WPS Chicago Stars FC

Chicago Red Stars Edged by Atlanta, 1-0

July 21, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Chicago Stars FC News Release


The Chicago Red Stars saw their four-game unbeaten streak come to a halt as they fell to the Atlanta Beat, 1-0, on Wednesday in Women's Professional Soccer action at KSU Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga.

With the loss, the Red Stars dropped to 4-6-5, while Atlanta improved to 3-7-4. The Beat, playing in their first WPS season, have had their greatest success against Chicago this year, winning the head-to-head season series against the Red Stars with a 2-0-2 record.

Next up for the Red Stars is a 3 p.m. match Sunday against the Boston Breakers at Toyota Park. Boston was in the midst of a three-game winning streak until first-place FC Gold Pride ended the Breakers' run with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday.

Atlanta's Eniola Aluko scored the game's lone goal in the 56th minute off of a Stacy Bishop assist to give the Beat a 1-0 lead over Chicago.

The Red Stars and Beat were unable to put a shot on goal for the game's 30 minutes. In the 31st, Karen Carney forced Beat goalkeeper Hope Solo to make the game's first save.

"We actually were good for the first 30 minutes, but after that we didn't play that well," Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi said. "We didn't really create a whole lot tonight. It was very disappointing."

Red Stars forward Casey Nogueira had several potential scoring opportunities, with the biggest chance coming in the 72nd minute when she hit the crossbar.

In the net, Red Stars goalkeeper Jillian Loyden made four saves, while the Beat's Solo also made four for the clean sheet.

"In the final third they were a bit stronger than us," Namazi said.

Chicago Red Stars at Atlanta Beat July 21, 2010 -- Kennesaw, Ga.

Beat 1, Red Stars 0 Red Stars 0 0 - 0 Beat 0 1 - 1 SCORING SUMMARY 1. Atlanta - Eniola Aluko (Stacy Bishop), 56.

Red Stars: Loyden (GK), Dalmy, Markgraf, Engen, Spilger (Sitch, 78), Carney, Chapman, Formiga, Asllani (Cristiane, 59), Masar (Rapinoe, 52), Nogueira.

Beat: Solo (GK), Ellertson, McNeill, Robinson, Miyama, Larkin, Zerboni (Bishop, 46), Yamaguchi, Blank (Nolin, 84), Aluko, Rasmussen (Kerr, 70).

STATISTICS: Shots: Red Stars 11, Atlanta 6 Shots on goal: Red Stars 4, Atlanta 5 Saves: Red Stars 4, Atlanta 4 Corner kicks: Red Stars 5, Atlanta 3 Offsides: Red Stars 5, Atlanta 5 Fouls: Red Stars 6, Atlanta 10 Cautions and ejections: 79th minute - Blank (ATL), yellow card 92nd minute - Aluko (ATL), yellow card Referee: Michael Donovan Assistant referees: Matthew Kreitzer, Mark Cleland Fourth official: Amy Mahan Attendance: 3,214

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