A goal in the 88th minute of the match gave the Chicago Red Stars (7–4–7, 28 points) a 1–0 win over Seattle Reign FC (8–4–5, 29 points) on Saturday, July 14 in Bridgeview, IL. Sam Kerr supplied the winner for Chicago, taking an assist from Yuki Nagasato. In a physical, back-and-forth match, Chicago outshot Seattle 19 to 13.
A Danielle Colaprico hand ball in the fifth minute gave Seattle a spot kick from a dangerous area. Megan Rapinoe stepped up for the kick and sent a low, curling ball in for Allie Long. Just as she headed the ball wide of the goal, Long was flagged for offside. Action then moved to the other end, where the ball found Sam Kerr in the eighteen-yard box. Draped by Seattle’s defense, Kerr tried a shot from a difficult angle but chopped it weakly out of bounds.
Morgan Brian and Bev Yanez collided in the 10th minute while going for an aerial ball. When the whistle blew, Yanez was called for the first foul of the evening. Jess Fishlock intercepted a careless Chicago pass in the 13th minute, starting a Seattle attack. A string of passes opened things up for Rapinoe to streak down the sideline and into shooting position. Rapinoe could only roll a shot to Alyssa Naeher, who easily made the save. Rapinoe had another chance in the 15th thanks to a picturesque pass by Theresa Nielsen. Rapinoe sent a left-footed shot toward the goal, but just missed the target on her attempt.
Reign FC used a tremendous build-up from several players to create a chance in the 17th minute. Lauren Barnes kicked the ball upfield for Rapinoe, who slipped it to Steph Catley on an overlap. Catley’s cross into the box was a bit tall, soaring over the head of her teammates. Minutes later Nahomi Kawasumi looked to be in behind the defense after fielding a through ball from Fishlock. However, the Japanese forward was ruled offside to end the threat.
A creative combination between Fishlock and Rapinoe nearly resulted in Seattle’s first goal. Rapinoe played Fishlock at the top of the box, who redirected the ball toward Rapinoe’s run. Jodie Taylor was there as well, and it was the English forward took the shot with her left foot. Taylor was unable to get enough power on it to beat Naeher, who collected her second save of the match.
The Red Stars moved forward in the 25th minute after winning the ball with their high press. Alyssa Mautz tried a cross that didn’t amount to anything, allowing Reign FC to take the ball the other way. When it came back down to Chicago’s offensive third, Sam Kerr had a shot to give her team the lead. Instead of cashing in, her shot was saved by a diving Michelle Betos. Seattle’s keeper made her second save shortly afterward to stymie a Vanessa DiBernardo shot.
Things came to a halt in the 35th minute when Fishlock brought Kerr down outside the penalty area. The tackle resulted in Seattle’s veteran midfielder getting a yellow card, and stopped the match so Chicago’s medical staff could tend to an injured Arin Gilliland, who was down in the midfield from an earlier collision with Steph Catley. After several scary minutes, the Red Stars’ defender was forced to leave the match on a stretcher. Sarah Gorden came on to replace Gilliland, and nine minutes of stoppage time were added to the first half. When play resumed, DiBernardo took the free kick from the spot where Kerr was tackled. Her shot attempt zoomed wide right and behind the net, as Betos appeared to have the shot covered.
The last significant play of the first half came when Rapinoe had the ball near the byline and tried to center it with her left foot. This led to a high, powerful ball that went over Naeher’s head, but missed the goal and any Reign FC teammates. After the elongated stoppage time, the teams headed into the locker room for halftime.
Chicago won a corner kick early in the second half. DiBernardo played a short corner to Colaprico and immediately got the ball back. Sprinting toward the goal, DiBernardo laced a shot off the side of the net for a goal kick.
The Red Stars had another set piece in the 52nd minute, this one coming in the form of a free kick. From two steps outside the penalty area, Colaprico roped a shot. Standing in the wall, Rapinoe leaped and blocked the ball with her head, clearing it out of the box. The ball stayed in Chicago’s offensive third for several minutes, ending when Alyssa Mautz blasted a shot over the crossbar in the 56th.
Vlatko Andonovski made his first substitution in the 57th minute. The Seattle head coach took Nahomi Kawasumi off the pitch, putting Adriana Leon in her spot. Leon nearly scored on her first touch, after Rapinoe slid her a through ball into open space. The Canadian striker cracked a shot to the far post, causing it to sail wide of the frame.
In the 63rd minute Fishlock and Colaprico collided in the midfield, and Colaprico immediately went to ground. Colaprico was replaced with Vasconcelos in the 66th minute.
Leon got involved again in the 68th minute by taking the ball off Sarah Gorden. A few touches got Leon into the box where she went down, but she did not earn a foul. At the next dead ball, Jasmyne Spencer subbed in for Jodie Taylor. The speedy Spencer immediately drew a foul, giving Rapinoe a chance to serve a set piece. Rapinoe dropped a beautiful ball to Allie Long, but Long had to leave her feet and couldn’t get much power behind her shot. The ball slithered out of bounds for a goal kick, depriving Seattle of a highlight-reel goal.
Leon and Spencer, the two Seattle substitutes, nearly provided the team’s only goal of the night. Leon chipped a through ball from the middle of the field, hoping to connect with Spencer. Her fresh legs allowed Spencer to break free, but when she released her shot Naeher pawed it away. The 81st minute saw Nielsen push forward into the attack. After beating a defender, Nielsen threaded a cross to an open Yanez. Standing in front of the net, Yanez pushed her header a bit too high and over the Chicago goalkeeper.
Rory Dames went to his substitutes in the 85th in hopes of finding a goal. Rosie White replaced Alyssa Mautz, exhausting all of Chicago’s subs. Not long after, Seattle had a goal kick with time winding down. Betos’ kick was redirected by Yuki Nagasato, who headed a forceful pass to Kerr. With no defender between her and the net, Kerr got in on Betos and finished with a goal to the far post. The 87th-minute strike was enough to give Chicago a win on its home pitch, ending Reign FC’s three-match winning streak.
Reign FC’s road trip continues with a match in Orlando on Saturday, July 21. Things get underway from Orlando at 12:30 p.m. PT. After that, Seattle flies home for a match against the Washington Spirit on Sunday, August 5. Tickets for the game with Washington are available at www.reignfc.com/tickets.
