Tag: Chicago Red Stars

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 7

Posted on by RJ Allen

Welcome to Week 7 of Off the Bench!

Backline Soccer Recap:

Quick Fire Week 7 Game Previews:

Week 7 of the NWSL is upon us. We were graced Wednesday with a midweek matchup but we will still see five total games as well, all on Saturday, May 27th. Let’s dive in.

Game 1: North Carolina Courage 2 vs. Sky Blue 0

North Carolina Courage record: 5-2-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 15

Sky Blue FC record: 3-3-1
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 10

A midweek game saw a showdown between the first place Courage and (before the game) second place Sky Blue. Sky Blue ended up resting some players in preparation for their match this weekend against the Pride. Both teams saw some great opportunities, but in the end, it was a huge shot from Lynn Williams and a goal from Sam Mewis that saw the Courage keep possession of first place. Kailen Sheridan, however, had herself one heck of a game in goal for Sky Blue, and without some of her stellar saves, North Carolina may have very well had more than two goals.

 

Game 2: Houston Dash vs. Seattle Reign

Houston Dash record: 2-4-0
Position: 9th
Total Points: 6

Seattle Reign record: 2-1-3
Position: 4th
Total Points: 9

The Dash are coming off quite an abysmal showing last week and will be looking to start connecting their pieces more. They just really seem to lack cohesion and a well thought out plan, as well as a way to implement it on the field. Many are speculating whether this has to do with coaching techniques or individual players. I believe it is mainly due to coaching techniques. The Dash will need to figure out their defensive woes very quickly as they will be facing a strong attack from the Reign. Lydia Williams, for the most part, has been holding steady but can only do so much with the current backline. The Dash will need to move away from the hope of Kealia Ohai pulling goals out of thin air if they want to get back to winning ways.

The Reign, while drawing with the Pride last week, will look to continue to get back to their dominant ways and pull out three points. The Reign are coming in with a very in-form Megan Rapinoe as well as a strong offensive presence who will look to make the Dash pay early. The Dash will also need to get past Haley Kopmeyer, who, in her first full starting season after backing up Hope Solo, has been strong and consistent, save for the major Marta error last week. 

 

Game 3: Chicago Red Stars vs. North Carolina Courage

Chicago Red Stars record: 3-2-1
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 10

North Carolina Courage record: 5-2-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 15

Chicago is coming into this game after playing arguably their best game of the season last week against the Courage. Christen Press is off and running and Chicago will benefit greatly from her as long as she remains consistent. Newly signed Japanese International, Yuki Nagasato will not be in Chicago in time for this match. Alyssa Naeher, after a slower-than-usual start, has been getting more consistent in goal for the Red Stars and will look to work with the backline to stop the strong attack the Courage will be putting forth.

Though coming off a solid win, the Courage are also coming in with a bit of a disadvantage, having played the midweek game on Wednesday. The attack will need to get behind the Red Stars early in order to see success. 

 

Game 4: Sky Blue vs. Orlando Pride

Sky Blue FC record: 3-3-1
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 10

Orlando Pride record: 1-2-3
Position: 8th
Total Points: 6

Sky Blue rested key players on Wednesday but will still be coming in with minimal recovery days against the Pride. Sky Blue will want to see a better end product than they had Wednesday, but with Kailen Sheridan having a stellar game, the Pride will need to find creative ways to get passed her as well as the backline of Sky Blue, who will be back at full force. 

The Pride will be without Captain and starting goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris for approximately eight weeks, after staving off the Reign mostly without her last week. This is a huge loss for the Pride, not only on the field but off as well. With backup keeper Aubrey Bledsoe also out with a concussion, Caroline Stanley was signed as an injury replacement. This is a huge opportunity for her, as she will be the one to likely face her former club. The Pride backline, while getting more consistent over the last few weeks, will need to communicate early and often with Stanley to make sure they are together. The Pride also need much more production from their midfield. Marta has been playing quite selflessly, going where she feels she is needed, but the Pride could benefit more from her playing a bit more selfishly sometimes. Alanna Kennedy is also coming off her best game of the season, so if she remains consistent, she will be a threat for Sky Blue.

 

Game 5: FC Kansas City vs. Washington Spirit

FC Kansas City record: 2-2-2
Position: 6th
Total Points: 8

Washington Spirit record: 1-4-1
Position: 10th
Total Points: 4

FC Kansas City has a strong backline led by Becky Sauerbrunn, but since the loss of Amy Rodriguez to a torn ACL at the start of the season, FCKC has not figured out how to match with Sydney Leroux up top to garner more goals. Leroux still has work to do after missing so many matches after the birth of her son, but FCKC needs to find someone that can help her up top. Nicole Barnhart will be a major barrier, as usual, for the somewhat weaker Spirit attack to get through. 

The Washington Spirit, now with Mal Pugh, will look for revenge this week. Pugh will likely see more minutes but cannot be the sole player the Spirit depend on. Kristie Mewis had a few almost goals last week, which the Spirit will need more of from her. The Spirit are struggling offensively, but recently defensively as well, despite Steph Labbé continuing her great season in goal. FCKC, already struggling offensively, will have a hard time getting through her. 

 

Game 6: Portland Thorns vs. Boston Breakers

Portland Thorns record: 2-1-3
Position: 5th
Total Points: 9

Boston Breakers record: 2-2-2
Position: 7th
Total Points: 8

Last week the Breakers, ahead 2-0 seemed to almost have the game in the bag, but the Thorns fought back hard and ended up equalizing late for the draw. The Breakers will focus this week on making sure – while scoring – they hold defensively to stave off the Thorns and not blow any lead that they may build. The Breakers will look to players such as Angela Salem and Adriana Leon, who are having great seasons thus far, to continue to create opportunities. With Abby Smith in goal for the Breakers, the Thorns will need to find creative ways to get past her to score.

The Thorns will again be without Tobin Heath, Katherine Reynolds, Mana Shim, and Dagny Brynjarsdottir. Heath is a continued loss for the Thorns, and her skill is sorely missed. The Thorns, however, still seem to be hanging around each game and will look dangerous when everyone is fully healthy. Their key this week is to continue to create opportunities and goals. Adrianna Franch is having a good season statistically speaking, but she still needs to work on her distribution and overall decision and play making. The Thorns have not really paid for those weaknesses yet but it is only a matter of time. 

The Scouting Report:

We went live on Monday night with our Week 6 TSR, recapping all of the NWSL games from the weekend. A reminder that you can catch TSR live every Monday night at 8pm EST on our YouTube channel. And make sure to follow the podcast on Twitter @ScoutingPodcast. 

In case you missed this week’s episode, catch up here:

https://www.spreaker.com/user/brewsports/the-scouting-report-season-5-week-6

Come back next week for the next edition of Off the Bench!

Breaking News: Chicago Red Stars Sign Yuki Nagasato

Posted on by RJ Allen

The Chicago Red Stars have announced the signing of Japanese international Yuki Nagasato.

https://twitter.com/chicagoredstars/status/867425029696479232

Nagasato has appeared 132 times with the Japanese Women’s National Team, where she scored 58 goals and was a three-time World Cup player and two-time Olympian. She was a key member of the 2011 Women’s World Cup team that defeated the U.S. Women’s National Team in a  penalty shoot-out to win the 2011 title.

