By Amelia Hirtle
Coming into the game at Seat Geek Stadium, the Chicago Red Stars had a 0-2-1 record against Gotham FC. However, one could argue that Chicago came into the first round of the players in better form than Gotham, with a record of 3-0-1 in the month of October as opposed to Gotham’s 2-4-0.
First Half
With Mallory Pugh leading the charge at forward for the Red Stars, it was logical to see transitions whenever possible. However, Gotham did their best to stifle the attack. In fact, Chicago did not receive their first corner until the 35th minute of the game. There were two major defensive stops by Gotham including a key clearance by defender Imani Dorsey to keep the score even at 0-0. Chicago had the better chances in the first half but was unable to convert.
Second Half
In the 60th minute, the Red Stars were able to open up the scoring. Gotham keeper Sheridan had rolled the ball out to McCall Zerboni to start the offense but defender Sarah Woldmoe snuck in and picked Zerboni’s pocket. A quick dish out to Pugh, who one-timed it into the back of the net, gave Chicago the 1-0 lead. They nearly doubled it shortly after on a shot from Kealia Watt and Pugh had another chance on a breakaway but Sheridan made a key save. The result would hold, sending the Red Stars to the semifinals against Portland.
Postgame
In the postgame, I asked Head Coach Rory Dames about his early assessment of the team that stayed consistent throughout the season. He often said that the team needed some time on the pitch and consistency in the lineup for them to put it all together. He said that the goal has always been to find a style of play with the group of players currently with the team. They knew they needed to defend better in the second half of the season than they did in the first half. He ended with high praise for the back line, saying that Gorden and Woldmoe were outstanding on the day.
Onto the Semifinals
The Red Stars will now have their sights set on the Portland Thorns. The two sides played to a 2-1 advantage in Portland’s favor, however, the last matchup in September saw a 2-1 Chicago win. The match will begin at 4:30 pm CT (5:30 pm ET) and will be available to watch on CBS Sports Network. The first match of the semi-finals will be the OL Reign against the Washington Spirit. The Spirit has a 2-1 advantage over the Reign during the regular season. The match will start at 3:00 pm ET and will be shown on CBS Sports Network.