) 44’
CHI – Sam Kerr (Vanessa DiBernardo) 49’
POR – Tobin Heath 60’
POR – Christine Sinclair (Tobin Heath) 69’
Chicago Red Stars Lineup: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 5-Katie Naughton, 8-Julie Ertz (capt.), 3-Arin Gilliland, 6-Casey Short; 4-Alyssa Mautz (15-Michele Vasconcelos, 88), 10-Vanessa DiBernardo, 2-Nikki Stanton (22-Rosie White, 80), 13-Morgan Brian (24-Danielle Colaprico, 46); 20-Sam Kerr, 12-Yuki Nagasato
Substitutes: 14-Sarah Gorden, 19-Summer Green, 21-Emily Boyd, 23-Brooke Elby
Head Coach: Rory Dames
Portland Thorns FC Lineup: 24-Adrianna Franch; 16-Emily Sonnett, 25-Meghan Klingenberg, 15-Ellie Carpenter, 4-Emily Menges; 30-Celeste Boureille (8-Andressinha, 56), 10-Lindsey Horan, 12-Christine Sinclair (capt.), 17-Tobin Heath; 7-Ana Maria Crnogorcevic (9-Caitlin Foord, 56), 16-Hayley Raso (23-Midge Purce, 77)
Substitutes: 26-Mallory Weber, 27-Elizabeth Ball, 33-Britt Eckerstrom, 34-Tyler Lussi
Head Coach: Mark Parsons
Stats Summary: CHI / POR
Shots: 15/7
Shots on Goal: 7/4
Saves: 2/5
Corner Kicks: 3/2
Fouls: 9/10
Offside: 4/3
Misconduct Summary:
POR – Emily Sonnett (caution) 67’
CHI – Rosie White (caution) 81’
Officials:
Referee: Malik Badawi
Asst. Referee: Joshua Haimes, Jennifer Garner
4th Official: Jason Perlewitz
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