She has previously played for NTV Beleza of the Nadeshiko League – scoring 88 goals in 133 appearances, FFC Turbine Potsdam of the Bundesliga – earning three straight Bundesliga championships and scoring 18 goals in her final season with the team, Chelsea FC of the FA Women’s Super League – scoring 5 goals in 18 appearances, and Vfl Wolfsburg of the Bundesliga – scoring 4 goals in 9 appearances. She has been with FFC Frankfurt of the Bundesliga since 2015, where she has scored 8 goals in 35 appearances.

The addition of 29-year-old Nagasato is a key addition to the Red Stars offense, which includes U.S. National Team forward Christen Press.

Nagasato is expected to join Chicago on May 31, 2017.

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 6

Posted on by RJ Allen

Welcome to Week 6 of Off the Bench! 

Backline Soccer Recap:

This week we introduced a new series created by RJ Allen, The Furt & the Fabulous.

Quick Fire Week 6 Game Previews:

We are now six weeks into the season and suffice to say, we can expect almost anything to happen moving forward. Another exciting week of games ahead!

Game 1: Boston Breakers vs. Portland Thorns

Boston Breakers record: 2-2-1
Position: 4th
Total Points: 7

Portland Thorns record: 2-1-2
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 8

This week we will have our first Friday night game as the Boston Breakers host the Portland Thorns. Both teams are coming off of Week 5 ties and will be looking to pull out a win in Week 6. Rose Lavelle was the lone scorer for Boston last week and they will be looking for much of the same or more from her this week. Adriana Leon has also been quite the workhorse for Boston this season, so look for her to get involved as well.

Portland seems to be stifled and suffering due to the injuries sustained to Tobin Heath, Dagny Brynjarsdottir, Mana Shim, and Katherine Reynolds, who do not look to be coming back for at least another week. Adrianna Franch has been doing surprisingly well to avoid her weaknesses catching up with her, but Boston, with the likes of Lavelle, Leon, and Natasha Dowie may give her a run. Portland need a lot more production this week from Christine Sinclair and Nadia Nadim who have been a bit invisible the last few weeks. And with Portland historically having trouble playing the Breakers in Boston, the team will need to come together and figure out a way to score some goals. 

Game 2: Sky Blue FC vs. Houston Dash

Sky Blue FC record: 2-2-1
Position: 6th
Total Points: 6

Houston Dash record: 2-3-0
Position: 7th
Total Points: 4

In a repeat of Lifetime’s Game of the Week matchup, we will see the same matchup as last week, except this week, Sky Blue is the home team.

Sky Blue won last week’s matchup 3-1, capitalizing on some disappointing play from Houston. Sky Blue looked much better with Captain America finally back in defense and seemed to be playing with a bit more confidence. They will look to continue that this week. Now that Sam Kerr has officially gotten her first 2017 NWSL goal, she should be off and running. Houston will need to find a way to contain her, especially with Kelley O’Hara returning back to the lineup after being gone last week with an excused absence.

The Dash seem to have the pieces, for the most part, but some terrible coaching decisions are not helping field the best team at any given point like they should. Poliana, the sole scorer for the Dash last week, has been a bit of a surprising light for the Dash, so she should hopefully start to see more minutes. Janine Van Wyk also took a bit of a beating last week, so she will be looking to be more involved this week as well. 

Game 3: Washington Spirit vs. FC Kansas City

Washington Spirit record: 1-3-1
Position: 10th
Total Points: 4

FC Kansas City record: 1-2-2
Position: 8th
Total Points: 5

The Washington Spirit, wanting to erase last week’s abysmal game against the Reign from their memories, will want to come out strong and score early against FCKC this week.

After coming off of such a great win against Sky Blue in Week 4, they got pummeled 6-2 last week by the Reign. The Spirit, for the most part this season, seemed to have their defense locked down, but have had trouble on the attack. Last week, the defense seemed to be in shambles. The 3-back system deployed was not working against the strong Reign attack. This week though, the Spirit may be more evenly matched with FCKC, especially since Mallory Pugh is expected to see her first minutes. FCKC are still struggling to score, and Sydney Leroux, unfortunately, cannot be their only answer this season. Granted, the team had expected to have Amy Rodriguez this year, but they just don’t seem to have the answer yet to their attack that has not been stifled. FCKC will need to find a way to start scoring goals. Becky Sauerbrunn and the backline of FCKC are steady, along with Nicole Barnhart in goal. But in the end, if they are not scoring goals at this point, they are not winning games.

The Spirit will need more from their attack but expect their defense to be better. Mallory Pugh will not solve their problems, as her full value against top teams and the competitiveness of this league has not been tested or honed, but expect her to at least get her feet wet this week. 

Game 4: North Carolina Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars

North Carolina Courage record: 4-1-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 12

Chicago Red Stars record: 2-2-1
Position: 5th
Total Points: 7

The Courage, coming off of their first season loss to the Orlando Pride last week, are out for redemption this week.

Chicago is continuing to have some issues with their attack and finishing their chances. But with Christen Press netting her first goal (a header no less!) she will most likely be off and running. She has been working hard to get goals but has not been successful in finishing her chances before this week. After all, she leads the league in shots and shots on goal this season. Now that she has netted her first one, we can expect to see, as our own Sandra Herrera has dubbed her, Primetime Press in full force. The backline of the Red Stars will be tested against the star power that is the Courage attack.

But the Courage will also be feeling much of the same. As I’ve mentioned before, the Courage backline seems to be their struggling spot this season and Christen Press may do major damage this week. The Courage will also be without Abby Erceg this week as she will be suspended from her red card from last week’s loss to Orlando. Chicago will want to and need to capitalize on that absence. 

Game 5: Seattle Reign vs. Orlando Pride

Seattle Reign record: 2-1-2
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 8

Orlando Pride record: 1-2-2
Position: 9th
Total Points: 5

Orlando is coming off of their first win of the season against the top team in the league, a huge, much-needed win for the players and team as a whole.

Orlando played, for the most part, their best soccer game this season. While starting off in typical fashion in the first half, the Pride came alive in the second. This week against the Reign, they will need to replicate their second half from last week and carry it throughout this game. The Reign are coming off a commanding 6-2 win over the Spirit last week and will look to continue their strong attack at home against the Pride.

The Pride has seemed to finally settle on a backline that surprisingly includes Toni Pressley. Last season she had a lot of trouble with speed and overall ball handling and field positioning. This season she seems to have worked on a lot of that and has improved quite a bit.

The Pride have also found a star in Camila, who has been consistently good all season. Look for the Pride backline to be tested early and often against the Reign. The Pride will have to contain the Reign attack. They will also need to get on a goal or two in early, definitely before halftime. The frontline has not been set quite but we may see the same three from last week.

