The Chicago Red Stars faced off against FC Kansas City in their second match in four days on Wednesday, 7 September at Toyota Park. Chicago entered the match unbeaten at home. Streaks are meant to be broken. Shea Groom scored a brace for FCKC to snap Chicago’s streak in the 3-2 victory.
The Red Stars had the first good opportunity of the match. Christen Press dribbled through the KC backline on the right flank and passed to Stephanie McCaffrey. McCaffrey should have played a one-touch shot, but she didn’t and allowed KC goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart to close the angle and make the stop. KC quickly counter attacked. Heather O’Reilly beat Chicago’s Julie Johnston to the goal line and crossed the ball to a charging Shea Groom. Groom made no mistake, burying her first time shot to put the Blues up 1-0 in the seventh minute.
A mere six minutes later, Chicago answered. Christen Press got the ball in the left corner of the Blues’ penalty area. Two little moves to beat her defender and she fired a curling shot toward the far post. The ball bent perfectly around Barnhart and nestled into the net to level the match in the 13th minute. Press had another chance a minute later, but Becky Sauerbrunn heroically slid in to break up the play.
Both teams came out pressing in the second half, but the fatigue from having played on Sunday took its toll. The second of two knee-knee collisions took out Red Stars defender Samantha Johnson in the 52nd minute. Johnson collided with KC’s Tiffany McCarty and had to be helped from the field, unable to put weight on her left knee. Katie Naughton replaced Johnson.
The Blues scored the go-ahead goal in the 62nd minute. Julie Johnston blocked the first attempt at a shot, but the ball went to McCarty who served it back into the penalty area. Frances Silva one-touched the ball into the net.
FCKC added a needed insurance goal in the 76 minute. Again, it was O’Reilly with the lovely cross and Groom with the great finish. O’Reilly’s cross from the left flank found second half substitute Caroline Kastor on the far side of the penalty area. Kastor headed the ball back toward goal and Shea Groom finished it with a brave diving header.
The Red Stars kept working and generated a controversial second goal in the 87th minute. Danielle Colaprico played a lofted ball into the penalty area. With her back to goal, Arin Gilliland controlled the pass and laid the ball off to Sofia Huerta running toward goal. Huerta had a shoulder in front of her defender and poked the ball toward the net. KC’s Sauerbrunn attempted the goal line clearance and it looked possible she made the play. However, much to Sauerbrunn’s frustration, the assistant referee confirmed a goal had been scored. Chicago pushed for a third goal to remain unbeaten at home, but it was not to be. Although, FCKC once again played spoiler to the Red Stars, other results from the weekend eliminated the Blues from playoff contention.
Next Match:
Chicago (8-5-5, 29 pts) and FC Kansas City (6-8-4, 22 pts) meet again on Sunday, 11 September at 5pm CDT in Kansas City in the final match of the Battle of the Midwest.
Lineups:
Chicago Red Stars 4-4-2
Naeher; Gilliland, Johnston, Johnson, Short; Colaprico, DiBernardo, Huerta, Comeau, Press (C), McCaffrey
Substitutes:
46’ Da Costa for Comeau
56’ Naughton for Johnson (L knee injury)
80’ Gorden for Short
FC Kansas City
Barnhart; Bowen, Sauerbrunn (C), Averbuch, Taylor; Laddish, Scott; Silva, O’Reilly, McCarty, Groom
Substitutes:
65’ Kastor for Silva
74’ LaBonta for McCarty
91’ Arlitt for O’Reilly
Goals:
7’ FCKC – Groom (O’Reilly)
13’ CHI – Press (Comeau)
62’ FCKC – Silva (McCarty)
76’ FCKC – Groom (Kastor, O’Reilly)
87’ CHI – Huerta (Gilliland, Colaprico)
Misconduct:
93’ – Yellow – CHI Johnston
