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2
vs
4
WednesdayMay. 01
7:00pm CT
SeatGeek Stadium
Broadcast: Marquee Sports
Match 7
Regular Season
Preview
Recap
Chicago Red Stars logo
Chicago Red Stars
3-2-1
Previous Result
The Red Stars fell, at home, to Portland Thorns FC, 0-2
Washington Spirit logo 2023
Washington Spirit
4-2-0
Previous Result
The Spirit dropped points to Orlando, 2-3
Match Preview

The Chicago Red Stars (3-2-1, 10 pts) hope to bounce back from their loss this past weekend as the team prepares for a midweek match up against the Washington Spirit (4-2-0, 12 pts). The two sides face off for the first time this season Wednesday, May 1, at 7 p.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. The first 1,000 fans in attendance Wednesday night will receive a pair of Red Stars branded socks.

Ties That Bind Us
Prior to this past weekend of NWSL matches, the Red Stars were right behind the Washington Spirit on the league table with the teams sitting in second and third place, respectively. Heading into Wednesday’s contest, both teams are still separated by only two points, however, they now have the Orlando Pride, who beat the Spirit at Audi Field, between them. The Red Stars have only lost one of their previous eight meetings with the Spirit, with their last loss against Washington coming in the 2021 NWSL Championship match. Tying the teams even closer, Chicago and Washington exchanged defenders in the offseason, with Casey Krueger joining the Spirit as a free agent and the Red Stars acquiring former Spirit defenders Sam Staab (trade) and Camryn Biegalski (restricted free agent). While both teams are off to a good start this season, after losing their week six match ups and missing the playoffs last season, you can bet players on both sides will take to the pitch feeling some urgency.
Anatomy of a Goal
As noted above, the Red Stars and Spirit are separated by only two points on the league table, and the teams’ goal scored and conceded aren’t separated by much more either with Washington having the edge in goals scored (11 to 7) and Chicago allowing less goals (6 to 7). Both teams prefer to score goals with their right foot (Chicago 4, Washington 6). Through the first six matches, both teams tend to score between the 31 – 75 minutes of the match, with the Spirit holding a slight edge on Chicago with three goals scored between the 16-30 minutes and the 76-90 minutes each. Washington does tend to concede goals earlier on and in more volume than Chicago with four goals given up between kickoff and the 30th minute, and while Chicago has given up a goals late, if the team can make an impact early, the Red Stars can walk away with their first points at home since the home opener against Seattle.
Defense Leads to Offense
Defender Taylor Malham was a bright spot for Chicago in week six despite the loss to Portland. Malham made a second-straight start after not featuring in the team’s week four contest against Angel City FC. Playing as a left back, Malham made her way up the field to create five chances for Chicago to score, which led the team in chances created. In the defender’s first 16 NWSL appearances across all competitions, Malham had just four chances created. Adding to her performance against Portland, Malham completed 13 passes in the attacking third of the pitch, attempted two crosses, won back possession four times and won three ariel duels. Malham already has more regular season starts and appearances this year than she did last season, and with performances like the one last week, it is easy to see why coaches keep relying on the Oklahoma native.
CHI vs WAS | Prematch Media Availability
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Chicago Red Stars logo
Chicago Red Stars
2
Scoring Summary:
79’ Ally Schlegel, 90+2’ Leilanni Nesbeth
Disciplinary Report:
53’ Cari Roccaro (Yellow Card)
Lineup:
Alyssa Naeher, Maxi Rall, Natalia Kuikka, Sam Staab, Taylor Malham (Chardonnay Curran), Julia Bianchi (Leilanni Nesbeth), Cari Roccaro, Jenna Bike (Penelope Hocking), Mallory Swanson, Jameese Joseph (Shea Groom), Ally Cook (Ally Schlegel)
Washington Spirit logo 2023
Washington Spirit
4
Scoring Summary:
28’ T. Rodman (Bethune), 30’ O. Sarr (Rodman), 83’ B. Ratcliffe (Bethune), 86’ B. Ratcliffe (Bethune)
Disciplinary Report:
45’ #5 (Yellow Card), 58’ Trinity Rodman (Yellow Card)
Lineup:
Aubrey Kingsbury, Casey Krueger, Annaïg Butel, Tara McKeown, Gabrielle Carle, Andi Sullivan (Metayer), Hal Hershfelt, Trinity Rodman (Ratcliffe), Croix Bethune (Brown), Ashley Hatch (Wiesner), Ouleymata Sarr (Stainbrook)
Chicago Red Stars Lose to Washington Spirit, 2-4

The Chicago Red Stars came up short in their midweek matchup against the Washington Spirit, losing by a score of 2-4. Red Stars rookie, Leilanni Nesbeth, scored her first professional goal tonight in the 92nd minute, while Ally Schlegel became the team’s lone goal scoring leader after scoring her third goal of the season tonight. The Red Stars now fly to California to take on expansion side, Bay FC, Sunday, May 5.  

 

KEY MOMENTS: 

28’ Washington’s Croix Bethune, finds Trinity Rodman in Chicago’s 18-yard box. Rodman takes a shot from the right side of the box that goes left, past the diving keeper and finds the back of the net, 0-1 Washington  

30’ Rodman finds Ouleymata Sarr outside Chicago’s 18-yard box. She takes a shot with her first touch that extends Washington’s lead, 0-2  

79’ Chicago’s Mallory Swanson receives a ball in the attacking third, dribbles past a couple of defenders and takes a shot that is blocked, but, with the rebound, Ally Schlegel takes a shot with her first shot and puts Chicago on the board, 1-2 Washington 

82’ Washington’s Croix Bethune sends a long pass to Brittany Ratcliffe who sends a shot into the upper 90 of Chicago’s goal to add another Spirit goal, 1-3 

85’ Washington’s Bethune and Ratcliffe team up again to extend their lead over Chicago, 1-4 Washington 

90+2’ Chicago’s Sam Staab sends a cross into Washington’s box that is blocked, but rookie Leilanni Nesbeth comes charging in to take a shot with her first touch and scores another for Chicago, 2-4 Washington 

 

GAME NOTES: 

  • Tonight marked the first professional start for Ally Cook and Jameese Joseph 
  • First-round draft pick, Leilanni Nesbeth, scored her first professional goal tonight 
  • Ally Schlegel’s goal tonight, third on the season, leads the Red Stars in goals scored 

 

Next Game 

Bay FC vs. Chicago Red Stars May 5, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. CT at PayPal Park 

 

Goals by Half  

           1 2 F 

CHI  0 2 2 

WAS 2 2 4 

 

Highlights | May 1 vs Washington Spirit
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CHI vs WAS | Postmatch Media Availability
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