NWSL Challenge Cup - MATCH 5

Saturday

JUL 29

7:00pm CST

SeatGeek Stadium

Chicago Red Stars

Kansas City Current

The Chicago Red Stars (0-4-0) continue UKG Challenge Cup play this week and take on the Kansas City Current (3-1-0) who currently find themselves in second place in the central division.

Following the match, the Chicago Red Stars will celebrate defender and Naperville-native, Casey Krueger, who played her 100 regular-season game Monday, June 5, in a match against Los Angeles. In addition to being a Chicagoland native, Krueger has played her entire career so far with her hometown team where she’s established herself as one of the preeminent two-way defenders in the National Women’s Soccer League.

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WHERE TO WATCH

Paramount+, NWSL.com (international)

Previous Result

CHI: The Red Stars fell to Racing Louisville FC 2-0

KCC: Kansas City took down the Houston Dash 3-1

Storylines

More Like “Challenge”-ing Cup

Following the Red Stars’ loss against Racing Louisville FC last week, the Red Stars are mathematically eliminated from Challenge Cup playoff contention. While the team has struggled this season, they have still managed to earn five wins and score 19 goals in regular season play, which only puts them in 11th place on the table, but still more than their winless and goalless performance in Challenge Cup play. With two games left, the Red Stars will need to channel one of their regular-season winning performances to avoid going winless in this year’s Challenge Cup. Despite the loss, the team showed sparks of brilliance that made them dangerous in Louisville’s defensive third. The stats following the final whistle show the Red Stars ahead in possession (52 to 48) passing accuracy (81.9 to 80.3) and the Red Stars had nine players with individual passing accuracy above 80 percent, whereas Louisville only had six players with passing accuracy above 80 percent. The parts are there, it’s now up to the team to put it together and turn out a positive result.

Previously on, Chicago vs. Kansas City

Despite Chicago’s most recent loss to Kansas City, a 4-0 Challenge Cup shutout by the Current June 14, the Red Stars hold the better record in the last five matchups between the central division clubs. Chicago has walked away with points in three of the last five faceoffs (LWWDL), and the five most recent meetings between the two teams have seen the home team score at least two goals, with the last three scorelines ending with a win and four goals in favor of the host. With Kansas City emerging from their last fixture victorious and Chicago claiming three points in their last home match, both teams arrive at SeatGeek Stadium with some momentum. Will the Red Stars’ home field advantage on Saturday be the missing piece to the puzzle?

Emily’s At It Again

Goalkeeper Emily Boyd has been a shining star for Chicago while Alyssa Naeher tends goal for the United States Women’s National Team at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Boyd has faced 16 shots while only allowing two goals in three appearances, accumulating an 87.5% save percentage across all competitions in 2023. Additionally, Boyd has yet to record a save percentage less than 75% while between the sticks, and her cat-like reflexes only allowed two of Louisville’s 25 shots past the line in her most recent appearance. With clean sheets in her first two regular-season matches, Boyd is the only keeper in the NWSL with a perfect regular-season save percentage. Birthday wishes are also in order for Boyd, who blew out some candles on Tuesday. No better way to celebrate than earning a win.

NWSL Challenge Cup - MATCH 5

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