FC Kansas City vs Chicago Red Stars June 21, 2014

FC Kansas City 1-0 Chicago Red Stars
FCKC goals: Jenn Buczkowski (1st) assist Merrit Mattias (1st)

Shots: FCKC 12, Chicago 8

FCKC Substitutions: 64' Katrina Gorry (Lauren Holiday), 70' Liz Bogus (Erika Tymrak), 87' Amy LePeilbet (Jenna Richmond)
Chicago Substitutions: 67' Vanessa DeBernardo (Melissa Tancredi), 73' Taryn Hemmings (Rachel Quon), 77' Jenn Hoy (Adriana Leon)

Starting XI for FC Kansas City: 4-2-3-1

------------------------Amy Rodriguez
--------Erika Tymrak---Lauren Holiday---Merrit Mattias
-----------------Jenn Buczkowski---Jenna Richmond
Kasey Kallman---Nikki Phillips--Becky Sauerbrunn---Leigh Ann Robinson

Starting XI for the Chicago Red Stars: 4-4-2 Diamond Midfield.

------------------Christen Press---Melissa Tancredi
-----------------------------Lori Chalupny
-------------------Adrianna Leon---Julianne Stich
----------------------------Emily Van Egmond
Kecia Morway---Michelle Wenino---Julie Johnston---Rachel Quon

Lauren Holiday even though she started and played the full 90 minutes for her national team, started today as she is pretty determined to always play everyday for her club, same goes for Becky Sauerbrunn who also played the full 90.

Chicago surprisingly didn't start Vanessa DiBernardo but who did sub in later. I think this was probably a mistake since Chicago got dominated for possession by Kansas City. Tancredi would start up top and would have a quiet game as did Christen Press. Because the Blues dominated possession, they simply choked off service to the Chicago forwards.

The match would start off with the Blues controlling much of the ball possession. They strangled any attempts by Chicago to use the middle of the pitch to build up play with Jenna Richmond playing a very big role in keeping the middle clean for the Blues. Chicago was forced to use the touchlines to mount any push up the pitch and even when they did, the Blues were able to defend them fairly easy even if the Red Stars created a corner kick attempt, the defense played very well in defending any crosses into the box. It was so lopsided for possession that in the first half, the Blues looked to have about 70% of the possession and only dropping slightly to 60% in the second half, when the Blues started defending deep with the last 10 minutes of play.

Much of the play by the Blues was devoted to building through the middle of the pitch since they had so much control. They were constantly forcing Chicago to defend deep, sitting 9-10 players behind the ball. Over and over the Blues were constantly testing the box with attacks and went to the build up instead of sending aimless crosses in that tend to frustrate me to no end. In fact it would be a beautiful cross that would create the game winner, but we will get to that soon.

Despite the possession by the Blues, Chicago played a very patient game sitting deep and waiting to spring a counter and they did get their one chance when they sprung an attack on the Blues that almost would net them the first goal. In the 44th minute on a misplay by the Blue's defense, the Red Stars would outnumber the Blues defenders in the box and free Melissa Tancredi for a dangerous shot on goal which Barnhart would have to make a very good save on, the rebound would be collected by Chicago and Barnhart would make another save on that. Probably the most dangerous chance that Chicago got against the Blues.

In the second half, the Blues would continue to dominate possession, but the chances they did get, Karina LeBlanc looked sharp. On a crossing attempt, the ball would get over LeBlanc and the defense to Erika Tymrak who would one time the ball and LeBlanc had to be very sharp to make a save at the side post.

It was this time that I actually wondered if Kansas City wanted to go for the win since they began to sub out our star players. Lauren Holiday would get subbed out first which is understandable since she played the day before for her national team, but when Erika Tymrak got subbed out for Liz Bogus. I nearly despaired. Both our playmakers leaving the pitch. It looked like Kansas City were going to accept the draw. Then soon after, the Blues would build up to a run of play. On the attack, Leigh Ann Robinson would carry the ball forward from her right side and drive it right outside the box, she would send a pass to the flank which Liz Bogus would dummy through and Merrit Mattias would make a running dash for the ball and immediately cross it into the box. The Chicago defense was caught completely unprepared for the cross. The ball would skip in between LeBlanc and 2 defenders with Julie Johnston being the closest to the ball but unable to reach it in time. Running to the far post was Jenn Buczkowski who would slot the ball into the open side of the net scoring the game winner.

Watching that run of play develop, this is the way you need to build up. Have players make overlapping runs, have players on the run send through balls to an open side. And because Mattias was making a run and not trying to solo beat a defender with the ball, the defense did not have the time to set up in the box. Mattias's cross came in and there were no defenders there to knock it away which normally happens to a Mattias cross. This is the type of cross that Mattias should be working to produce, she needs to play balls to her team mates and allow them to overlap so they can set up quick attacks up the touchlines. Hopefully they will use that tape to illustrate how good that cross was.

These 3 points are huge because this now puts some space between Kansas City and the rest of the teams under them. And it does keep some pressure on Seattle to keep playing well. The Blues won't be able to catch them unless the Reign implode, but hopefully the Blues can at least stay competitive and put some space between the teams fighting for a play off spot and those that are locked in.

Breakdowns from the match:

Nicole Barnhart: Had to be sharp since there were long stretches that she got no action. Made some good saves and got another shut out to her name. Played well when she was asked to.

Jenna Richmond: I found it strange that the Blues would sub Richmond out for a defensive sub and not Buczkowski. Its very obvious why the Blues had a strangle hold in the middle of the pitch. Richmond was dominant there. When she picked up the ball, she holds and keeps holding on to the ball constantly. Watching her wait and keep her head up and look for good passes is gratifying to see because what this does, it limits time Chicago had on the ball, she was taking tackles constantly from the Red Stars and continued to drag the ball around and keep possession. Part of being a good defensive midfielder isn't making tackles or forcing turn overs. Its keeping the ball on your side. Preventing the ball from being turned over. Linking up to the attacking midfielders and forwards and providing pressure against the opposing team because she eliminated a player that was marking her. By taking the ball and moving forward and dribbling through the tackle, she creates space and room for players to make runs. Wonderful holding midfielder.

Lauren Holiday: Solid, linked up and provided good sustained pressure into the box. Had one good shot from distance that LeBlanc had to make a good save on. The one issues is her corner kicks. They were horrible. Maybe the intention was to play them short, but so many of them were coming in short and it was very difficult for the Blues to create good scoring chances of them.

The Blues defense: All of them played very well. Marked and made Christen Press invisible on the pitch. Part of the that was the midfield controlling the middle of the pitch and denying any attempts by Chicago to link with Press and Tancredi but when they did try to go over the top to Press, Sauerbrunn and Phillips were very solid. The only mistake was the counter that Chicago got off and both Sauerbrunn and Phillips were caught flat footed and Tancredi got a good attempt for goal that Barnhart stopped.

I think with Sarah Hagen in the line up. More space will be created because not only does she have size, but she holds the ball up. She can switch from her position and be a facilitator as a holding forward. Some of you might be disappointed that the Blues did not create more scoring chances, but remember Chicago is a very good defense. One of the tops in the league. They were constantly sending 9-10 players behind the ball and sitting deep to defend the box. This is a very good win over a good club.