GAME INFO: Chicago vs. Orlando Pride on July 22 at 2:30 p.m. CT; Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Illinois.
SERIES HISTORY: After joining the league last season, the Pride have gone head-to-head with the Red Stars three times, each time Chicago taking a 1-0 win. In the first match, the Red Stars blanked the Pride with a goal from Christen Press. On the road in 2016, Chicago saw Taylor Comeau entered her second game for the Red Stars, scoring a header for the game-winning goal off a cross from Sofia Huerta. The last match, which took place on July 1, Chicago would find the game-winning goal when Casey Short was fouled in the box and Christen Press stepped up and slotted it for the lead.
SCOUTING ORLANDO: Orlando is entering the match with an overall record of 5-5-4, but is coming off its strongest win in franchise history, earning a 4-1 win over FC Kansas City. The Pride are led by Brazilian international, Marta, who is third in the league in goals (8) and accounts for just over one-third of the team’s overall goals. Defensively, the Pride have allowed 21 goals, but since moving Ali Krieger to the central back position, the team has improved drastically. The Pride saw the return of Alex Morgan after playing the first portion of the season with Olympique Lyonnais, scoring her first goal of the 2017 campaign on a penalty kick.
RED STARS MILESTONES: Alyssa Mautz currently sits at 99 appearances for Chicago and will look to become the first Red Stars player to reach 100 appearances in club history against the Pride.
LEADING THE NWSL: Red Stars midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo is tied for the lead in assists (16) for all active players in NWSL. The previous two seasons, DiBernardo has finished second overall in the league in assists.
TOP-NOTCH GOALKEEPERS: During the 2016 season, with the combination of goalkeepers Alyssa Naeher and Michele Dalton, Chicago only allowed 22 goals. The Red Stars currently have allowed 11 goals, which is first for fewest allowed in the NWSL.
NEXT MATCH: Chicago returns after the FIFA break to take on the Pride in Orlando on August 5 at 6:30 p.m. CT.
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