Seattle Reign FC (10–4–7, 37 points) failed to score a goal in their draw with the Chicago Red Stars, but grabbed a crucial point to bring them closer to clinching a playoff berth. The showdown with Chicago (7–4–9, 30 points) was the second 0–0 tilt between the Reign and Red Stars this season. Wednesday night’s match was Seattle’s third consecutive shutout, and league-leading eleventh of 2018.
Lauren Barnes started things off by clearing the ball out of danger on an early Chicago free kick. The Red Stars won a set piece in the second minute. When the ball entered the box, Barnes was there to get a foot on it and send both teams darting the other way.
Chicago had another set piece in the eighth minute. Vanessa DiBernardo shoed an out-swinging corner kick toward the center of the box. Julie Ertz rose to meet it with her head and re-directed the ball on frame. Lydia Williams was there for her first save of the night, quickly diving low to get a hand on it. Williams did well not to allow a rebound, swallowing the save and stopping Chicago’s scoring opportunity. Chicago held most of the possession through 15 minutes of play. The Red Stars logged three shots, one corner kick, and sustained three fouls before the first hydration break.
Immediately following the rest period, Danielle Colaprico stepped in to a free kick from 30 yards out. She unfurled a well-placed ball for Morgan Brian inside the six-yard box. While she was able to get two shots off before the whistle — both of which Williams saved — Brian was ruled offside to negate the chances. After a promising ball forward by Seattle was scooped up by Red Stars’ keeper Alyssa Naeher, Chicago put together another attack on Williams’ net. Sam Kerr tried a shot with her right foot from the top of the penalty area, only for Williams to coolly make the save.
Kerr entered the referee’s book in the 27th minute with the first yellow card of the night. This came just after another Williams save, this one to stonewall a Chicago corner kick. Minutes later, Kerr tried to sneak one past Williams, who had tiptoed off her line. Kerr’s shot was aimed high and for the left corner, but it missed its spot and traveled out of bounds for a goal kick.
In the 34th minute, Nahomi Kawasumi stood behind the ball for Seattle’s first free kick in the opposing third. Her initial service was blocked to Christen Westphal, who played Lauren Barnes a few yards behind the action. Barnes tried to create something with another ball toward Naeher, but no Seattle teammates were there for a finish. Reign FC’s dominant defense was on display in the 38th minute when left back Theresa Nielsen expertly tackled Kerr before the Chicago striker could shoot. On the other end, a great buildup by Seattle ended when Jess Fishlock cracked a volley via Allie Long’s headed pass. Fishlock’s attempt would not reach the goal as a Red Stars defender got her body in the way.
Chicago received its second yellow card of the half just before halftime. Fishlock forced a turnover and steamed ahead, gaining territory in the Red Stars’ half. Colaprico came in with a strong challenge to pick up the foul and earn the yellow. Kawasumi’s free kick after the booking ultimately did not produce a shot on goal. Afterward, the referee announced four minutes of stoppage time added to the end of the half.
The visitors made a few forays into Seattle’s half, but didn’t get a shot on frame during stoppage time. Casey Short pushed one wide of the post in the second extra minute. Rosie White followed with an offside call, trying to link with Arin Gilliland’s through ball. The half ended with Lydia Williams readying to take a goal kick, as the whistle sounded before her foot met the ball.
Megan Oyster began the second half with a yellow card. Oyster tackled Kerr near the midfield circle to draw the ire of the referee. Looking energized after halftime, Seattle developed quick chances to begin the second half. Less than five minutes after the break, Jasmyne Spencer nearly got in position to head a ball in, but Casey Short prevented the Seattle forward from elevating high enough.
Reign FC again looked to score in the 59th minute. At that juncture, Kawasumi delivered a gorgeous corner kick for Nielsen. Standing in good scoring position, Nielsen drove a shot toward Naeher, but one of Chicago’s defenders blocked the powerful shot. This brought about the third hydration break of the match and first of the second half.
Following the hydration break, Chicago brought Yuki Nagasato on to replace Alyssa Mautz. Two minutes later, Sarah Gorden stood on the sideline and emerged as the second substitution by Chicago head coach Rory Dames. Gordon replaced Short, who had patrolled the backline for 66 minutes.
A 74th-minute corner kick presented Chicago with its next chance. When the ball fell to Sam Kerr, Seattle’s defense stepped in to block her shot before it could gain any traction. Just before the final hydration stoppage, Arin Gilliland collected Chicago’s third yellow card of the match. The Red Stars’ defender was reprimanded for a tackle on Fishlock in the 75th minute. Vlatko Andonovski used his first substitute in the 79th to add Adriana Leon to the frontline.
After coming on for Kawasumi, Leon drilled a shot into a sea of defenders. It was blocked to safety, but not long after, Fishlock unleashed a left-footed strike off the post in the 82nd minute. While the shot didn’t produce a goal, it did produce a corner kick in the waning minutes. The corner sailed high and over everyone in the box, ending a golden chance.
A bevy of fouls in the final ten minutes heightened the intensity. Jasmyne Spencer went down after a hard foul, resulting in a small delay. When play resumed Kristen McNabb relieved Morgan Andrews in the 87th minute. Looking for a late stunner to possibly grab a win, Fishlock got behind the defense yet again. From a tough angle, Fishlock aimed for the near post, but could only hit the side of the net, missing a go-ahead goal by less than a foot.
Both teams got a an important point in their pursuit of a playoff spot. Seattle still holds the second position in the standings with three matches left on its schedule. Reign FC will go head-to-head with the Houston Dash on Tuesday, August 21 at 7:30 p.m. PT in its next home match.
Tickets to Seattle’s remaining home matches are available at www.reignfc.com/tickets.