The Reign this season have seemed to either score a lot of goals or struggle to score any, so for the Pride, they will hope for the latter. The Reign, however, will be looking to continue their strong attack and come out much like last week’s Spirit game. 

The Scouting Report:

We went live on Monday night with our Week 5 TSR, recapping all of the NWSL games from the weekend. A reminder that you can catch TSR live every Monday night at 8pm EST on our YouTube channel. And make sure to follow the podcast on Twitter @ScoutingPodcast. 

In case you missed this week’s episode, catch up here:

Come back next week for the next edition of Off the Bench!

 

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 5

Posted on by RJ Allen

Image Credits to Kelley Piper. 

Welcome to Week 5 of Off the Bench! 

Backline Soccer Recap:

Quick Fire Week 5 Game Previews: 

Hard to believe we have arrived at Week 5 of the 2017 NWSL season already. Let’s dive right into this week’s previews.

Game 1: Houston Dash vs. Sky Blue FC

Houston Dash record: 2-2-0
Position: 4th
Total Points: 6

Sky Blue FC record: 1-2-1
Position: 8th
Total Points: 4

The Lifetime Game of the Week this week sees the Houston Dash finally return home for their first home game since opening day, to take on Sky Blue FC. Last week saw the Dash lose their first game to the Red Stars since July of 2015, while Sky Blue lost to the Spirit 4-3. Both teams will be looking to bounce back from their respective losses. Sky Blue was missing some big names last week with Christie Pearce, Daphne Corboz, and Raquel Rodriguez all missing from action. With only Pearce missing because of concussion protocol, Sky Blue can expect to see Corboz and Rodriguez back in action, but as of this writing, Pearce’s status is unknown for Week 5. The Dash will look to produce better results and some goals this week, as they scored none against the Red Stars last week. Amber Brooks will be the key for the Dash, so she will have to have a better game this week. The Dash are looking good as individuals but are still having cohesion issues that will bite them more, the further into the season we go. Hopefully with Morgan Brian seemingly back in action, and Andrea hopefully close, they can start to mesh a little better.

Game 2: Seattle Reign vs. Washington Spirit

Seattle Reign record: 1-1-2
Position: 6th
Total Points: 5

Washington Spirit record: 1-2-1
Position: 7th
Total Points: 4

The Reign are coming in this week after drawing with the Thorns last week after giving the Thorns a little aid from an own goal by Jess Fishlock. The Reign looked to be the better team but just couldn’t hold the lead. This week they will look to keep up the pressure from last week’s match and press early and often. The Spirit are coming off of a big first season win that saw them score four goals on Sky Blue last week. The Spirit looked their best last week and will look to continue that train of momentum into Week 5 against a strong Seattle side. Washington will look, again, to see a big performance from Stephanie Labbé, who has been dominating in goal through the first four weeks. If Player of the Week Francisca Ordega can pull off another big game this weekend, the Spirit just may have a shot to beat the Reign. 

Game 3: FC Kansas City vs. Portland Thorns

FC Kansas City record: 1-2-1
Position: 9th
Total Points: 3

Portland Thorns record: 2-1-1
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 6

FC Kansas City and Portland will face off in the last game on Saturday. Both FCKC and Portland are coming off of hard-fought draws last week against the Pride and Reign, respectively. Portland, while suffering in the first half, had a strong showing in the second half. They will look to carry that momentum into this week. Seattle did a great job last week of making Christine Sinclair and Nadia Nadim almost invisible. Portland will need them more active. It was also reported by Jamie Goldberg that Portland would again be without Tobin Heath, Mana Shim, Katherine Reynolds, and Dagny Brynjarsdottir as they struggle to return from their injuries. Portland will need to figure out the struggles in the final third until Heath returns. FC Kansas City is going to need a lot more out of Sydney Leroux if they are going to start churning out wins. In addition, Shea Groom saw minutes last week, even with a broken rib, but she was looking to be in pain as the match progressed, which could be a factor against Portland. FCKC is strong defensively and with Portland struggling in the final third, this game could see some great action. 

Game 4: Orlando Pride vs. NC Courage

Orlando Pride record: 0-2-2
Position: 10th
Total Points: 2

NC Courage record: 4-0-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 12

The battle of the first and last place teams. Could this week be the week the Pride get their first win in twelve games? Crazier things have happened. The Pride, while drawing last week with FCKC, played some of the best soccer they have played all season. They are still struggling with finishing their chances and should have beaten FCKC had they done so. The Courage’s only weakness can be found in their defense at the moment and the Pride were able to break through them the last time they played, but just could not finish their chances. With Danica Evans and Marta both hopefully getting the start again, we could see a better output earlier from the Pride. Last week also saw Ali Krieger’s best game she has played for Orlando, and they will need everything she has for the front line of the Courage. Orlando continues to struggle with their midfield which is causing a lot more unnecessary work for their defense. The Pride starting lineup looked a lot better last week, but with Monica getting injured in the first few minutes of the match, Dani Weatherholt may end up with the start. The Courage just need to continue to play the way they have while shoring up their defensive efforts. If Orlando can finish their chances and work the backline of the Courage, they might just have a shot.

Game 5: Chicago Red Stars vs. Boston Breakers

Chicago Red Stars record: 2-2-0
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 3

Boston Breakers record: 2-2-0
Position: 5th
Total Points: 6

The final game of the weekend will see the Red Stars and Breakers face off at Toyota Park. The Red Stars will look to use the momentum of the shut out against Houston last week as they face a Breakers side who are a lot stronger than anyone expected them to be. A big question mark for the Red Stars is Christen Press who, while working hard this season so far, has yet to find the back of the net. She leads the league in shots but is also sitting on two yellow cards in four games, quite the unexpected stat. Once she unleashes her first goal, the season should progress nicely for her. In the meantime, Julie Ertz seems to have gotten this scoring thing down. Chicago continues to struggle in the final third, which may pose a bigger issue against the Breakers this weekend if they cannot correct it. The Breakers, on the other hand, have started this season quite strong. They lost to the Courage last week, but only by one goal. Boston proved last week that the Courage have some points where they can be beaten and they will look to carry that into Chicago this weekend. They mainly struggled with breaking out of pressure to get their runs in. That will be a priority this week against the tough defensive side of Chicago. 

The Scouting Report:

We went live on Monday night with our Week 4 TSR, recapping all of the NWSL games. 

In case you missed it, catch up here:

This week RJ Allen also had the pleasure of interviewing Kayla Mills and Mandy Freeman of Sky Blue FC.

Catch up here if you missed this awesome interview!

Come back next week for the next edition of Off the Bench!

Route Two Soccer – Chicago 2 – 0 Houston: How to Control a Midfield

Posted on by RJ Allen

With Ertz in the holding role, Press dropping back, and the fullbacks ranging forward, Chicago overloaded the midfield and dominated the game.

After suffering a 2-0 defeat away to Houston to open the season, Chicago fared far better in week 4, producing a suffocating performance that allowed them to reverse the scoreline and earn an easy three points.

