Chicago Red Stars rookie, Taylor Comeau scored her first professional goal to lift Chicago over the Orlando Pride on Saturday, 16 July. The 1-0 win was important for Chicago as they swept the series with Orlando and gained sole possession of fourth place. Michelle Dalton tallied her first clean sheet of the season.
The Pride had the better of play for the first part of the match, making several forays into Chicago’s final third. However, in the 23rd minute, Danielle Colaprico intercepted an Orlando pass near midfield and her touch found Vanessa DiBernardo. DiBernardo read the space well, playing a quick diagonal ball to Cara Walls on the right flank. Walls took a few touches closer to Orlando’s goal line and then passed back to Sofia Huerta. Huerta served a perfect far-post ball as Taylor Comeau cut inside her defender, meeting the ball at the edge of the goal area. Her header sailed into Orlando’s goal.
Chicago created a couple other good chances in the first half. DiBernardo hit the post from about yards out in the 38th minute. Then, two minutes later, Katie Naughton stood up to Jasmyne Spencer trying to drive through the Red Stars back line. Naughton won the tackle, Spencer bouncing off as though she’d hit a wall. Chicago got upfield quickly on the counter attack. Jen Hoy took the ball all the way to Orlando’s goal line before passing it back to Cara Walls near the penalty mark. Unfortunately for the Red Stars, Walls was leaning back and put the ball well over Orlando’s net.
Both teams created exciting chances after halftime. The Red Stars passed well through the Pride’s defense to create a 1-v-1 situation between Walls and Pride goalkeeper Kaitlyn Savage. Walls’ first touch let her down and Savage bravely won the ball at the forward’s feet. In the 65th minute the Pride nearly scored off a corner kick. Kaylyn Kyle did will to win the header and send the ball toward Chicago’s net. However, Arin Gilliland was there with the goal line clearance to stop it. She headed the ball into the safety of Michelle Dalton’s arms.
The Pride were working their way to finding the equalizer when a loud thunderclap sent everyone in search of shelter in the 74th minute. The hour-long delay did little to change the moment back to Chicago’s favor. Their only opportunity after the delay came in the 86th minute when Alyssa Mautz was played into Orlando’s penalty area. Her shot flew harmlessly over the goal. The Pride nearly had the equalizer two minutes later. Jasmyne Spencer redirected the ball through the Red Stars’ back line to Christina Burkenroad. Burkenroad easily placed the ball past Chicago’s Dalton, but the Burkenroad was ruled offside and the goal disallowed. Orlando continued to press for the final minutes of the match, but Chicago’s defense held on for the win.
Chicago were more compact on defense than in recent weeks and did much better marking in the penalty area. The chemistry between Dalton and her backline is being to solidify. The Red Stars did a good job closing out this game. On offense, when Chicago worked to play a more square game, looking for crosses, they created better chances than in previous weeks. They were much quicker on the counter attack and were able to pull Orlando’s defense out of shape.
Next Match:
The Red Stars (6-4-3, 21 pts) finally return to Toyota Park and attempt to avenge their loss in the season opener against the Houston Dash (3-7-1, 10pts) on Saturday, 23 July at 7pm CDT.
The Orlando Pride (6-7-0, 18 pts) travel to Seattle to take on the Reign (4-4-5, 17 pts) on Saturday, 23 July at 10pm EDT.
Lineups:
Chicago Red Stars 4-4-2
Dalton; Gilliland, Naughton, Johnson, Short; Colaprico, DiBernardo (C), Hoy, Comeau; Walls, Huerta
Substitutes:
72’ Mautz for Hoy
Orlando Pride 4-3-3
Savage; Witteman, Pressley, Kyle, Levin; Edwards (C), Edmonds, Evans; Fields, Hagen, Spencer
Substitutes:
59’ Weatherholt for Edwards
66’ Fortune for Fields
66’ Burkenroad for Hagen
Goals:
23’ CHI – Comeau (Huerta)
Misconduct:
44’ Yellow – CHI Gilliland
90+ Yellow – ORL Evans
