Washington Spirit Go Up Early, Defeat Chicago Red Stars 4-2

Washington kept their engines revving after going up a goal and doubled their lead moments later. Trinity Rodman made another run down the right side and this time cut into Chicago’s penalty area before finding Ouleymata Sarr near the penalty spot. Sarr took her time and placed her shot into the corner of Chicago’s net with a right-footed shot, giving her side a 2-0 lead in the 30th minute.

Alyssa Naeher bailed out her side in the 38th minute after Washington got a shot on target from very little. Croix Bethune combined with Ouleymata Sarr down the left side but Sarr lost possession as she tried to cut to her right. The loose ball fell perfectly to Ashley Hatch but her right-footed rocket was parried away from danger by Naeher.

Sam Staab saved the Red Stars from going down three-nil before halftime with a crucial tackle in the 44th minute. Ouleymata Sarr found Trinity Rodman on the right wing and the USWNT attacker had time before hitting a shot that would’ve ripped the net before Staab got in the way to block the shot. A follow-up opportunity was thwarted by a fully-extended Natalia Kuikka a couple of yards in front of her own goal.

Washington outshot the Red Stars six-two in the first half and had all three shots on target before the break. The expected goals also favored Washington 0.4-0.02.

Trinity Rodman had a chance to score from distance in the 56th minute but never looked up to see where Alyssa Naeher was on the pitch. Rodman made a run down the left side from the Washington half of the pitch and had a chance to score as Alyssa Naeher was more than 25 yards away from her own goal. Fortunately for Chicago, Rodman continued her run and didn’t test the ‘keeper while the match remained 2-0.

Sam Staab did well to prevent a shot from Ouleymata Sarr from testing Alyssa Naeher. Kate Wiesner played a cross in from the right side that met the head of Sarr near the penalty spot. Sarr’s effort was heading toward the corner before Staab got her boot on the ball, saving the Red Stars from going down 3-0 in the 75th minute.

Chicago finally got their name on the scoresheet in the 79th minute thanks to a miraculous run from Mallory Swanson. Chicago’s number nine took the ball from the right side, danced between multiple defenders and took a shot that was saved by a fully extended Aubrey Kingsbury. The rebound fell perfectly to Ally Schlegel, who buried the shot for her third goal of the season. Swanson created the chance out of nothing while Schlegel did incredibly well to clean up the rebound and cut Washington’s lead in half with just over 10 minutes of regulation remaining.

The party did last for Chicago as Washington regained their two-goal lead in the 83rd minute. Croix Bethune made another great pass from near midfield that found a sprinting Brittany Ratcliffe on the right side. Ratcliffe took a few dribbles before hammering a shot off the post and into Chicago’s goal to give her side the 3-1 lead.

One goal wasn’t enough for Ratcliffe so she decided to seal the deal for her side in the 85th minute as Croix Bethune collected her third assist of the evening. Bethune found Ratcliffe in behind the Red Stars’ backline and Ratcliffe had no problem securing her brace to give her side the 4-1 lead.

Leilanni Nesbeth scored her first professional goal in the 92nd minute but it wasn’t enough to get Chicago out of the hole they dug for themselves. Nesbeth collected a loose ball and hammered a shot into the corner of the net, giving the match its final 4-2 scoreline.

Washington outshot the Red Stars ten-seven and had five on-target efforts compared to only four for Chicago.

Chicago’s record is now 3-1-3 overall with ten points through seven matches in 2024.

Ally Cook made her first NWSL start before being replaced at halftime by Ally Schlegel. Cook was the target of many Chicago set-pieces but wasn’t able to generate much in the attack. The former UCLA Bruin began the match in a central role before shifting to the right of Mallory Swanson in Chicago’s attack.

Jameese Joseph also made her first career NWSL start on Wednesday evening and contributed at several attacking spots for the Red Stars. She was unlucky to not record a shot on target in the first half nor was she given the benefit of the doubt on the questionable tackle from Casey Krueger in the penalty area. Joseph did well overall before being taken off in the 69th minute for Shea Groom.

“I feel pretty good,” said Joseph. “ I was glad to start, you know, just contribute as much as I can. So yeah, it was pretty amazing for me. It was a little nervous at first but I got into it a little so I calmed myself down and was just playing so that was good.”

Joseph was tasked with facing off against former Red Stars defender Casey Krueger but the rookie thought she did well in that matchup.

“It was a challenge, you know, but I felt like I held my own. I was taking her on at times and defending well, so it was a good battle. And it showed me that you know, I could keep up with someone like Casey Kruger. So that was good for me.”

Chicago’s head coach Lorne Donaldson wants a more combative side going forward and one that finds options outside of Mal Swanson.

“I think we got to be more combative,” said Donaldson post-match. “I didn't think I think physically we just gotta we gotta we got out-muscled today. We were out muscle just a lot. So they were doing that with Mal [. So, you know what, it cannot just be Mal, it has to be everybody, everybody has to pitch in. And we can't just look and think Mal is going to be, you know, she's coming back from a serious injury. So we also got to be, you know, aware of that and particularly, you know, she's got to protect herself a little bit but it's got to be everybody pitching in just to help that situation.”

What’s On Tap Next?

The Red Stars travel to face Bay FC on Sunday in California. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7 PM CT and will air on NWSL+.