Now, controlling the game against Houston is not particularly difficult at the moment—given their weakness in the midfield—and Chicago absolutely should expect to beat them at home. Still, there’s a world of difference between expectation and reality. It’s a credit to Rory Dames and his team that they were able to diagnose Houston’s primary weakness and set themselves up to capitalize.

Chicago has been a bit of a tactical enigma so far in 2017. They’re a team with a lot of options and a stated desire to develop a range of styles and setups. In her Unsung Hero column this week, Jacqui Porter noted that Chicago’s defenders have embraced the idea of flexible deployment, with everyone potentially ready to slot into a variety of roles on a given day. And the big news for the Red Stars this year, of course, has been the varied uses of Julie Ertz—who has jumped from center back to attacking midfielder to holding midfielder just in the course of these few games.

But for all that talk, the reality is that Chicago has done very little to move away from their standard approach: a 4-4-2 midfield diamond, with pinched wingers and overlapping fullbacks. Yes, when Chicago was chasing the game at Portland in week 3, they briefly switched to a back three. But on the whole, the basic setup has remained the same. Whatever shifts they’ve tried have mostly happened within that framework—with the same names simply swapping places within the diamond.

That does produce some genuine unpredictability. After all, the 4-4-2 may look the same on paper but it will play quite differently depending on who occupies the spot at the top of the diamond. With Ertz there, you get very little playmaking through the middle, as she focuses more on crashing the box and using her physicality to force play directly down the defense’s throat. With Press, the approach is far more technical and dynamic—with the associated cost of drawing their best scorer away from the goal.

An attacking diamond: capitalizing on Houston’s weakness

On Saturday, though, we saw a third variant—and one that produced a lot of positive results. This time, DiBernardo took the attacking midfield slot, giving Press the freedom to push forward into a withdraw forward role, and allowing two of the team’s most skillful and perceptive players to work together in the attacking corridor. And although she didn’t produce her best game this time around, DiBernardo has the potential to be a true #10 (one of the very few in the US player pool who can make that claim). In the long term, using her front and center could pay enormous dividends for Chicago. 

Meanwhile, Ertz was pushed back to the holding midfield role and Colaprico sent to the left, with Mautz mirroring her on the right.

This setup maximizes the team’s offensive capacity—giving each of the front six room to express themselves and encouraging good build up through the middle. It does, however, come with some drawbacks. First, while Colaprico is certainly capable of playing on the left, it is a bit of a waste of her talents. She is arguably the best holding midfielder in the league, and has less chance to control the game from the left. Second, while Ertz is an excellent defender, she is far less restrained positionally. Where Colaprico is a midfield conductor, keeping a firm hand on the play and easing smoothly on the throttle, Ertz is far more rambunctious—more a traditional box-to-box midfielder than a true holding player. Those forward runs can be devastating, of course, but they can also leave the backline exposed.

However, when executed well, these two dangers mostly cancel out. One of the advantages of using Colaprico on the left is her capacity to drop back to occupy that central holding space when needed–something that most wide players can’t be trusted to do. What’s more, Houston is precisely the sort of team to use this approach against. Given their midfield frailty, they simply can’t risk a high-pressure game in the midfield. That allows Chicago to dominate possession in that area, granting Ertz the freedom to playmake from the back and allowing the Red Stars to dictate the run of play.

At least, in theory, that’s what should happen.  But for the opening half hour, it didn’t look to be working all that well, with Colaprico making a number of very un-Colaprico like errors, and Ertz ranging out a bit too aggressively. However, the Chicago defense did its job—double and triple teaming Ohai to limit the damage, and giving the offense time to settle into their roles. During this period, Chicago was the better team, but still looked a bit out of sorts.

A tightening vice

As the game progressed, however, everything began to flow a bit more smoothly. And the key to it all was Christen Press, who remains goalless on the year, but has turned in some excellent performances nonetheless. Saturday was her best game of the season, and a big part of that is down to the flexibility that this setup affords her. As a slightly withdrawn, wandering forward, she is free to hang on the shoulder of the last defender one minute and then drop deep into the midfield to link play the next. Given her skill and confidence on the ball, the defense can’t afford to leave her unmarked as she flits between the midfield and the front line, but neither can any single player afford to stay with her indefinitely lest it fracture the team’s overall defensive shape. 

It was a problem that Houston was never able to solve. Time and time again, Press would drift back, overloading the Houston midfield, and allowing quick transitions through the middle. Then, as Houston would push their backline higher in an effort to close down all that free space, she and Huerta would race through and take a ball over the top from Colaprico, Ertz, DiBernardo, or the fullbacks. Press, in particular, found plenty of joy down the left channel. Some excellent defending (from Roccaro in particular) kept those assaults from turning into goals, but it was a constant threat on the day.

Both Ohai and Daly worked hard to contribute defensively, in the hope of rebalancing the numbers, but their efforts were more sound and fury than they were a tactical success. The crucial danger zone for Houston was that pocket of space between Chicago’s midfield and front line, and for all that their forwards put in good shifts to race back and defend, they were mostly trailing behind the play—looking to provide cover after the seam had already been split. 

Morgan Brian – very good, but is it enough?

Things did change in the final twenty minutes, due largely to the season debut from Morgan Brian. With her on the pitch, Houston looked a different team, far more confident in possession, and far more resolute in the midfield. It just goes to show how much they’ve missed her (and Andressa) over the last few games. Still, even with that jolt of energy and additional skill, Houston didn’t really resolve the underlying problems; they simply managed to play around them a bit more successfully.

So, going forward, even if Brian is ready to play 90 minutes every week, it remains to be seen whether they can develop an approach that will capitalize on the extra bit of stability she can bring. Because even with Brian at her peak (and Brian at her peak is one of the world’s best players), Houston will still face the underlying problem of a defense that is excellent when defending deep, or when coming out, but which all too easily gets twisted and turned the higher up the pitch they go. All of which goes to the point I made a few weeks ago: for the Dash, the best bet is likely to defend deep—‘solving’ the problem of an overloaded midfield by simply conceding the point—draw the opposition forward, and look to spring them through a quick counterattack. So far, the team has shown flashes but little sense of a real desire to play that way. One of the big questions going forward is whether Waldrum is willing to make that commitment. And if not, whether he’ll come up with a solution to this persistent problem.

Four Star Takeaways from Chicago Red Stars: Week 4

Posted on by RJ Allen

It’s a new season, folks, and one ripe for some hot new takes. And that’s why this year I’ll be writing a new column for Backline Soccer, and providing our readers with Four Star Takeaways from Chicago Red Stars every week. Be sure to follow along for some post-game takes and match-day quotes!

Week 4 of NWSL action saw the Chicago Red Stars return home to face the Houston Dash. In their opening week matchup back in April, the Red Stars left Houston with a 2-0 loss. Since then Head Coach Rory Dames has shuffled his players in various starting lineups, including rotating forwards and playing Julie Ertz higher in the midfield. With the help of a Houston own goal, Chicago came away with the victory and additional points for the league table. Here are some takeaways from their Week 4 win.

✶ RUNNIN’ THROUGH THE 6 WITH MY WOES

This week saw Julie Ertz in playing the 6 as a defensive mid, and she still scored. This will mark the fourth different position in four weeks that Ertz has played in Chicago’s starting lineup. She has played in four different positions in four weeks and has been able to contribute in each one. She has seen time in the 4, 10, briefly as an 8, and after this week – as a 6.

When asked about her goal, Ertz recognized the demands of a holding mid, displayed her leadership, and credits the goal as a collaborative effort: “It was a lot of hard work from a lot of people kind of keeping the ball alive. A lot of second chances. It kind of popped out from everyone. Really just scrapping to keep the ball in, and it landed right where I was. Being a 6 today, obviously I kind of knew that second ball was going to be more where I would be able to score and help the team, and that’s where I ended up today.”

Despite having played four different positions in four weeks, Ertz is currently the Red Stars leading goal scorer with two goals.

✶ Welcome to Gilliland’s Island: GRITTYLAND

While Casey Short claimed complete ownership of the left flank against Houston, it was Arin Gilliland that was once again given the task of marking Kealia Ohai. In their Week 4 rematch, it was the right back who forced Ohai to switch sides during the second half in order to try and create opportunities for the Dash on the left flank against Short. Ohai would go goalless on the day after facing both outside backs. Gilliland was looking forward to the matchup going against Ohai, stating that, “It’s always great to go up against Kealia, she’s super athletic. Super-fast. Quick with the ball, and it really challenges me. I love going against the top forwards out there. It’s a great challenge. I think I definitely made leaps and bounds from the first time we played each other, but that’s part of the league, you get used to the people in the league and you learn and you get better and better each time. So, I look forward to the next time we’re going to play her too.”

In the 61st minute of the match, there was a collision between Ohai and Gilliland that lead to Chicago’s second goal. Both players were slow to get up, and part of Chicago’s goal celebration included checking on their teammate. After the game during the mixed zone session, Gilliland expressed her grit about the collision and was already looking ahead, stating: “We’re good to go. It’ll [knee] be a little swollen. Little ice, little compression, little Advil, good to go, part of the game.”

Gilliland is also Backline Soccer’s “Unsung Hero” this week, you can check out the article here.

✶ GOAL SHAWTY, IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY

The weekend full of own goals was kicked off at Toyota Park by birthday girl Danielle Colaprico. A free kick taken by Colapirco was the first of three own goals we would see throughout NWSL in Week 4. A foul from Denise O’Sullivan on Colaprico set up the free kick just before halftime in the 43rd minute. Colaprico played the set piece over Houston, which was deflected into goal off Sarah Hagen.

Colaprico admits there was birthday luck in getting her free kick into a good spot saying: “Our coach [Dames] always says just get it in the right spots and good things will happen, and I think that’s what I tried to do. Got to break that first line of defense and get it up and over the defenders and just got lucky.”

That’s not to say the Red Stars aren’t aware of their lack of finishing in front of the net. Colaprico elaborated as such, but is happy to get the points, stating: “We’ve had a lot of chances in past games, and when teams can’t find the back of the net, they sometimes come from the other team. It was a lucky one, but a win is win. And that’s what matters”

Head coach Rory Dames knows the forward core has another level they have to reach as collective and has stated recently that his team needs to be more ruthless in front of goal. After playing as a forward against Houston, Sofia Huerta echoed a similar statement on whether the string of strikers has hit the gear they are capable of, saying: “I would say, no. Not yet. I think we have such good attacking players, and we all are capable of scoring at least a goal a game, or even a couple goals a game. So, I wouldn’t say we have completely gotten there… I still think that Press, Myself, Jen [Hoy], Steph [McCaffrey], Vanessa [DiBernardo] we still some more goals in us.”

✶ We Don’t Always Win, But When We Do, It’s a Shutout

The first quarter of the season still has two games left in it. Four weeks in, the Red Stars now sit in 3rd place with two wins and two losses. Both wins against Houston and Kansas City came with shutouts for the backline and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. The starting goalkeeper is happy to get the results, points, and shutouts, stating: “Always happy to get a shutout. I think when you come into any game as a defense and as a team our goal is to get a shutout every time. So, to be 2 for 2 at home with wins and shutouts is a good feeling”

With Julie Ertz being played more in the midfield, the backline has seen strong performances from center back duo Katie Naughton and Samantha Johnson. As a veteran in the backline, Johnson’s role has become more vocal, and her goalkeeper acknowledges and appreciates her growth as a center back. Naeher elaborated saying: “Julie [Ertz], she definitely ran, vocally, the backline. But I think as a backline everyone is responsible for different pieces of communication, otherwise it’s not going to work. So, I think Sam has stepped up, she’s doing what she’s always been good at. Which is getting in hard for tackles. Playing and being smart. And I think the vocalization piece of it is coming as well. She’s [Johnson] controlling the line, Katie’s controlling the line, and it’s been working.”

Ahead in Week 5

Chicago will face Boston, as the Breakers visit the Red Stars at Toyota Park. It will be the second match in two weeks that Chicago plays host. The Red Stars have a strong home record, and while there are fan concerns over dwindling attendance league wide, Head Coach Rory Dames recognizes that the team can only control how they approach game days at home. “It’s an unbelievable atmosphere to play in. Especially for the players that were here when we were in Benedictine. I mean we’ve worked hard as a collective group from the players, to the staff, to the front office, to the owner to be able to transition here. We really understand that it’s a privilege to play here. And every time we step on the field we try to continue to earn the right to keep playing here.”

You can watch the match on the Go90 app, this Saturday May 13th at 3 pm C.T. For tickets visit the Chicago Red Stars website.

Unsung Hero of the Week: Gilliland’s Island

Posted on by RJ Allen

In this weekly series, I will be highlighting a player from the weekend who was their respective team’s unsung hero, win or lose. A player who does the dirty work, does the little but important things in a game and someone who didn’t exactly fill up the stat sheet but found other ways to contribute.

This week I’ve chosen Chicago Red Star defender Arin Gilliland.

The 24-year-old has been in the National Women’s Soccer League since 2015, when she was drafted fifth overall by FC Kansas City but was quickly acquired by Chicago. Gilliland has played in 45 games for the Red Stars, and has been a force to be reckoned with from the moment she joined the club.

Chicago 2-0 Houston

After losing to Houston 2-0 in the first week of the season, the Red Stars flipped the script on Saturday. This time Chicago were the dominant team and a big part of that was Gilliland. The third-year player once was tasked with containing Kealia Ohai, Rachel Daly and later on Morgan Brian. Despite the considerable talents of those players, none found the net or even produced any particularly dangerous moves. That is evidence of a strong defensive performance from Gilliland.

But she’s not just a good defender. Back in her college days, suiting up for Kentucky, she was a serious threat up top–scoring 30 goals in her time as a Wildcat. And with Chicago’s reliance on attacking fullbacks there’s room for her to get back to those roots with the Red Stars. Early on in the game against Houston, Gilliland worked the right flanks aggressively, combining with midfielder Alyssa Mautz to generate some dangerous chances. In the 15th minute she reached the Dash end line after combining with Mautz on a give-and-go and earned her team a deep throw-in. Throughout the first half, her efforts to push forward created space on the right and pinned Houston back, giving Chicago real momentum.

In the last two seasons, Gilliland has played with several different backlines and players. In her first year, she was lined up next to Abby Erceg, Taryn Hemmings, Michelle Lomnicki, Rachel Quon, Julie Johnston (now Ertz) and Sam Johnson. In 2016 Gilliland, Ertz, and Johnson were the mainstays while adding Katie Naughton, Sarah Gorden, Courtney Raetzman and Casey Short to the mix. In fact, with the emergence of Short at left back, Gilliland switched sides from left to right without missing a beat, demonstrating her adaptability.  Now, in 2017, Chicago is working with the same group, but has achieved a new balance after moving Ertz in the midfield and working with a backline of Gilliland, Naughton, Johnson and Short.

In a recent post-game mix zone session, Gilliland briefly talked about the merry-go-round of a defense in Chicago that seems to be working:

“I think all five of us, me, Julie, Katie, Sam, Casey, we’ve all got a great dynamic, you really move us anywhere in the backline and we’re all gonna work well off each other no matter where we are.”

Gilliland went on to explain how that helps her team and what to expect:

“I think that’s the best part about our team we can move people to different positions and we can still be dangerous that way, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we changed things up again.”

As the game went on, Gilliland settled in for her defensive duties, chasing down Ohai a handful of times to put a stop to a potential threat. In the last two years, Gilliland has become known for her strong tackles, and that was on display this weekend. Her timing is near perfect, but those flashy tackles are often only possible because she has the pace to match even the quickest forwards in the league–putting her in position to make the crucial interventions.

Her individual effort to win the ball led to Chicago sealing the victory in front of 2,114 fans in the 61st minute. Gilliland went in for a crunching tackle with Ohai and the loose ball appeared at the feet of Christen Press who whipped in service that Danielle Colaprico couldn’t handle and it fell to Ertz for the powerful volley for the 2-0 lead and eventual win. Without Gilliland’s hustle, Chicago would’ve been racing back to defend their own goal as Ohai was on the verge of taking off down the sidelines with the advantage.

Gilliland would return to the game after the collision and played until the 90th minute, being subbed out for Gorden.

Chicago put in a strong team defensive performance on the night–with good organization and pressure that prevented Houston from getting the ball over the top.  Every time the Dash midfield looked for that ball, Gilliland and her teammates on the backline read the threat and shut it down, calling for double and triple teams for whoever possessed the ball in a dangerous area. She was composed in her decision making, knowing when to settle play down, or maintain shape again.

But that’s just who Gilliland is, the unsung hero who gladly does her part, and does it REALLY well on a consistent basis. She has been one of the main reasons Chicago has risen to the top of the NWSL over the last few years. If Gilliland can continue to play her part, Chicago could once again be in the playoff hunt in September.

6 Takeaways From NWSL: Week Four

Posted on by RJ Allen

Welcome to the second month of the NWSL season, where April golazos bring May own-goals. At least so far. Yes, indeed, this weekend was notable for the three OGs scored on Saturday; one per game, in fact.

But while the action this week was both entertaining and at times frustrating, the level of competition has never been higher, with all but one match decided by a single goal.

Still, there’s no need to be coy, you’re here for takeaways, so let’s see what we took away from this week.

Now That’s How You Play Three in the Back – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

Seattle came out strong Saturday night, but what impressed me most was their initial formation. Many teams have tried a variation of the three-back form this season, as Jill Ellis has made it clear with her National Team formations that it’s something she wants players to have in their toolbox. But of all the teams to try it so far, Seattle–by leaps and bounds–has looked the best. A three-back isn’t just about crowding the attack, it’s about flexibility, and the only way it works out for a team is if there’s a midfield that can support it. And Seattle’s midfield, with talent and experience packed into every corner, was able to do just that. A bridging midfielder (making the backline feel a little like a 3-1/2 back formation at times) delicately balanced defensive duties and forward movement, and Seattle capitalized upon their powerful attacking talent in less than a minute of game-play. The Reign demonstrated just what a three-back can do, but also just what’s needed in order to make it work on the field. Hopefully Ellis caught the game.

That’s a Lot of White Space, Chicago – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

The Windy City hosted their first Lifetime Game of the Week matchup this weekend against the Houston Dash, and to be honest, for all their efforts and success on the field, after the final whistle I was more focused on the image of the empty seats in the stands than anything any one player or team did. Don’t get me wrong, Chicago played a great game and came away with a solid three points that should keep them in the upper-half of the table this week. But their attendance was only 2,114 for the match, just slightly lower than their 2,153 home opener in Week 2 of the season. And this is a team with four popular National Team players on it! This is the team of Christen Press! Alyssa Naeher! Julie Ertz and Casey Short!

We’re all aware of just how much effort and time Chicago has poured into their rebranding and marketing campaigns this season–those player pics in the downtown are on fire!–but I don’t know that they’ve seen much gains in ticket sales yet. (I do know they’re calling previous attendees, because a lovely woman representing the team woke me up with a phone call one morning last week to ask if I’d bought tickets for the season yet–I have.) Either way, something needs to change because Chicago is one of the teams lucky enough to play in a professional-level stadium every week, but they’re pulling in fewer numbers than teams like Boston and Sky Blue, who call local college-level fields home. Chicago needs to figure out what they’re doing wrong–ticket prices, marketing campaigns, etc–and somehow put more fans into the stands.

At This Point, It’s Anyone’s League – Jordan Small

If we’ve learned anything from season five of the NWSL, it’s that the league is more competitive than ever before. Each week, it is very difficult to pick a winner for any game because anyone can beat anyone. Aside from North Carolina, every team has lost at least once, with all ten teams picking up at least a point through the first four weeks.

Last week, we saw the Breakers beat Seattle 3-0 in Boston. The week before that, Seattle beat Houston 5-1 in Seattle. That week, Boston beat Sky Blue 1-0, and Sky Blue and Seattle tied 1-1 on opening weekend. So like I said, anyone can beat anyone. At the end of Week 4, just five points separate the #2 and #10 in the league table. While it’s only Week 4, the parity of the league has made it fun and exciting for fans of the NWSL to tune in each week.

Christie Pearce is Even More Important to Sky Blue Than You Think – Jordan Small

Even at 41-years-old, Christie Pearce is still one of the top center backs in the NWSL. After being out with a concussion for two weeks, it’s become apparent just how important Pearce is to the Sky Blue backline. Without her in the lineup, all four players for Sky Blue were in just their first or second year in the NWSL, not to mention that the goalkeeper is a rookie drafted just this year.

Without Pearce, and with O’Hara playing an attacking role for the most part, the backline for Sky Blue has struggled to maintain a consistent shape. Washington Spirit forward Francisca Ordega really exposed the young backline in Week 4, penetrating the line twice to notch a brace for the home team. On top of her skills as a centerback, Sky Blue also misses her leadership on the field. Both fans and the team alike are hoping for a quick return to the lineup for our Captain America.

The Dash Can’t Figure Out Who They Are – Luis Hernandez

Of all the teams with two wins, the Houston Dash are the most enigmatic in the bunch. Houston has the talent to beat the likes of Chicago in Week 1 and then hold off the Washington Spirit in Week 3, but when they lose they lose badly. The offense can’t seem to put on a consistent performance, and defensively the goals conceded are kind of weak. The up-and-down nature of this team doesn’t seem to make sense. Since they host Sky Blue for only their second home game this season, is it a safe bet to predict a Dash win?  Who knows! That’s just how up and down they are.

With players like Rachel Daly, Kealia Ohai, Denise O’Sullivan, and a returning Morgan Brian on the roster, perhaps the Dash are soon to be rounding a corner. The Dash have good players, obviously, but still, they felt the need to add players like Sarah Hagen and Cami Levin, frequent bench-warmers on Tom Sermanni’s Orlando Pride. If the Dash can figure it out, the team might be able to hang on as a playoff team in time for Carli Lloyd’s return.

Orlando Finds Ways to Drop Points Again – Luis Hernandez

And speaking of teams who can’t figure things out, Orlando seemed poised to earn the team’s first win of the season only to have a late and questionable free kick awarded to FC Kansas City. Ultimately, it was their inability to clear the ball out of danger that left the Pride with a 1-1 draw after Marta had scored her first NWSL goal to take the lead. But the team should focus on continuing to build chemistry with Marta and across the pitch, because for the most part, they played a good game.

However, good teams find ways to win. The North Carolina Courage make good things happen because they are a good team. Across the league, the talent level in the NWSL is pretty even. Our own Jordan Small talked about league parity, yet having just two points out of four matches for Orlando is mediocre. The Courage are coming to Orlando Sunday. The good teams find a way; what’s Orlando going to do?

Well, folks, there you have it, our most important takeaways from the Week Four matches. Did we miss anything? Do you want to argue or challenge one of our points? Or do you just have an opinion about Week 4 games or play?  Go ahead and share it in the comments below or join the conversation in the Backline Soccer forums.  We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

 

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 4

Posted on by RJ Allen

Welcome to Week Four of Off the Bench! 

This week, the format has shifted from game recaps to short game previews. Take a moment and let us know what you think by leaving a note in the comment section!

Backline Soccer Recap:

This week we welcomed four new people to our staff. So give a warm welcome to the three newest members of our social media team: Alyssa Zajac, Becca Kimble, and Caitlin de Souza. And we can’t forget our new writer, Chantelle DeRose.  We’re excited to be working with these awesome soccer fans!

In addition to our new staff members, we introduced another new weekly series for our readers this past week, The Way I See It: Unsung Hero of the Week. As always, we invite you to let us know your thoughts on any of our pieces in the comments section!

Make sure to join us on our new Backline Soccer Forum. And don’t forget to check out our Backline Soccer Shop. 

Quick Fire Week 4 Game Previews: 

A reminder for U.S. fans that you can catch the Lifetime Game of the Week live and on demand either via TV, computer, or mobile, and all other games live and on demand at the go90 app and the go90 website. Additionally, after 48 hours, all go90 games will be archived and available to watch on demand on the NWSL app and website. And if you’re an international fan, you can catch every game, live and on demand, on the NWSL website.

 

Game 1: Chicago Red Stars vs. Houston Dash

Chicago Red Stars record: 1-2-0
Position: 7th
Total Points: 3

Houston Dash record: 2-1-0
Position: 4th
Total Points: 6

This week the Lifetime Game of the Week matchup will find the Dash taking on the Red Stars in Chicago. Coming off a bit of a slow start to the season, the Red Stars will be looking to pull out three points at home. The Dash have started off relatively well, notching two wins and six points so far despite a disappointing loss in Week 2 at Seattle. Lydia Williams found herself back in goal last week in the Dash’s 1-0 win over the Spirit but they were not really outstanding as a whole. The Dash did just enough on the defensive side to get by, but it will not continue to carry them further into the season. The Red Stars will look to counter on this when stepping up their attacking front. The Red Stars aren’t lacking in much and with a few key moves on the attacking front, they could very well pull out the win.

 

Game 2: Washington Spirit vs. Sky Blue FC

Washington Spirit record: 0-2-1
Position: 9th
Total Points: 1

Sky Blue FC record: 1-1-1
Position: 6th
Total Points: 4

Sky Blue will look to capitalize on their win against FCKC last week and the Spirit are going to want to bounce back from their disappointing loss to the Dash. Hopefully this week the backline for Sky Blue will see Christie Pearce rejoin the team from concussion protocol as she will be a key part of the team moving forward. On the Spirit side, Stephanie Labbé has had a lot of work to do in net this season but she has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is up for the task. The Spirit are going to need her at the top of her game this week, faced with the likes of Kelley O’Hara and Sam Kerr on the attacking front. Washington has taken hits on the attacking front, and they’re going to need to find a way to overcome their losses on the attacking front if they want to climb out of the basement this week.

 

Game 3: Portland Thorns vs. Seattle Reign

Portland Thorns record: 2-1-0
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 6

Seattle Reign record: 1-1-1
Position: 5th
Total Points: 4

The Portland Thorns will take on the Seattle Reign at home this week in the first of what essentially amounts to the NWSL’s own version of the Cascadia Cup. Several of Portland’s most exciting and game-changing players are still listed on the Injury Report and likely will not dress, including Tobin Heath, Mana Shim, Dagny Brynjarsdottir, and Katherine Reynolds, and this should ultimately favor Seattle’s chances. The Reign, of course, are looking to bounce back after being soundly defeated by the Boston Breakers last week 3-0. Seattle’s primary problem in Week 3 seemed to be in giving the Breakers too much space, which is something they will need to shut down this week in order to not let the Portland attack get by them. Portland, on the other hand, has been able to sneak out two wins this season, with last week’s victory accompanied by a bit of controversy regarding a penalty that wasn’t, and a penalty that probably shouldn’t have been. Even though Adrianna Franch has come up with some key saves for the Thorns, her distribution and work out of the back leaves a lot to be desired and eventually, will not be enough to keep other teams from capitalizing on her mistakes. But look for the Thorns to continue to take advantage of the Reign’s positioning errors if they continue from last week.

 

Game 4: Boston Breakers vs. North Carolina Courage

Boston Breakers record: 2-1-0
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 6

North Carolina Courage record: 3-0-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 9

Who knew coming into Week 4 of the NWSL we would be seeing a match up between the number one team (NC Courage,) and the number TWO team (Boston Breakers?!?) The Breakers will take the pitch this week after a strong 3-0 win over the Seattle Reign while the Courage are coming in hot from their game against the Pride where they won 3-1. Boston could be the team to figure out how to beat the Courage, as the #1 team’s only real weakness might be its defense. The attacking front is covered but if the teams they have faced in the first three weeks had been able to capitalize when they needed to, the Courage might not be sitting undefeated at the top. Boston will look to attack this backline of the Courage consistently and get ahead early. This matchup should be a fun one to watch.

