WPS Chicago Stars FC

Red Stars Net 5-0 Win Over Red Eleven

Published on May 21, 2010 under Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Chicago Stars FC News Release


BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. -- The Chicago Red Stars found their offensive spark, netting four second-half goals as the Women's Professional Soccer side defeated United Soccer Leagues W-League affiliate Chicago Red Eleven, 5-0, on Friday night in an exhibition match at the Schwaben Athletic Club.

Brazilian forward Cristiane had two goals in 45 minutes of play as the Red Stars' movement up top created many scoring opportunities throughout the match. The Red Stars went with three attacking players, with Kosovare Asllani, Casey Nogueira and Naperville, Ill., native Michele Weissenhofer starting up top on Friday.

"I've really been working hard on the front three -- pressuring, and putting the [opposing] team on a lot of pressure, and I thought in the first half we did that really well," Red Stars Head Coach Emma Hayes said. "And then making sure our movement's good up top to create opportunities. When it was 1-nil at halftime, I thought we deserved to be up by a bit more."

Red Eleven goalkeeper and St. Charles, Ill., native Erin Kane kept her squad in the match, registering several big saves early on.

Red Stars midfielder and Oswego, Ill., native Julianne Sitch netted the first half's lone goal off of a rebound. But other than that tally, Kane and the Red Eleven defense hung tough in the first 45 minutes. The Red Stars' Kosovare Asllani was denied by Kane's reaction save, batting the ball over the crossbar late in the first half. And Red Stars forward Casey Nogueira also had some early chances that did not pan out.

But in the second half, the Red Stars' offense found a groove. Asllani made it 2-0 Red Stars when she dribbled past a Red Eleven defender and struck the ball past Kane. Nogueira made it 3-0 with a powerful strike as she attacked from the left side. Asllani assisted, with Red Stars defender Lydia Vandenbergh helping create the attack.

Then Cristiane, a second-half substitution, added a pair of exclamation points. Cristiane was awarded a penalty kick when Kane tripped her just inside the box, and Cristiane's left-footed strike snuck past the Red Eleven goalkeeper, who got a glove on the ball. Later in the second half, Cristiane eluded a defender and found the back of the net to make it 5-0. Red Stars trialist Sophie Reiser had the assist.

"There were a lot of good performances tonight -- Nogueira, Asllani, I thought Jackie [Santacaterina] was excellent, I thought Lydia was very good. Those stood out to me," Hayes said. "It was a good all-around team effort."

Red Stars goalkeeper Meghann Burke maintained a clean sheet, and there were several moments when Red Eleven tested Burke.

In the second half, Red Eleven midfielder Julia Victor had one of the stronger strikes, but Burke made a clean catch on the ball. Red Eleven had another good scoring chance with about 10 minutes remaining, but Burke disrupted a dangerous cross pass, and in the same sequence Red Stars defender Natalie Spilger had a big block on the goal line to preserve the shutout.

Because of national team duty, the Red Stars were without a majority of their regular starting defenders and midfielders, as well as goalkeepers Jillian Loyden and Kelsey Davis. Defenders Marian Dalmy, Ifeoma Dieke and Kate Markgraf, and midfielders Karen Carney, Katie Chapman and Megan Rapinoe, were all unavailable for the Red Stars.

The Red Stars resume WPS play next week when they host first-place FC Gold Pride at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 29, at Toyota Park. From 5 to 6 p.m., Italian club AC Milan is training on the Toyota Park pitch. Anyone who purchases a ticket to the Red Stars-Gold Pride match receives admission to watch Milan train as they prepare for a May 30 international friendly against Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire.

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Women's Professional Soccer Stories from May 21, 2010


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