Chicago, 20 August – The Chicago Red Stars are on the wrong kind of streak. Tonight’s 3-1 loss to FC Kansas City is their third loss in a row at home. It’s the longest home losing streak in Chicago’s history. Kansas City midfielder Shea Groom assisted their first goals from Sydney Leroux and Katie Bowen. Julie Ertz cut the lead in half after the break. However, KC’s Maegan Kelly scored late, sealing the 3-1 win for KC.
FC Kansas City took the lead in the 24th minute. Shea Groom received the ball from a throw in and dribbled unscathed through the Chicago defense. Her pass found Sydney Leroux making a run into the penalty area. Leroux took a touch and put the ball into the Chicago net.
The Blues doubled their lead just six minutes later. Again, Groom did the hard work, beating Sam Johnson to the ball and getting into the Chicago penalty area. She drew Alyssa Naeher out of goal and passed the ball back for Katie Bowen for the easy score.
Chicago had a golden chance to pull one back in the 46th minute. Groom put her foot up a bit too high and made contact with Casey Short’s head as Short bent to play the ball. The referee whistled the play dead, signaled the penalty kick, and gave Groom a yellow card. Christen Press stepped up as usual for the Red Stars, putting her penalty shot toward the lower left corner. Nicole Barnhart spoiled the party for Chicago, coming up with her first NWSL penalty save and keeping the clean sheet for Kansas City.
The Red Stars struck first in the second half, scoring in the 64th minute. Julie Ertz started the play in midfield, making a pass to Yuki Nagasato. Ertz continued her run as Nagasato made the pass back to her. Ertz received the ball at the top of KC’s goal area and put it past Barnhart to cut the lead in half.
Kansas City wouldn’t let Chicago back into the match. In the 80th minute, Lo’eau LaBonta chipped a ball over the Red Stars back line for Maegan Kelly running through. At the top of the Chicago penalty area, Kelly one-touched a left-footed half-volley over Naeher as she rushed out to try to cut the angle. KC kept the Red Stars out for the rest of the match to get the 3-1 win.
Next matches
The Red Stars (3rd, 8-6-5, 29 pts) travel to Washington DC to meet the Spirit (10th, 4-10-4, 16 pts) on 25 Aug. Kick off is at 6pm CDT.
FC Kansas City (7th, 6-8-5, 23 pts) hosts the Orlando Pride (4th, 8-6-5, 19 pts) in the Lifetime Game of the Week on 26 Aug. Kick off is at 2:30pm CDT.
Lineups
Chicago Red Stars
Naeher; Short, Johnson, Naughton, Gilliland; Ertz, Colaprico, Comeau, Huerta, DiBernardo; Nagasato, Press (C)
Substitutes:
70’ Mautz in for Gilliland
82’ Green in for Comeau
83’ Kaskie in for Johnson
FC Kansas City
Barnhart; Moros, Miramontez, Sauerbrunn, Taylor; Gibbons, Scott; Ratcliffe, Bowen, Groom; Leroux
Substitutes:
67’ LaBonta in for Ratcliffe
71’ Kelly in for Bowen
89’ Flynn in for Leroux
Misconduct
26’ Yellow – Short (CHI)
46+ Yellow – Groom (FCKC)
90 +3 Yellow – Naeher (CHI)
