The Chicago Red Stars host Seattle Reign FC to open home play for the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. The Red Stars return to the Windy City victorious after kicking off the season with a 0-2 shutout over Utah Royals FC, looking to win two regular-season matches back-to-back for the first time since July 1 (1-0 vs. San Diego) and July 7 (0-1 at Houston).
Fans attending the match in person can expect a new look and feel to Red Stars home matches, starting with the new fan zone experience at the Gate C entrance. The first 1,000 fans to enter the stadium will receive a Red Stars Home Opener scarf and can explore all the activities in the fan zone including a PlayStation 5 set up to host EA FC 24 matches, a kids zone with fun activities for children, lawn games and beverage service for adults and much more.
The club also recently partnered with KultureCity to provide fans with sensory needs sensory bags and a quiet place in the stadium to get away from the lights and noise of the crowd and still enjoy the match.
The Chicago Red Stars took down Seattle Reign FC, 2-1, in the club’s home opener at SeatGeek Stadium. Midfielder, Julia Bianchi, and defender, Maxi Rall, provided the goals tonight for Chicago. The team is now 2-0-0 with six points to start the season, the first time the club’s started with six points.
KEY MOMENTS:
6’ Playing out of the back, Chicago’s Sam Staab sends a long ball into Seattle territory that finds Mallory Swanson on a run. Swanson takes a shot, but Seattle’s keeper gets a hand on it to prevent Chicago from opening the scoring
27’ Chicago’s Jenna Bike carries the ball deep into Seattle’s 18-yard box, sends a cross that gets deflected to forward, Ally Schlegel, but traffic catches up with the forward and the ball is cleared before the Red Stars can capitalize
42’ Jenna Bike sends a cross into Seattle’s box that rattles out to a charging Julia Bianchi who blasts a shot into the upper ninety of the goal and opens the scoring for Chicago, 1-0 Red Stars
63’ Seattle receive the ball at the top of Chicago’s 18-yard box and Ji So Yun sends a shot past the keeper’s outstretched arm to even the score, 1-1
67’ Chicago’s Julia Bianchi sends a pass in Seattle territory to Taylor Malham who sends a cross to the back post that finds a charging Maxi Rall who gets a shot into the back of the net to retake the lead for Chicago, 2-1 Red Stars
GAME NOTES:
Next Game
Orlando Pride vs.Chicago Red Stars March 29, 2024, 6:00 p.m. CT at Inter&Co. Stadium, Orlando, FL
Goals by Half
1 2 F
CHI 1 1 2
SEA 0 1 1
Scoring Summary:
CHI: 42’ Julia Bianchi, 67’ Maxi Rall (Taylor Malham)
SEA: 63’ Ji So Yun
Disciplinary Report
CHI: 28’ Natalia Kuikka (Yellow Card)
SEA: 85’ Phoebe McClernon (Yellow Card)
Lineups
CHI: Alyssa Naeher, Taylor Malham, Samantha Staab, Natalia Kuikka, Maximiliane Rall, Cari Roccaro, Julia Bianchi (Leilanni Nesbeth), Nádia Gomes (Ava Cook), Mallory Swanson (Ally Cook), Ally Schlegel (Sarah Griffith), Jenna Bike
SEA: Claudia Dickey, Sofia Huerta, Lu Barnes, Phoebe McClernon, Lily Woodham (Ryanne Brown) Jess Fishlock, Ji So Yun, Quinn, Angharad James (Olivia Van der Jagt), Bethany Balcer (Tziarra King), Jordyn Huitema (Emeri Adames)
