Stars shutout for second straight match

Photo: Len Cederholm

Chicago Stars FC 0-2 Angel City FC

EVANSTON, IL–For a second straight week, Chicago Stars FC couldn’t find the back of the net.

The Stars were shutout by visiting Angel City FC, 2-0, at Northwestern Medicine at Martin Stadium.

Chicago suffered a 2-0 setback on the road against Boston Legacy last week and took another 2-0 defeat on Saturday. The Stars fell to (4-11-0, 12 points) while Angel City FC improved to (7-6-1, 22 points).

“The first half was a pretty good one,” Chicago Stars head coach Martin Sjogren said. “We controlled the game and (Angel City FC) didn’t put that much pressure on us. We got more time with the ball and created some chances. Second half, we kind of lost the shape we had. We maybe were a little bit to direct. It made it harder to defend. I’m a little bit disappointed we didn’t get a point.”

However, the Stars lost one of its forwards Jordyn Huitema to a first half injury that could’ve made a difference in the match.

“Jordyn (Huitema) is important to us, especially in the attacking third of the game,” Sjogren said. “Of course it affected us. She’s one of the interesting attackers in the league. We really don’t know the situation with her as of yet. What happens over the next couple of days with the doctors and medical staff. We will wait and see. This game makes you leaving with a bad feeling and a bad result.”

Angel City FC scored the opening goal in the 56th minute on a penalty kick. Maiara Niehues found the back of the net with a pk beating Chicago Stars keeper Kate Atkinson for a 1-0 lead. The penalty kick was awarded as Manaka Hayashi took down Niehhues near the top of the box for a foul in the 53rd minute.

The Stars had its chances of scoring in the first half with a 42nd minute opportunity that was ruled offsides and the goal was taken off the board. Mallory Swanson also had a header on goal in the 48th minute that was saved by the Angel City keeper Angelina Anderson.

Angel City had one of its own goals reversed with an offsides in the 86th minute that was called back under video review. But Angel City got the insurance goal they needed late to ensure its victory. Sveindis Jondottir scored with a give and go from Prisca Chilufya.

Chicago will next travel to play at Orlando next Friday at 6 p.m. Angel City will host Racing Louisville on Sunday, July 26th at 8 p.m.

Photos by Len Cederholm

SCORING SUMMARY:
LA-Niehues (pk) 56′
LA-Jonsdottir (Chilufya) 98′

BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Alozie (yellow, unsporting behavior) 51′
CHI-Farmer (yellow, unsporting behavior) 82′

CHICAGO STARS FC: #27-Atkinson, #11-Gomes (#23-Johnson 84), #3-Staab, #25-Farmer, #77-Maitane, #8-Joseph, #16-Hayashi (#4-Bike 68), #10-Pinto (#20-Franklin 68), #9-Swanson, #99-Huitema (#18-Chacon 28), #5-Michelle Alozie (#29-Ouahabi 83).

ANGEL CITY FC: #18-Anderson, #6-Sams, #8-Borges, #10-Emslie (#99-Suarez 68), #11-Gorden, #12-Niehues, #15-Shores, #16-Lageyre, #17-Sentnor, #20-Thompson, #32-Jonsdottir.

TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 8-22 LA
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 3-6 LA
FOULS: CHI 10-11 LA
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-4 LA
CORNER KICKS: CHI 4-7 LA
SAVES: CHI 4-3 LA

Referee: Rodrigo Albuquerque
Assistant Referees: Matt Trotter and Mateusz Dulski
Fourth Official: Iryna Petrunok
VAR: Alyssa Pennington
Assistant VAR: Matthew Seem
Weather: Mostly Sunny and 81.
Attendance: 6,678