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The Chicago weather wasn’t kind, as severe storms ravaged the area delaying the start of the Stars and Racing Louisville by two hours, from 3 pm local time to 5 pm. That’s a significant delay for the players who had to come back warm-up again after an extended layoff.
Eventually the game started. The pitch clearly was slick and so was the ball. Back and forth game, but Emma Sears strikes a fantastic ball from the right side top of the box and lays it beautifully over Alyssa Naeher and into the back of the net. It’s 1-0 Racing in the 27th minute.
Louisville was about to add another one in the 41st on a free kick, where the Racing attacker had a diving header that went just past the side of the goal post. Stars were lucky on that one.
At halftime Racing leads 1-0. It could have been more. They have been quicker to the ball, more aggressive and creative on offense.
The Stars showing more aggression at the start of the second half. Chicago started laying out shots at the Racing goal, but being blocked on nearly every attempt, some stout defending from Louisville.
I wouldn’t call it a boring game, but it’s lacked goal scoring chances in the final third. It just feels like a game that the Stars won’t be able to muster quality chances on goal. Meanwhile, Racing isn’t letting up at all.
I wasn’t enough from the Stars today to get enough offense to draw or win. Racing leave Chicago with a 1-0 win. This is now 0-3 to start the season for the Stars. 0 points and the team has been outscored 9-1 on the season, as they stand dead last in the table. Clearly the break is coming at the right time for this team to regroup.
NEXT MATCH:
Chicago Stars will now head into the international break, before traveling to San Jose, California to take on Bay FC April 13.
MATCH NOTES:
- Rookie defender Justina Gaynor made her first professional start this afternoon
- Midfielder Cari Roccaro marked her 50th start and appearance as a Chicago Star today
- Defender Sam Staab played 63 minutes in the match, the most since making her return from a season-ending injury at the beginning of the season.
