Chicago, 4 June 2017 – Chicago win their third in a row and remain unbeaten at Toyota Park, beating the Seattle Reign 1-0. Christen Press had the lone goal for Chicago. The Red Stars could have had several more goals, but for the outstanding play of Reign goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer.
Over the first thirty minutes, both teams created good chances. Chicago ad the edge in shots, playing their usual, more direct style and testing Seattle goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer from outside the penalty area. Seattle had many forays featuring lovely build-up play from the back. They earned several corners and corners, but they couldn’t capitalize.
Huerta had the first big chance of the day. She dribbled through the Reign midfield and tried to play the ball through the Reign backline, but her attempt was blocked. Luckily, the rebound caromed right back to her and she got off a strong shot, forcing Kopmeyer into a diving save. The parry hit the post and went to Christen Press, but she was ruled offside.
Seattle kept building lovely attacks and Chicago kept up the direct play. In the 43rd minute, the Red Stars caught the Reign in transition and Christen Press got into the left side of the Reign penalty area alone. Kopmeyer came up big again, parrying Press’ shot out toward the penalty mark. Alyssa Mautz had a go at the bicycle kick, but put her shot over the bar.
Alyssa Naeher and Haley Kopmeyer traded big saves to start the second half. Naeher was put to the test when Seattle’s Rumi Utsugi blasted a shot from the top left side of the penalty area. It was all Naeher could do to parry the ball away. The Red Stars returned the favor a minute later when Danielle Colaprico rocketed a shot at the Reign net, but Kopmeyer was there with save almost identical to Naeher’s to keep the match on even terms. Chicago continued the pressure and finally broke the deadlock in the 49th minute. Julie Ertz chipped a ball behind Seattle’s defense for Sofia Huerta. Huerta took the ball to the endline and then deftly touched the ball back toward the penalty mark, right into Christen Press’ path. Press struck the one-timer with her left foot, putting the ball into the far side of the net.
The Red Stars continued searching more goals, but Kopmeyer was there every time. Huerta, Press, and Mautz all got in behind the Reign defense throughout the rest of the second half. Kopmeyer cut out cross, stopped shots, and basically stood on her head to keep Seattle in the game. Her offense couldn’t get through Chicago’s defense and the Red Stars closed the game out for the 1-0 win.
Next matches:
The NWSL is on international break next week.
In two weeks, Chicago (5-2-1, 2nd, 16pts) continues their homestand, meeting the Washington Spirit (2-5-1, 9th 7pts) at 3pm CDT on Saturday, 17 June 2017 in the Lifetime Game of the Week.
The Reign (3-2-3, 5th, 12pts) continue their tour of the midwest, visiting FCKC (3-3-2, 6th, 11pts) on Saturday, 17 June 2017. Kick-off is at 3pm CDT.
Lineups
Chicago Red Stars
Naeher; Short, Johnson, Naughton, COmeau; Colaprico, Ertz, Mautz; Huerta, DiBernardo, Press (C)
Substitutes:
84’ Hoy in for Mautz
90+4’ McCaffery in for DiBernardo
Seattle Reign
Kopmeyer; Pickett, Barnes, Corsie, Stott; FIsholock, Utsugi, Nairn; Rapinoe, Johnson, Kawasumi
Substitutes:
66’ SEA McNabb in for Kawasumi
84’ Mathias in for Johnson
84’ Dallstream in for Nairn
Misconduct:
89’ Yellow Rapinoe (SEA)
