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On a perfect late summer Friday night in Chicago, the Stars clash with the visiting North Carolina Courage. Stars are coming off an inspired performance in Seattle, so will they be able to continue the momentum, just four days after their game on the west coast.
Courage are in firm playoff positioning, so it’s an important game for them, while the Stars are desperately seeking a first win since April. Shea Groom, Jenna Bike and Natalia Kuikka are out with injuries they sustained on Monday in Seattle. Some players are getting a rest, among them Julia Grosso and Ludmila. Lots of turnover in the lineup for this game.
It’s a pacy first 20 minutes, but no threats on goal. They game is being played in the midfield for both teams. Possession on both ends, but Stars are pushing more, while Courage is looking to build an attack. The first real chance of the game came for the Stars when a ball got through across the box and the charging Nadia Gomes had a clear shot on goal, but airmailed it over the goal. Wasted opportunity.
The next opportunity came in the 37th when Jameese Joseph (who made her return this week after a lengthy injury stint) had a shot in the box that sailed over the goal. Two chances that could have yielded a goal, gotta convert on opportunities like those.
The Courage had a chance of taking the lead, but couldn’t finish on the opportunity. The game will head into halftime scoreless. The game should open up in the second half. Both teams with an opportunity to come away with points.
Ally Schlagel opens up the second half with a goal scoring opportunity that was blocked by the Courage defender. Stars getting closer on the goal, but it’s North Carolina that gets one in the 48th off a chip shot that went over Alyssa Naeher in for a goal. Courage start off the half with a quick 1-0 lead.
A a poor clearance by the Stars gave Courage an opportunity to flick the ball up and with the luck of the top of the goal post it knocked the ball in just barely clearing the line for an unlikely goal. The Courage take a 2-0 lead with half and hour to go.
Looks like the second goal took the wind out of the sales for Chicago. Mistakes will cost you and they have badly in this game for them. They have been a resilient team lately and making late second half runs, is there one in them tonight?
Just as I typed that, Ludmila who come off the bench in the second half, blasts one past Courage keeper Casey Murphy to get the Stars on the board for the first time tonight. It’s 2-1 in the 75th minute. Five minutes later the inevitable impossible happens. Ludmila gets a break away puts two Courage defenders on their back foot and strikes it to the far post to tie the match at 2-2!
Wow, this team is becoming synonymous for their late game theatrics. Can they pull off a win? Courage quickly and swiftly says, no! Minutes later Courage gets deep in the box and put one past Naeher off a cross. Just like that NC takes the lead. Courage take a late 3-2 lead. Are there any more miracles left for the Stars on this night?
The Stars quickly win a corner after the NC goal. Ludmile sticks her head out and connects. GOAL! Unbelievable! The Stars tie it up again. Ludmile gets a second half hat trick. Just a wild back-and-forth game, reminiscent of the late heroics in Seattle on Monday night.
The referee signaled five minutes of extra time. The Stars making a hard push for the win. Intense run by both teams, pushing for a final goal, but time ran out and the game holds in a 3-3 draw.
It’s another point that will feel like a win for the Stars, but with only 9 games left and they will need to start getting three points out of games if they are to have any dreams of sneaking into the playoffs.
This might have been Ella Masar’s final game as head coach, before Anders Jacobson takes over for the remainder of the season. Masar had the biggest influence on this club, from any of the previous head coaches this season. She instilled a belief and resilience they didn’t show before. The did a terrific job in the short time she had leading the club, she deserves a lot of credit.
MATCH NOTES:
- Ludmila scored Chicago’s first hat trick since June 30, 2019 (Sam Kerr)
- Ludmila’s hat tonight was the fastest hat trick in league history (10:09 between the first and third goal)
- With her three goals tonight, Ludmila is now tied for third in the NWSL golden boot race with Orlando’s Barbara Banda (8 goals)
- Defender, Sam Staab, recorded her first two assist match in her career tonight
- Midfielder, Manaka Hayashi, recorded her first professional assist on Ludmila’s third goal
- Chicago Stars remain undefeated under interim head coach, Ella Masar, with a four-match unbeaten streak
Next Match:
Washington Spirit vs. Chicago Stars FC, August 31, 2025, at 3 p.m. CT at Audi Field
