BRIDGEVIEW, IL—A wet night at SeatGeek Stadium saw a match that came up dry as far as goals were concerned. It was a goalless draw between the Red Stars and Racing Louisville which keeps the former second in the Central in the NWSL Challenge Cup and the latter bottom of the group.
Both teams had their chance in this one. Mallory Pugh came close in the 12th minute with a laser shot off the post. A couple more shots went just wide of target for the hosts, but Racing almost poached one before halftime as Emina Ekic shot one off the crossbar and the rebound shot by Kirsten Davis hit the side netting.
Alyssa Naeher would open the second half having to make a crucial save on Ebony Salmon. Naeher would be credited with four saves on the night. The Red Stars would hit woodwork once more in the 82nd minute as Bianca St. Georges cross would go off the bar, but no one in a Red Stars shirt was able to poke the ball in.
“It’s a tough night to play,” said Red Stars head coach Chris Petrucelli. “It was wet and it’s hard to get real solid contact on the ball. You saw the ball spinning off people’s feet left and right. We battled hard and created some chances. [Louisville] created chances, too. It’s an early season game both teams are still trying to find their way.”
The Red Stars will complete their three-match homestand against Houston Dash on Saturday at 7pm. Racing Louisville will visit Kansas City Current on Saturday for a 2pm kickoff.
SCORING SUMMARY:
None
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Yuki Nagasato (caution, reckless tackle) 21
CHICAGO RED STARS (3-4-3): #1-Alyssa Naeher; #20-Zoe Morse, #28-Kayla Sharples, #23-Tatumn Milazzo; #26-Mikenna McManus (#3-Arin Wright 46), #7-Yuki Nagasato, #10-Vanessa DiBernardo (#24-Danielle Colaprico 46), #4-Alyssa Mautz (#22-Bianca St. Georges 46); #15-Sarah Griffith (#8-Ella Stevens 77), #9-Mallory Pugh (#13-Morgan Gautrat 69), #25-Ava Cook
Subs not used: #21-Emily Boyd, #24-Danielle Colaprico, #18-Samantha Fisher, #19-Channing Foster
RACING LOUISVILLE (4-3-3): #1-Katie Lund; #15-Julia Lester, #4-Gemma Bonner, #26-Addisyn Merrick, #11-Emily Fox; #19-Taylor Otto (#8-Freja Olofsson 73), #6-Jaelin Howell (#7-Savannah DeMelo 75), #13-Emina Ekic; #2-Lauren Milliet, #9-Ebony Salmon, #22-Kirsten Davis (#23-Sh’nia Gordan 66)
Subs not used: #24-Jordyn Bloomer, #5-CeCe Kizer, #12-Taylor Malham, #17-Nealy Martin, #14-Jessica McDonald, #3-Erin Simon
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 13-10 LOU
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 2-5 LOU
FOULS: CHI 9-7 LOU
OFFSIDES: CHI 1-4 LOU
CORNER KICKS: CHI 7-4 LOU
SAVES: CHI 4-2 LOU
Referee: Calin Radosav
Referee’s Assistants: Katarzyna Wasiak, Karsten Gillwald
Fourth Official: Kaitlyn Trowbridge
Weather: Rain and 61º
Woman of the Match: Alyssa Naeher (CHI)
