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WPS Chicago Stars FC

Asllani's first WPS goal holds up as Chicago nets home victory

May 29, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Chicago Stars FC News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Kosovare Asllani netted her first goal and the Chicago Red Stars defeated first-place FC Gold Pride, 1-0, on Saturday in Women's Professional Soccer action in front of 3,845 at Toyota Park.

Next up for the Red Stars is a 5 p.m. match on Sunday, June 6, against the Atlanta Beat at Toyota Park. The Red Stars' first match against Atlanta is televised live on Fox Soccer Channel.

On Saturday, the Red Stars (2-4-1) struck first in the 55th minute when Asllani was on the receiving end of a Marian Dalmy dish from the right side. Asllani had the easy tap-in goal to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. It was the team's first lead at home this season, put an end to a five-half scoreless drought and resulted in Chicago's first home victory.

Asllani nearly had a second goal in the 62nd minute, but the ball went over the crossbar and hit the top netting.

Chicago put together a collective team effort in silencing the likes of Gold Pride's Marta and Christine Sinclair, though both players had their scoring chances for Bay Area (5-2-0).

Gold Pride had a near chance with Sinclair putting the ball in the net in the 18th minute, but she was whistled for a foul against Red Stars goalkeeper Jillian Loyden. Marta lofted the ball over the Red Stars defense and the ball bounced off the ground in between Sinclair and Loyden. Sinclair challenged Loyden for a jump ball, but fouled Loyden in the process before Sinclair tracked the ball down.

Gold Pride had some steam toward the end of the match, as well. In the 81st minute, Dalmy had a big block against Gold Pride's Marta. Marta got behind the Chicago defense and got within 10 feet of the goal. But Dalmy scrambled back, converged on Marta and stuck her foot in the way of Marta's attack to keep Gold Pride off the scoreboard.

In the net, Loyden made two saves for the Red Stars to maintain a clean sheet and post her second shutout of the season. Gold Pride goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart had three saves.

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