Wow, only 4 more games left in the regular season and I don't have to spell out what the Red Stars need to make the play-offs. All 12 points. We probably won't have our best player and Captain, Lori Chalupny on the field which hurts very badly. But like they did against Portland everyone has to step up again and see if we can take 3 points at home. I started this season living in Seattle and going to all the Seattle Reign games in the beginning, all the way through June, when they weren't doing so well. I also made several trips to Portland including the one when almost 17,000 came out to see the first Portland vs. Seattle game. I had a blast watching game at both Jen-Weld and Starfire. I have to say I do miss the Northwest and its soccer culture. For a soccer nut/addict like me, it was heaven. But now I'm back in Chicago and looking forward to the rest of the Red Stars season. This Saturday's game will be a special one to me because I will be seeing the 2 teams that I supported mostly this year, rooting and financially. Seattle charges $19 for the cheap seats while I also had season tickets for the Red Stars as well as going to a few Portland Thorns games 3 hours south on I-5. So I can proudly say that I did my part in supporting this league. Hope Solo will be in town, former Red Star Megan Rapinoe will be in town, as well as fan favorite Jessica Fishlock will be here. I certainly hope Benedictine will be packed this Saturday evening. The weather is supposed to be in the eighties and sunny. Perfect setting for a great game. Big Heart - Never give up! Go Red Stars!
Not yet. It's pretty safe to assume she's done for the year, which really sucks. I never would wish injury on any player, and especially not Chalupny. Well, maybe a good face stomping on Tancredi as payback, but that's the only exception.
This will be my last red stars game of the season unless they make the playoffs. Hope for a victory. If I win the powerball Saturday, next year the redstars play in Toyota park.
The next 5 days will tell us if there is going to be a true playoff race or not. Five very important matches take place involving the three teams fighting for the final playoff spot. Saturday Seattle at Chicago Western New York at Boston Wednesday Portland at Boston Seattle at Western New York Chicago at Washington If Boston and Chicago take both their matches and WNY loses both, only one point would separate the teams going into the final two games of the season. Certainly, it is possible that it falls just like that, although probably unlikely. The Red Stars will have to be on their game, especially against Seattle. Of course, it wouldn't really bother the Red Stars if Boston lost to Portland, except it would be kind of nice to keep Boston interested since they play WNY again the last game of the season for both teams. It is kind of a weird time for Boston to fire their coach, unless they are hoping for a scenario like Sky Blue in 2009...play like crap for most the season, fire your coach, and then play great for the final few weeks and win the championship. Oh, I forgot, it was the first coach they fired, the second just walked out. So does anybody have a recipe for success against Seattle?
Ask KC. For some reason they match up very well against Seattle. Even when Seattle played them with Hope and Rapinoe, they still lost. It's going to be hard to get a killer midfield like they have in only a couple of hours, though .
Looked like a very physical game. Saw the highlights of the first half and it looked like there were bodies everywhere. Watched the 2nd half and thought that Chicago played sound defense, with the exception of the Rapinoe shot off the post late in the match. The Red Stars caught a break on that one. The Germans scored all three goals, with Grings getting two. First was a nice shot off of a Solo giveaway. She almost botched the second one, as she didn't get a good piece of it and it barely trickled over the line off the defender, at least that's what it looked like from the webcast. But the Red Stars did what they had to. It looks like, with Sky Blue winning and going to 34 points, it comes down to Chicago chasing Western New York for the final playoff spot. The Red Stars trail by 5 points with 3 games to play. Remaining schedules: Chicago - at Washington, home vs. Sky Blue, at Kansas City WNY - Seattle, Portland, Boston all three at home The tiebreakers, if I read them right, are against Chicago. The first was head-to-head with both teams winning a game by one goal and there was one tie. The second tiebreaker is the killer, goal differential. WNY is a +14 and Chicago is a -4. So basically, Chicago has to actually pass WNY, not just catch them. Realistically, Chicago probably needs all 9 points, although I guess there is an outside possibility of getting there with only 7. But let's take it one at a time. First things first, they need to take care of business against the Spirit and whatever else happens...happens.
