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After a month and a half away, the Stars return to SeatGeek Stadium for a match against Gotham FC. This is an opportunity for a struggling Stars to start fresh after an extended break. Gotham enters mid-table, but they have historically been one of the better teams in the NWSL, and a problem for the Stars.
The Stars come out with energy, which is a good way to start out the game. They are pushing offensively, which they should, but no significant chances are materializing. Gotham playing more casually.
It hasn’t been the effort at question for the Stars, it seems like it’s the on-the-pitch communication that’s a problem. A cross ball to the box and Jenna Bike and Ally Schlegel both go up for the ball and bump into each other and miss the ball. This is the kinda stuff that shouldn’t happen and is easily avoidable. A missed opportunity, but thankfully no head injury for Schlegel who took a hard fall on the play.
A slower paced game in this first half, neither team making a big push or creating threatening chances. The Stars have been more persistent in the attack. Gotham might be playing the counter game.
Gotham playing as the sleeping giant finally comes through in the 38th minute. A good looking cross from Sarah Schupansky to Khyah Harper who knocks it into the back of the net with a diving header. They were patient and on their first major opportunity they converted.
Gotham looking to take the 1-0 lead into the half but Schlegel almost looked to have tied it with a hard shot that gets tipped by the keeper and hits of the corner of the post. Unfortunately for the Stars, it wouldn’t have counted even if it snuck in. Offsides was called on Schlegel on the play.
The referee adds seven extra minutes to the half. Rose Lavelle finds herself one-on-one with against her former national teammate Alyssa Naeher and put the ball past her into the corner pocket. But, before Gotham could celebrate, the side judge ruled Lavelle offsides.
The Stars are fortunate to be down one goal going into the second half, they are still in the game. They do need to ramp up the aggressiveness even more though.
Whatever was said in the locker room at halftime seemed to resonate with the Stars. The push and desire is there. It almost paid off in thee 56th minute when Ludmila dropss a nice long ball right in front of the box to Schlegel who controls the ball with a nifty move and blasts it at the goal, but a diving stop from the Gotham keeper Ann-Katrin Berger denies the goal. Outstanding sequence for the Stars and a fantastic save.
If you keep at it, sooner or later the hustle pays off. Julia Grosso crosses the ball right into deep inside box and to Schlegel who heads the ball into the goal. The Stars are on the board 1-1. They had been gaining momentum since the start of the second half and they converted on an opportunity.
This goal should give them confidence for the rest of the game and maybe even pull off a surprise win. In the 75th there was an “air quality” water break, the second of the match. It was the first time I witnessed one in a match for air quality, and not heat.
Coming off the water break the Stars found themselves in a scrum right in the goalie box and nearly tapped one in, but a great effort save by the Gotham defender who kicked it out before it crossed the line, saved a goal for Gotham.
Ludmila and Schlegel have been standouts for Chicago. Ludmila with her playmaking wizardry and Schlegel being at the rights spots creating scoring opportunities. Speaking of Ludmila, she slipped near the box with the ball, recovers and goes down when a sliding Gotham defender slide tackles and knocks the ball out of play.
The Stars run over to confront the referee on the no-call. Even Naeher makes her way across the field to confront the ref and plead her case for her team. It’s been a few occasions in the game where the Stars had heated discussions with the head referee.
Gotham had a chance at a goal in the 87th, but a good reaction save by Naeher kept the game tied. Six extra minutes added on to to the game. The Stars are pushing for the win. Shea Groom had that opportunity getting a shot on goal but it was a soft one and a fairly standard leg save by the goalie.
Both teams had an opportunity in extra time, but neither converted. The game ends in a 1-1 draw. It’s actually a result that the Stars might be satisfied it. It’s baby steps for them getting out of the bottom, even if it’s one point. Gotham is a tough opponent and likely expected a better result against the bottom-dwelling Stars, however, the stars played better overall on the night, and deserved a draw at the very least.
MATCH NOTES:
- Ally Schlegel made her 50th NWSL regular-season appearance tonight
- Cari Roccaro made her 56th consecutive regular-season appearance with the Stars tonight
- Alyssa Naeher made her first appearance since May 24 and her first since coming off the 45-day injury list
- For Naeher, tonight marked her 153rd appearance for the Stars, moving her past Arin Wright alone into 2nd place in club history
- Defender, Kathrin Hendrich, made her NWSL debut tonight
- Ally Schlegel’s 68th minute goal is the latest goal for Chicago this season
- Interim Head Coach, Ella Masar, earned her first point as a head coach in any capacity in the NWSL
Next Match:
Chicago Stars FC vs. Bay FC, August 10, 2025, at 1 p.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium
