The Chicago Red Stars’ (9-11-2, 29 pts) penultimate road trip of the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) regular season takes the Red Stars to the Lone Star State to face off against the Houston Dash (4-13-5, 17 pts) October 4. Chicago and Houston will duel under the Friday night lights for a win that would provide both clubs with invaluable momentum heading into their final three matches before playoffs.
The Chicago Red Stars 0-2 shutout of the Houston Dash marked the Red Stars’ series victory, elimination of the Dash from playoff contention, Ludmila’s third-straight match with a goal and Ally Schlegel’s first career penalty conversion. Achievements abounded on the night, with goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher becoming the Red Star with most regular-season minutes for the club and Shea Groom recording her 150th regular-season appearance and 10,000 regular-season minutes. The Red Stars continue their playoff push and return to Chicago for their penultimate home match of the 2024 regular season, facing off against New Jersey/New York Gotham FC Saturday, October 12, at 3:00 p.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.
KEY MOMENTS:
7’ With Chicago awarded a free kick just outside the box, Mallory Swanson sends the ball forward for attacker Ludmila to redirect with her head into the net, giving the Red Stars an early lead, 0-1 Chicago
35’ Dash defender, Avery Patterson, rockets off a shot that gets blocked by Red Star Hannah Anderson dropping on one knee. The ball ricochets out, but Houston brings the ball into the box and take a chance that Chicago goalkeeper, Alyssa Naeher, bats down before corralling on the ground
44’ Houston get the ball on the right side of Chicago’s 18-yard box and take a shot straight at the net, but a diving Naeher pushes the ball out of the box to clear the danger
45+7’ Chicago’s Ludmila battles for the ball with a Dash defender along Houston’s end line, makes a move to break free and runs into the box, but is fouled by the defender and draws a penalty attempt
45+8’ Ally Schlegel steps up to the penalty spot for Chicago and buries it in the lower left corner, 0-2 Chicago
51’ Mallory Swanson receives the ball in midfield and jets up the center into the attacking third before rocketing off a shot that whistles just wide of the net
60’ A Houston corner kick aligns perfectly for former Red Star Yuki Nagasato to head the ball towards goal, but Naeher jumps forward to grab the ball out of midair and shut down the opportunity
80’ Houston send forward a through ball that gets past Chicago’s backline, but a charging Taylor Malham makes a goal-saving tackle
82’ Chicago go on a counterattack after a failed corner kick attempt by Houston. Jameese Joseph takes the up ball the length of the pitch and gets a shot off, but Houston’s Jane Campbell makes the save
