Tonight the Washington Spirit squad faced the Chicago Red Stars on their home turf at Toyota park in Illinois. With both teams already qualifying for the NWSL Playoffs, it was an important game to have the advantages of a win.
Red Stars with a strong start
With the Red Stars taking the kickoff, the game was up to a fast pace. In the sixth minute, Red Stars midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo crosses the ball to Christen Press who takes a nice run down the right side of the field, cuts the ball to her left from Spirit players and scores with an amazing shot that hits the back of the net. In the 25th minute, Cara Walls receives a pass from Sofia Huerta and Walls scores with her left. In the last home match of the season she scores her first goal leading the Red Stars up 2-0.
An attempt for goals
As the first half continues to play out, quality shots from both the Spirit and the Red Stars are directed into the hands of the opposite goalie. Even Red Stars midfielder Press has another decent shot that doesn't make it in with a save from Spirit goalkeeper Kelsey Wys. Midfielder Crystal Dunn of the Spirit has an open shot on the net as goalkeeper Michele Dalton came out too much, but was able to throw off Dunn's play as she slightly misses the net.
Second Half Scores
At the start of the second, Huerta takes the ball out to the right side of the field and makes a perfect cross to the back of the net with the Red Stars up 3-0. Just moments after the kickoff after Huerta's goal, Dunn scores on the left corner of the goal in the 47th minute. The score is now 3-1 as the Spirit has a start of some hope to come back.
In the 89th minute, Chenya Williams is injured and comes off of the field on a stretcher. With the Spirit using all of their subs, they are now playing with ten players on the field with an additional five minutes of stoppage time.
Chicago victory
The Chicago Red Stars take their final home victory with a final score of 3-1. In total, they had eleven shots with eight of them being on the goal. In the second half, the Spirit had to stay on top of their defense as they were being scored on more than hey had shots on goal. The Spirit had about 17 shots with only four being on goal.
Before this match both teams were already qualified to advance to the playoffs along with the Portland Thorns and the Western New York Flash. Tomorrow the Shield winner and the top spot will be determined depending on the match to take place between the Portland Thorns - Sky Blue FC at 7pm ET and with the Seattle Reign - Houston Dash match that will be aired on Fox Sports 1 at 9:30pm ET.