Chicago Red Stars 0-2 Orlando Pride
BRIDGEVIEW, IL—The forecast called for storms, but not a single drop of rain fell on Toyota Park and it was only Orlando who struck during the match. Goals by Chioma Ubogagu and Rachel Hill gave the Pride (2-2-2) their first-ever victory over the Red Stars, 2-0, at Toyota Park.
It is the Pride’s first away win of the year as they jump to fourth in the table while the Red Stars (2-2-3)—in the middle of a second stretch of three games in a week—lose at home for the second time this season, though they remain in second place. It is also the first time since the 3-0 loss in the NWSL semifinal in 2015, that the Red Stars have been blanked at home (25 straight home matches with at least a goal).
Both goals came off turnovers in the midfield for the Red Stars. The first in the 28th minute and Sydney LeRoux in a give-and-go with Ubogagu whose shot deflected off Sam Johnson and past a sprawling Alyssa Naeher for the opening score.
The second came in the 81st minute as the Red Stars pressed high. Another turnover in midfield led to Emily Van Egmond finding substitute Rachel Hill on a run past the back line and around Naeher to score into an empty net.
The Red Stars had six shots, but only one on target. Sam Kerr had a couple of off-target shots while the closest they came was when Michele Vasconcelos had a point-blank shot go wide in the 76th minute.
There was a 23-minute delay in the second half due to lightning within two miles of Toyota Park, but no rain ever fell during the match and any severe weather was well north of the stadium.
“I’m delighted with the result. We knew coming here was always a very tough game. We’ve never won here,” Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni said. “Obviously never had a clean sheet, so great result for us. I thought we started a little bit slowly but Chicago were in the ascendency for the first 25-30 minutes. But I felt that after we scored and we settled down, I felt that we eliminated their opportunities and were committed to the game a little bit more. A great performance away from home.”
Sermanni did not mind the midweek match that much, nor the weather delay.
“I’m always of the belief if you’re a professional, once you walk across the white line, regardless of the conditions or circumstances, you’ve got to be ready to play.”
“[The midweek match] makes things a little difficult, but there are pros and cons. The travel is a bit challenging at times, but it’s better playing games, than having long spells without playing games. The ideal is Saturday to Saturday, but some midweek games in between, I don’t mind that.
Meanwhile, Red Stars head coach Rory Dames was glad nobody got hurt like two weeks ago when the Red Stars won, 3-0, but does mind that this was his fifth match with just 15 players.
“We can only play the schedule we’ve given and the schedule we’ve been given isn’t very friendly. It’s hard to be too upset with the players when we’re playing our fifth game in two and a half weeks with 15 players. It’s ridiculous at this level that you would have three games in a week and then have three games in a week a week later. It just doesn’t make any sense to me.
“It unbalances the table at the end of the season. I don’t think it’s a clear reflection of the caliber of the teams. It’s more about just trying physically survive. I would say the best thing about tonight like I said last Wednesday was that nobody got hurt.
“We’ve ran the same 13-14 players into the ground because of the injuries and the schedule we had and we don’t have any training days. So when you going to ask me how I thought [Sam Kerr] did, I can’t tell you how Sam does until we have a day of practice with her.”
Julie Ertz was not in the lineup and all Dames said was that she was in the US Soccer recovery to play protocol.
The Red Stars finish this second stretch of three games in a week with a road trip to North Carolina on Sunday at 2pm. Orlando returns to the road next Wednesday at Utah.
SCORING SUMMARY:
ORL-Chioma Ubogagu (LeRoux) 28
ORL-Rachel Hill (Van Egmond) 81
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Taylor Comeau (caution, reckless foul) 87
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-3-1-2): #1-Alyssa Naeher; #14-Sarah Gorden, #5-Katie Naughton, #16-Sam Johnson, #7-Taylor Comeau; #11-Sofia Huerta, #24-Danielle Colaprico, #2-Nikki Stanton; #20-Sam Kerr, #3-Arin Gilliand (#15-Michele Vasconcelos 70), #4-Alyssa Mautz (#13-Lauren Kaskie 70)
Subs Not Used: #21-Emily Boyd, #12-Yuki Nagasato, #19-Summer Green
ORLANDO PRIDE (4-3-3): #24-Ashlyn Harris; #11-Ali Krieger, #21-Monica, #4-Shelina Zadorsky, #16-Carson Pickett; #5-Emily Van Egmond, #14-Alanna Kennedy, #17-Dani Weatherholt; #2-Sydney LeRoux (#15-Rachel Hill 70), #10-Marta (#12-Kristen Edmonds 76), #6-Chioma Ubogagu (#19-Poliana 84)
Subs Not Used: #28-Hayley Kopmeyer, #3-Toni Pressley, #7-Christine Nairn, #13-Alex Morgan
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 7-8 ORL
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 1-6 ORL
FOULS: CHI 10-7 ORL
OFFSIDES: CHI 6-7 ORL
CORNER KICKS: CHI 5-5 ORL
SAVES: CHI 4-1 ORL
Referee: Greg Dopka
Assistant Referees: Maggie Short, Jeffrey Skinner
Fourth Official: Landon Alberyt
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 76º
Attendance: 2,027
Woman of the Match: Chioma Ubogagu (ORL)
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