Stars draw yet again against Portland

Chicago Stars FC 1-1 Portland Thorns

BRIDGEVIEW, IL—On one hand, Chicago Stars FC will go a full calendar without winning a game at SeatGeek Stadium. They’ll have two more chances left on that end. On the other, they have not lost since June 21st. Portland Thorns were the opponent that day and was the opponent on Sunday. It’s the sixth draw in the last seven matches for the Stars as they once again came from behind to draw 1-1.

Both goals came in the first half. Olivia Moultrie sent a free kick from just outside the area past Alyssa Naeher near post to put the Thorns ahead in the 13th minute. The Stars’ equalizer came a minute before halftime. Sam Staab sent a ball into the area that went off a defender into the air. Ally Schlegel got a touch on it as it came down and Bea Franklin pounced on the loose ball to bundle it in to make it 1-1.

Both teams also had shots go off the post during the match. Reilyn Turner headed off the post from a corner kick in the first half for the Thorns and Jameese Joseph shot one off the bar in the second half for the Stars.

In the end, a stalemate was a fair result as it’s been a familiar result for the Stars since the break.

Photo: Len Cederholm

The Stars have improved a great deal since the 1-9-4 record prior to the break. Part of the reason has been moving the ball better under Ella Masar and now Anders Jacobsen as interim coaches.

“I think we’ve definitely grown into that the more we play, the more connection we have with each other,” said Stars defender Taylor Malham. “So, obviously just the more games we play, it just keeps getting better and better. But yeah, I could definitely feel the freedom out on the field too, just playing with each other.”

Those connections are part of the structure first Masar and now Jacobsen is trying to build.

“We were following Ella [Masar] and supporting her in the direction,” said Jacobsen. “And then when I came, it was more like stepping forward with that together with Ella. And I think I made together with Ella trying to create, and that’s what we’re going to keep doing with this team is creating a structure as we call it. it sounds a bit negative, but it’s a positive structure to let the players more understand what they can do together and the more they know what they can do together, their individual qualities can be more freely.”

The Stars will look to keep the momentum going in Houston against the Dash on Friday night. Kickoff is at 7pm with the match on NWSL+ and Fox Chicago+.

Photos by Len Cederholm

SCORING SUMMARY:
POR-Olivia Moultrie (unassisted) 12
CHI-Bea Franklin (Schlegel) 45

BOOKING SUMMARY:
POR-Jessie Fleming (caution, tactical foul) 45+5
CHI-Bea Franklin (caution, reckless tackle) 68

CHICAGO RED STARS (4-3-3): #1-Alyssa Naeher; #30-Camryn Biegalski (#2-Sam Angel 82), #6-Katherin Hendrich, #3-Sam Staab, #32-Taylor Malham; #20-Bea Franklin, #77-Maitane (#16-Manaka Hayashi 61), #21-Julia Grosso; #8-Jameese Joseph (#26-Nadia Gomes 82), #34-Ally Schlegel, #14-Ludmilla

Subs not used: #19-Mackenzie Wood, #7-Ava Cook, #11-Meg Boade, #13-Leilanni Nesbeth, #23-Micayla Johnson, #41-Hannah Anderson

PORTLAND THORNS (4-3-3): #18-Mackenzie Arnold; #2-Reyna Reyes, #24-Jayden Perry, #5-Isabella Obaze (#16-Sam Hiatt 23), #29-Mallie McKenzie; #17-Sam Coffey, #21-Jessie Fleming (#26-Mimi Alidou 86), #13-Olivia Moutrie; #66-Reilyn Turner, #19-Pietra Tordin (#77-Alexa Spaanstra 86), #27-Julie Dufour (#8-Hina Sugita 59)

Subs not used: #1-Bella Bixby, #4-Laila Harbert, #8-Hina Sugita, #10-Deyna Castellanos, #20-Kaitlyn Torpey, #34-Daiane

TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 10-16 POR
SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 4-4 POR
FOULS:  CHI 9-7 POR
OFFSIDES:  CHI 1-0 POR
CORNER KICKS:  CHI 10-7 POR
SAVES:  CHI 3-3 POR

Referee: Servando Berna
Assistant Referees: Ben Rigel, Zach McWhorter
Fourth Official: Salvador Flores
VAR: Adorae Monroy
AVAR: Matthew Rodman
Weather: Sunny and 82º
Attendance: 3,751
Woman of the Match: Mackenzie Arnold (POR)