We’re into our last home game of 2018 for the Chicago Red Stars. Originally scheduled for July 28, the Red Stars take on Sky Blue FC in a rescheduled match.

The two teams are preparing for the final contest between one another in 2018, here are the keys to the match:

Fresh Legs for Chicago
After a storm came in to Washington D.C. on Saturday, the Spirit and Sky Blue FC had to move their scheduled game on September 1^stto September 2^ndat 10 A.M. ET. With the game being pushed a day forward, this leaves New Jersey on just two days rest coming into Chicago. The match between Sky Blue and the Spirit was a battle from start to finish, as the heat played a key factor in a 1-1 draw.

Meanwhile, Chicago enters the match on nine days rest, as the last match for the club came on August 25 against the Orlando Pride.

Called Upon
With plenty of international matches taking place during this week, both Chicago and New Jersey are missing key players. For Chicago, the team will be without captain Julie Ertz, along with Morgan Brian, Alyssa Naeher and Casey Short, who are with the U.S. Women’s National Team, plus Christina Murillo (MEX) and Summer Green (U.S. U-23). Meanwhile, Sky Blue is missing Katie Johnson (MEX), Carli Lloyd (USA), Savannah McCaskill (U.S. U-23) and Raquel Rodriguez (CRC).

In a game that is going to require all 18-players on one page, the Red Stars have called in Jo Boyles, Chandra Eigenberger, Zoey Goralski and Ryann Torrero. All four earned significant time with the Red Stars Reserves in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL), who won the 2018 WPSL Central Regional Championship and have spent time this season training with the first team.

All or Nothing
After the draw against Washington Spirit, Sky Blue FC has a record of 0-16-6 and come into Toyota Park looking to score their first victory of 2018. However, New Jersey has kept a majority of their matches close and are relentless no matter the stakes for them.

Between August 5 to September 2, all five Sky Blue matches were decided by a draw or one goal. The closest game came on August 18, as Sky Blue entered halftime with a 2-0 lead. Just after half, an own goal put Utah on the board, but the side from New Jersey would keep the lead until extra time. In a last-second effort of second-half stoppage time, Amy Rodriguez would find the equalizer, stopping a sought-out victory for Sky Blue.