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New Jersey/New York Gotham City came to Chicago for the opening group match in the Summer Cup against the Red Stars. This is the first tournament of this kind that includes Liga MX Femenil teams.
The first major scoring chance of the game was for the Red Stars Penelope Hocking in the 19th who had a breakaway one-on-one with the Gotham goalie Cassie Miller, who managed to knock it away with her leg. Wasted opportunity to take the lead. Hocking looked upset at herself for not doing better, as she should have done.
Sam Staab gets a yellow card called on her for a sliding tackle right outside the top of the box. A free-kick by Yazmeen Ryan from the top of the box went off the right post as the diving Mackenzie Wood attempted to get to it. Really nice kick, missed by inches. Lucky break for the Red Stars.
Gotham got cookin’ again but Staab gets called for running into a Gotham player, they didn’t waste a second, playing the ball immediately to a streaking Ella Stevens who takes a strong shot, but a diving Wood gets to it to secure it. Nice save for the rookie Red Stars keeper.
Another dangerous situation as Ryan gets open in the box and blasts a shot wide of the goal. The Red Stars attack picked up some urgency when a fantastic through ball from Staab in the midfield finds Jenna Bike on the wing and Bike takes a shot from outside the box that goes off the corner post.
Haltime, both teams trying to make something happen, but unfortunate hits off the post and and some other near misses keeping things scoreless. Physical game.
Red Stars start out the second half aggressively. A ball played into the box saw Staab lift one straight to the keeper who knocks the ball up and catches it on the way down. Some questionable refereeing, the Stars bumped two Gotham players on the same possession, each one looked like it could have warranted a yellow, but no call was made.
Staab sets up the freshly substituted Shea Groom with a ball that ended up with a little chip in front of the goal, but it fell straight into the goalies hands. Staab has been making sweet passes all game long.
Was it a breakthrough for Gotham finally in thee 82nd ? A shot in the box goes over Wood’s head for what it looks like a 1-0 lead, but the celebration ends before it begins when the sideline judge rules an offsides. Big break for the Stars again. This game was physical and the referee let it go for most of it until Bike got taken down by Maitane Lopez the 87th, just right outside the box. Red card! Free kick went wide. Nothing of this opportunity but Gotham is now a woman down.
A scary sight for the Red Stars when Staab goes down and needss to be helped off the field by her teammates. Did not look good. This is a player the Stars absolutely can’t afford to lose. Might be the team most important player. These non-contact situations are always concerning. Hoping for the best, but didn’t look good.
Reckless challenge by Groom gets her a yellow. At least the ref kept it consistent, swallowing the whistle on what looked like a found on Gotham.
Jameese Joseph had a chance to end the game when she got ahead of the ball and took it all the way to the box and shot it off the mark. Bit of a selfish play, she had two teammates trailing her on each side that she could have passed it to, but chose to take it herself.
It’s going to penalties. First up Ally Schlegel. Hits it to the corner of the net confidently. 1-0
Ryan plants one into the middle. 1-1.
Hannah Anderson goes to the left corner and goalie guesses the opposite way. 2-1 Red Stars.
Stevens of Gotham hits a nice one to the top left corner. 2-2.
Nobody missed yet. Bike is up next. She fires one into the left side. 3-2.
Delanie Sheehan goes up high middle. Nice. 3-3.
Groom is up next. She goes right on a weaker shot that gets saved. First miss of PK. Still 3-3.
Gotham’s Katie Stengel answers with a confident shot. 4-3 Gotham.
It’s up to Julia Bianchi to keep it alive. She does, going to the right. 4-4.
Kristen Edmonds can end it for Gotham. She goes to the top of the left corner. Gotham wins 5-4 on PK’s.
Big win for Gotham who take the league in the group. Down at least six regulars from the team who are at the Olympics. Gotham faces Washington Spirit next. Tough loss for the Red Stars. They do get to stay home for the next game against Chivas de Guadalajara.
GAME NOTES:
- Sam Staab had a well-rounded performance for the Red Stars ranking in the top five in chances created (3), shots (1), passes completed (32), tackles won (2) and recoveries (6)
- Jenna Bike was key for the Red Stars on offense. The forward took two shots, with one ricocheting off the post, had .32 expected goals and disrupted Gotham’s backline by making several key runs, including one that forced a red card for Maitane López
Update: Sam Staab suffered a confirmed ACL tear. She will be out for the rest of the season. Long road of recovery ahead for her. Huge blow for the club.
NEXT GAME:
Chicago Red Stars vs. Chivas de Guadalajara Friday, July 26, at 7:00 p.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium
