The Chicago Red Stars take on New Jersey/New York Gotham FC in the team’s first match of the group stage of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) X Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup. In this first iteration of the tournament, the Red Stars will look to continue their momentum from the regular season that saw Chicago enter the summer break with back-to-back wins.
Despite a number of chances at goal, it took more than 90 minutes to determine a winner in today’s contest between the Chicago Red Stars and New Jersey/New York Gotham FC. Following regulation, the two sides went to penalty kicks where Gotham converted all five attempts and walked away with one point in the group standings. Chicago will have to rest and recover quickly before taking on Liga MX Femenil team, Chivas de Guadalajara, Friday, July 26, at SeatGeek Stadium.
KEY MOMENTS:
19’ Chicago’s Mackenzie Wood launches the ball downfield, finding the head of Chicago midfielder Bea Franklin. In a crowded midfield, Franklin wins the header, flicking a threw ball to charging Penelope Hocking. Hocking leaves three scrambling defenders in her wake for a 1v1 with Gotham’s keeper, Cassie Miller. Hocking gets a shot off, but Miller gets big and blocks the shot.
30’ Gotham midfielder Yazmeen Ryan tees up for a free kick just outside Chicago’s 18-yard box. She fires the ball, beating Chicago’s four-person wall. Ryan’s strike hits the right post and spins across the face of Chicago’s goal line, before going out of play.
35’ Gotham’s Stevens creates a pocket of space on her right side for a shot, and strikes a low, fast ball. Chicago’s Mackenzie Wood is quick to the ground and shuts down the play.
42’ Chicago’s Sam Stabb zips a ball across the midfield, finding a wide-open Jenna Bike on the right side of Gotham’s defensive third. Bike is technical with the ball, setting herself up for a strike that shakes the right post, saving Gotham from conceding a goal before the half.
48’ Chicago’s Camryn Biegalski flies past a Gotham defender and slides the ball inside the 18-yeard box to the feet of Sam Stabb who cracks the ball with her left foot, sending it curling towards Gotham’s goal. Cassie Miller is quick to block and catch the shot, shutting down the play.
57’ Penelope Hocking receives the ball just past the midline, turning and carrying it with speed down the field. She zips by a defender and strikes the ball at Gotham’s goal, but Miller makes the save.
85’ Gotham’s Mandy Freeman floats the ball into Chicago’s 18-yard box. A deflection lands the ball at the feet of Gotham’s Katie Stengel for a 1v1 with Wood. With an aggressive slide, Wood takes control of the ball and ends the attack.
87’ Chicago’s Jenna Bike sprints at Gotham’s last defender with the ball at her feet, and with a messy tackle, Gotham’s Maitane Lopez takes out Bike, drawing a red card from the referee.
91’ Chicago’s Jameese Joseph dances around a defender and missiles the ball towards Gotham’s goal from outside the 18-yard box, but just misses over the cross bar
94’ Chicago’s Jameese Joseph carries the ball the entire length of the field, racing like a runaway train before taking another shot at goal, but is unable to get it past Miller.
GAME NOTES:
Next Game
Chicago Red Stars vs. Chivas de Guadalajara Friday, July 26, at 7:00 p.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium
Goals by Half
1 2 F PK
CHI 0 0 0 (4)
GFC 0 0 0 (5)
