Two quick Gotham goals sink Stars

Chicago Stars FC 0-2 Gotham FC

EVANSTON, IL–The Chicago Stars FC had a vision to go on a winning streak. They recently in its last game had a shutout victory over the Boston Legacy this past Sunday. However, the Stars were up against defending champion Gotham FC.

Gotham FC scored two early goals within 10 minutes and went on to a 2-0 victory over host Chicago Wednesday night at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.

“I think at times we showed what we need to do,” Chicago Fire FC coach Martin Sjogren said. “Just like some previous games, at times we showed that we can keep the ball when we have to. We have to keep the ball for longer periods. It’s some type of pattern. It defpends what our opponent does. Offensively, we saw a little bit more than what we have seen in other games.”

Seeing the two goals scored early really made it more difficult for the Stars to rally and put them behind in a lot of ways.

“The start of the game was hard letting a goal in early and then another one,” Sjogren said. “The first 15 to 20 minutes (Gotham FC) hurt us pretty bad. After that, I thought the game evened out. I thought our performance was OK and not bad.”

Chicago dropped its record to (2-5-0, 6 points). Gotham FC with the victory improved to (3-2-2, 11 points).

Gotham FC scored in the opening minute, just 46 seconds into the match. Jordynn Dudley found the back of the net off an assist from Jaedyn Shaw.

Then a second Gotham FC goal was added in the 10th minute. Rose Lavelle scored after getting a pass from Guro Reiten.

“Really happy with the game,” Gotham FC Assistant coach Shaun Harris said. “The first half in particular, we really set out to start fast. We started out aggressively and asserted our dominance on the game as early as possible.”

Gotham FC has seen improvement over its last two matches and getting better.

“We’re starting to find our rhythm and our chemistry now,” Harris said. “Off the back of a long preseason and going into the league. It’s taken us a few games to find our stride, patterns, and the way we want to play.”

Gotham FC next will host Racing Louisville Sunday at 4 p.m. EDT. Chicago will finish a 3-game homestand facing the Portland Thorns at 12 noon CT; also on Sunday.

Photos by Len Cederholm

SCORING SUMMARY:
GFC – Dudley (Shaw) 1′
GFC – Lavelle (Reiten) 10′

BOOKING SUMMARY:
GFC – Dudley (yellow, unsporting behavior) 22′

CHICAGO STARS: #1-Naeher, #3-Staab, #4-Jenna Bike, #6Hendrich. #7-Grosso, #11-Gomes, #16-Hayashi (#28-Egizii 68), #24-Gareis (#23-Johnson 82), #25-Farmer, #34-Dellarose (#5-Alozie 46), #99-Huitema (#18-Chacon 68).

Subs not used: #22-Mackiewicz, #13-Nesbeth, #15-Evans, #77-Lopez.

GOTHAM FC: #30-Berger, #2-Dudley (#34-Harper 84), #7-Howell (#24-Kitahata 76), #9-Gonzalez, #10-Shaw, #13-McCaskill, #15-Davidson (#14-Sommer 62), #16-Lavelle, #18-Reiten, #23-Purce (#21-Cook 62), #27-Carter.

Subs not used: #1-Hogan, #4-Reale, #11-Schupansky, #17-Whitham, #28-Lampson, #34-Harper.

TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 8-19 GOTH
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 1-7 GOTH
FOULS: CHI 13-8 GOTH
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-5 GOTH
CORNER KICKS: CHI 0-6 GOTH
SAVES: CHI 5-1 GOTH

Referee: Marie Durr
Assistant Referees: Artyom Arustamyan and Chris Schurfranz
Fourth Official: Atahan Yaya
VAR: Alyssa Pennington
AVAR: Melissa Beck
Weather: Cloudy and 45º
Attendance: 2,607