2019 NWSL Regular Season – Week 12

Houston Dash vs Chicago Red Stars

BBVA Stadium, Houston, TX 

July 13 at 7:30 PM CT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Red Stars travel to BBVA Stadium to face the Houston Dash on Saturday, July 13 at 7:30 PM CT.

Where to Watch

TV: NBC Sports Chicago

Stream: NBC Sports App, Yahoo Sports

Additionally, authenticated regional subscribers of NBC Sports Chicago can view the live stream of the game at NBCSportsChicago.com/WatchLive.

Opponent Form

The Dash enter Saturday’s game winless in their last six games, a streak that began after a 2-1 loss to Chicago back in May. Last week against the North Carolina Courage they could not keep up with the tenacious attack of the reigning NWSL Champions. The Dash scored two goals, but North Carolina Scored five in a 5-2 victory. Kyah Simon was Houston’s best player, assisting Kristie Mewis’ goal before scoring one of her own. 

Storylines

Magnets: We keep on emphasizing the international connection between Chicago’s Sam Kerr and Yuki Nagasato, but a closer look at the stats prove just how vital both players are to the Red Stars offense and to each other to succeed. Nagasato and Kerr are the most lethal duo in the NWSL by a wide margin. Kerr has scored 10 goals from Nagasato’s assists, twice as much as any other duo in the league the last two seasons. Considering that Kerr scores the third-fewest unassisted goals in the NWSL, her ability to connect with Nagasato is key to her success. 

No Better: Speaking of Kerr, she joins defender Casey Short as two Chicago players earning accolades this week. Shorts fantastic ability on defense saw her earn a spot in June’s NWSL Team of the Month, becoming the only player to earn a spot on every team this season. Kerr took home two ESPY awards for best NWSL Footballer and won her second consecutive Best International Women’s Footballer Award. In the last game against Houston, Kerr’s two early goals were the headline in Chicago’s 2-1 win, but Short was crucial on defense as she led the team in tackles, touches and won all nine of her duels. 

Sober: When both of these teams faced off in May, it was a battle between two of the best three teams in the NWSL. Since then, the dream starts have worn off and a cruel new reality has set in. Houston hasn’t won a game since May 11th, while the Chicago has stumbled down the standings during the World Cup stretch. However, there is still over half a season to be played and Saturday’s game will give both teams a chance to get some momentum to start their playoff push during the second half of the NWSL season.