BRIDGEVIEW, IL–The Chicago Red Stars missed out on a chance to clinch a playoff spot on Wednesday night as FC Kansas City went out 3-2 winners at Toyota Park. With results elsewhere, the Red Stars need a draw on Sunday at FC Kansas City (5pm, YouTube) or Seattle failing to defeat Washington at Memorial Stadium in Seattle.
Heather O’Reilly was the offensive force for FCKC as she came down the left side on a counter and sent a low cross to Shea Groom in the 7th minute for the opening score. The Red Stars hit woodwork on either side of the goal, but would equalize in the 13th minute as Christen Press would curl a shot past Nicole Barnhart and into the net.
At halftime, the Red Stars were in a position to clinch a playoff spot with Seattle trailing at Washington, but that would no longer be the case after the 62nd minute when a cross from Tiffany McCarty found an unmarked Frances Silva who put a by now eliminated FC Kansas City up 2-1.
Fifteen minutes later, O’Reilly sent another cross into the area that was headed by Caroline Kastor to Groom who scored again from close range to double the vistors’ advantage.
The Red Stars pulled one back three minutes from time when Danielle Colaprico sent a cross into the area and Arin Gilliand flicked it to Sophia Huerta whose shot was adjudged to go over the line by referee Farhad Dadkho. However, that would be as close as they got and the Red Stars will try again on Sunday to clinch a playoff spot.
SCORING SUMMARY:
KC-Shea Groom (O’Reilly) 7
CHI-Christen Press (Comeau) 13
KC-Frances Silva (McCarty) 62
KC-Shea Groom (Kastor) 77
CHI-Sophia Huerta (Gilliand) 87
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Julie Johnston (caution, endangering the goalkeeper) 93+
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-3-3): #1-Alyssa Naeher; #3-Arin Gilliand, #8-Julie Johnston, #16-Samantha Johnson (#5-Katie Naughton 56), #6-Casey Short (#14-Sarah Gorden 80); #24-Danielle Colaprico, #10-Vanessa DiBernardo, #11-Sophia Huerta, #7-Taylor Comeau (#13-Amanda DaCosta 46); #23-Christen Press (C), #9-Stephanie McCaffrey
Subs not used: #18-Michele Dalton, #4-Alyssa Mautz, #12-Cara Walls, #15-Courtney Raetzman
FC KANSAS CITY (4-2-3-1): #18-Nicole Barnhart; #13-Brittany Taylor, #10-Yael Averbuch, #4-Becky Sauerbrunn (C), #21-Katie Bowen; #3-Desiree Scott, #7-Mandy Laddish; #20-Tiffany McCarty (#1-Lo’eau LaBonta 74), #9-Heather O’Reilly (#5-Alex Arlitt 92+), #11-Frances Silva (#23-Caroline Kastor 65); #2-Shea Groom
Subs not used: #19-Cat Parkhill, #22-Brianne Reed
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 12-8 KC
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 5-5 KC
FOULS: CHI 6-6 KC
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-2 KC
CORNER KICKS: CHI 7-2 KC
SAVES: CHI 2-3 KC
Referee: Farhad Dadkho
Referee’s Assistants: Art Arustamyan, TJ Zablocki
Fourth Official: Becky Pagan
Attendance: 2,068
Woman of the Match: Shea Groom (KC)
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Chicago Red Stars
NWSL
