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CHI: Chicago fell 2-1 on the road to New Jersey/New York Gotham FC

SD: San Diego suffered a 2-1 midweek loss to Angel City in UKG Challenge Cup play

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For Club and Country

Both Chicago and San Diego will have influential names missing from their lineups when they take the field Saturday. In preparation for the Central American and Carribean Games, which began June 28, and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, beginning July 20, multiple players on both sides were called up to represent their countries on the world stage. Chicago will be missing midfielder, Jill Aguilera (Puerto Rico), forward, Cheyna Matthews (Jamaica), and goalkeeper, Alyssa Naeher (United States). San Diego will be without midfielder, Emily van Egmond (Australia), defender, Naomi Girma (United States), forwards, Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden) and Alex Morgan (United States), and goalkeeper, Kailen Sheridan (Canada). Bringing their countries glory is the goal, but success will also bring home recognition for their clubs.

Chicago’s Edge

Not only has Chicago lost less of their roster to international duty, but the Red Stars also have an edge in other areas. San Diego has lost their leading regular-season goal scorer and player with the most assists in Alex Morgan, while none of Chicago’s nine regular-season goal scorers will be on international duty. Morgan and Sofia Jakobsson have been responsible for seven of the Wave’s 19 regular-season goals in 2023, which will certainly influence San Diego’s chances. Additionally, Chicago has won two of their last five fixtures (LLLWW) while San Diego has only claimed one (LLDWD). Add in Chicago’s home field advantage and fresher legs than San Diego, who had midweek UKG Challenge Cup match, and the Red Stars seem to have better chances to come out on top, even with San Diego’s better record overall. Will Saturday see Chicago record their first-ever win against San Diego?

Magical Milazzo

Red Star Tatumn Milazzo is having a standout 2023 season. The defender has played every regular season match, earning Starting XI slots in all but one of 13 appearances. Milazzo falls third in total regular-season minutes played with 1135, only behind fellow defender, Tierna Davidson (1164), and goalkeeper, Alyssa Naeher (1170). Milazzo also holds the second-highest number of touches (847), passes (607) and tackles (25) of all Red Stars, behind Davidson’s 863 touches and 696 passes and Cari Roccaro’s 26 tackles. These stats were exemplified in the latest red-hot performance by Milazzo against New Jersey/New York Gotham FC June 25, where Milazzo doubled every other Red Star in tackles, recording four, with no other Red Star recording more than two. Additionally, Milazzo and Davidson outdid all other Red Stars with 73 touches and 12 recoveries each in the June 25 match. Mirroring their season stats, only Davidson had more passes (47) than Milazzo’s 39. 2023 is only Milazzo’s third professional season, meaning the defender almost certainly has more magical matches to come.

NWSL Regular Season - MATCH 14

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