One other thing I was impressed with was Jen Hoy's speed. She just blew by defenders a couple of times.
Great win and it was a beautiful evening to be outside. A sell out crowd and some nice goals what more can you ask for?
Chicago's draft picks ended up being good ones. Not 100% sold on Bywaters, but she was starting to show some life before her injury. Quon's done well on the backline for the most part. Vancil's more of a longer-term project, but she has the potential to be a solid keeper for Chicago. Hoy is still a little rough around the edges, but her speed makes her dangerous. Shame she missed out on the first half of the season. I was hoping for Seattle to win this one, but I will give major credit to Chicago for once again not giving up and fighting for 90 minutes. Not pretty to watch at all, but whatever it takes to get the job done.
I arrived at Benedictine oh, about 5:15 pm. The main parking lot as you turn right off of Yackley was almost full but there were still a few spaces left so I grabbed me one and got out of the car. It was a nice warm evening. I leaned against my car and looked out at Yackley St. and notice a line of cars all the way to the light down the street and they kept coming. The parking lot where I was in, now was full and the next one kinda to the left as you face the stadium now had a line going into it and was filling up quickly. I though to myself, wow this looks like maybe the biggest crowd of the season coming in. I waited a little while, leaning against my car while sipping on a beverage just absorbing the festive crowd going into the complex. I can say for sure, Hope Solo still brings them in. I walked into the complex, said hi to a few people I knew and walked around the stands to take a look at the field. The teams had already lined up at the northwest corner to do their walk onto the field. I looked over my left shoulder to the stands, they were already pretty much full from one end to the other and still nice lines at both entrances to the stadium waiting to get in. Alyse Lahue (Red Stars GM) walks toward where I was standing and I says hi to me and she was very excited about the whole event and the crowd. I tell her this is an awesome sight and good luck. I was ready to enjoy the game but wasn't really expecting for The Red Stars to win given that Lori Chalupny is injured and this is a Seattle team that has had an upsurge since Solo and Rapinoe got there. But this team never fails to surprise me. They play with heart, never give up and found a way to win. A few players, IMO that stand out from last night: First of all I've been critical of Inka Grings for not doing much since she's been there. But last night she put 2 goals in the net. Granted one was off a mistake from Solo and the other one almost didn't go in by the weak shot she took off a nice pass from Hoy. But she did put 2 in the net and that's what matters so I'm glad she is out of her slump. Jen Hoy- I like the way she uses her speed, and she does have good speed, to take on defenders, take the ball to the corner and whip it in. Great addition to the Red Stars later in the season. Lydia Vandenbergh, Michelle Wenino - two unsung heros who play solid defense and are often assigned to mark the speediest and skilled players on the opponents squad. Last night Wenino did a fantastic job marking Rapinoe. Adriana Leon- wasn't involved in the 3 goals but her work rate and non-stop hustle both on defense and offense is underrated. She is all over the place, receiving the ball, making passes, marking anyone with the ball coming in her area, etc. I like her a lot and hope she comes back next year as a Red Star. Goalkeepers- Both Erin Mcleod and Taylor Vancil have come up big when put in goal. Sure, on an occasion there is a mistake (look at Solo last night) but overall our keepers have done a fantastic job. There is still a chance to get into the playoffs. I believe CRS may need some help from other teams even if they win all 3 games left. A sell-out crowd. A win. It sure was fun last night.
http://windycitysoccer.net/Home/Entries/2013/8/4_German_Duo_Keeps_Red_Stars_in_Playoff_Hunt.html http://chicagolandsoccernews.com/teams/redstars2.php?article_id=12618 http://chicagolandsoccernews.com/leagues/nwsl2.php?article_id=12621
Mrad on the newest CRS YouTube Video, I think I saw Jen translating for Maribel Dominguez, I wonder if her family is from Latin America or if she just took Spanish in school, really I wonder if she is eligible to play for a NT other than the USA.