 

Game 5: FC Kansas City vs. Orlando Pride

FC Kansas City record: 1-2-0
Position: 8th
Total Points: 3

Orlando Pride record: 0-2-1
Position: 10th
Total Points: 1

The final game of the weekend features FCKC and the Pride, and both teams are struggling to overcome disappointing losses in Week 3. FCKC is clearly missing Amy Rodriguez, their attack has suffered since the moment she went down in Week 1. In addition to Rodriguez, Shea Groom was out last week with a broken rib, and her status for Week 4 is unknown at the time of this writing. Leroux, coming back from maternity leave and doing a great job, needs some help up top with ARod no longer in the picture. FCKC will look to hold more of the possession this week, something that has been one of the Pride’s strong suits this so far this season, though they don’t have much to show for it.

The Pride have had a very lackluster start to their season after some promising moves in the offseason. They have held a good amount of possession the first three weeks of action but big mistakes, mental and positioning wise, have cost them in each meeting. The backline has a lot of talent but an almost non-existent midfield has seen them have to do a lot more to get the ball up the field to the attack. Once it makes it there, the Pride’s finishing has been abysmal. Danica Evans has been an energetic and creative spark in the minutes she has played, so starting her will help the Pride out a lot this week. In addition, Marta had some great moments last week; look for her to capitalize this week and get her potential first NWSL goal. Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni will need to make some changes to his lineup and put the best XI on the field in order to pull the three points out against FCKC. And FCKC needs to work quickly on figuring out how to move their attack forward without Amy Rodriguez.

The Scouting Report:

Huge news on the TSR front. We have joined Brew Sports Network!

The Scouting Report went live this past Monday with our NWSL Week 3 TSR recap. Make sure to tune in every Monday at 8pm EST to catch our weekly series!

You can find Monday night’s TSR here:

Come back next week for the next edition of Off the Bench! And don’t forget to check out the rest of our great content created weekly on the Backline Soccer website!

 

Four Star Takeaways from Chicago Red Stars: Week 3

Posted on by RJ Allen

It’s a new season, folks, and one ripe for some hot new takes. And that’s why this year I’ll be writing a new column for Backline Soccer, and providing our readers with Four Star Takeaways from Chicago Red Stars every week. Be sure to follow along for some post-game takes and match-day quotes!

Week 3: A Thorn of a Time in Rose City [Portland Thorns 1 – Chicago Red Stars 0]

Chicago Red Stars collected three points against FC Kansas City in their home opener back in Week 2, and looked to build upon that success in Portland during Saturday’s Game of the Week on Lifetime. Coming into Week 3, both teams were tied with with one win and one loss.  And with Portland once again without team MVP Tobin Heath, Chicago was looking for their first win against the Thorns since 2013.

It was another game with strong possession and moments of opportunities for Chicago’s offense, which was able to break through gaps in the home team’s backline early on. However, some interesting officiating in the game took center stage instead of Chicago’s tactical game plan to press high on Portland’s center backs. Chicago lost the game 1-0 on an unfortunate hand ball penalty that Portland’s Nadia Nadim converted in the 27th minute.

✶ Battle of the Mids

Last week against FC Kansas City we saw Julie Ertz in midfield as an attacking mid. And her performance last week earned her the start in position again this week against Portland.  And Ertz did well in just her second appearance in the Chicago midfield, providing some dominance against a Thorns midfield that featured fellow NT player Allie Long. Head Coach Rory Dames spoke about Ertz and helping his player adjust in the early weeks: 

“One of the bigger things that happened in our preseason was Julie not being in it for the most part, which was a choice we made. I’ve felt all along that the first three of four games would kind of be similar to preseason to working her in and figuring out how we were going to be and how we were going to do things.”

✶ Samantha Johnson, Weekend Warrior

With Ertz playing higher up as an attacking mid, her absence in the backline has given players like Katie Naughton time in the center back role, where she’s been partnered with Samantha Johnson. Both defenders worked on their game this offseason, traveling together to play in Australia’s winter W-league. “Sam and Katie have both been excellent. They both worked on their game in the offseason overseas and both look really good, even better than they did last year,” Dames said, acknowledging the benefit that their offseason play has brought to Chicago this year.

However, it’s veteran Samantha Johnson who has been having an impressive first three weeks. From an open tryout invitee in 2014 to an anchor in Chicago’s backline for 2017, Johnson has worked hard to get where she is, and made several strong impressive challenges this season against the offenses of Houston, Kansas City, and now Portland. Johnson had to be subbed off at the half due to an injury, and when Coach Dames was asked about her condition after the game, he explained that:

“Sam wasn’t a substitution by choice. She took a knock to the quad and had to come off because she felt her knee locking up on her.” He elaborated more on her contributions to the team this season, remarking that, “[Johnson] is part of the reason we are able to move Julie [Ertz] higher.” 

Hopefully Johnson can make a return to the pitch in Week 4. 

✶ Shine Bright like a Diamond

The last three weeks have seen the Red Stars play in a traditional 4-4-2 diamond formation but during the second half against Portland, we saw Chicago push for the equalizer in a 3-back form to free up their attacking players. Moving ahead to next week, Coach Dames will continue to work with his team but doesn’t put blame on formation for lack of finishing, saying that:

I think it depends on who we’re playing against and what their shape is. I think we we’ve been pretty good in the 4-4-2 all three weeks, and I feel like we’ve been the better team in all three games. Unfortunately, credit to Houston and Portland, because they won games and are both very good teams. So, I don’t know that we would change our shape, just to change our shape. And I don’t think our shape is the issue that we’re having. I think our quality in certain areas has to get better. Our decision making in certain areas has to get better. And we’re not ruthless enough in front of goal.”

✶ A Coach that Loves His F-ing Team

If you couldn’t watch Lifetime’s game of the week last Saturday, you probably heard about it. During the game, Christen Press had a big collision with Thorns goal keeper Adrianna Franch in the 26th minute. The hard challenge could have been called as a penalty in the box, but was not. The no call was further heightened when four minutes later a hand ball was called against Chicago in Portland’s box. A call that some have said is controversial, as Press’s contact with the ball appeared to be unintentional, and the USSF advises referees to use the rule of thumb that “it is handling if the player plays the ball, but not handling if the ball plays the player.” As far as we could tell, Christen Press was clearly played by the ball, and not other way around.  

Head Coach Rory Dames took to Twitter after the game when the visiting coach was not interviewed for comment, and he was obviously upset with the quality of the refereeing. Later, Backline Soccer was able to speak with Coach Dames about the match, where he continued to express his frustration on the no call.

“It’s a stone-cold penalty kick, and arguably, a Red Card. Casey plays the ball in, Christen takes the ball high, the goalie goes low, takes her feet and wraps her up. She’s [Franch] the last defender who prevents her from scoring. So, no question, it’s a penalty kick and arguably a red card.”

 We feel you, Coach Dames, we feel you.

Ahead in Week 4

The Red Stars will face the Houston Dash at home in Toyota Park on Saturday at 3pm CT. The match will be featured as Lifetime’s Game of the Week.