![]() ![]() It was one of Chicago’s few chances and they made it count. As soon as the center back stepped Woldmoe played Pugh through and the forward finished expertly. Woldmoe did well to make Lewandoski commit to stepping to the ball. Caprice Daydasco was caught way upfield, leaving plenty of space for Pugh to exploit and Gina Lewandoski was caught in between Pugh and Woldmoe. Sarah Woldmoe read it perfectly and picked Zerboni’s pocket. Gotham keeper Kailen Sheridan looked to start an attack quickly with a long throw to McCall Zerboni, who dropped centrally to help facilitate possession. This game plan stifled Gotham and led directly to Mallory Pugh’s decisive goal. The Red Stars look to jump those passing lanes and turn the opposition over so Chicago can attack quickly in transition. The midfielders and forwards are typically well positioned and entice the opposition to make an entry pass. Chicago also looks to create turnovers by baiting teams into dangerous passes centrally. When teams take the space wide, the Red Stars press them and look to force turnovers. Their primary focus is to plug midfield channels throughout and to force teams wide. The Red Stars are extremely hard to break down and play through. What to expect? Photo by Daniel Bartel/ISI Photos/Getty ImagesĬhicago will be focused on disrupting the Thorns’ possession game. Portland earned some much-needed rest and recovery as well as some time to focus on training. 30 when they drew 0-0 with the North Carolina Courage in their last match of the regular season. The Thorns were awarded a bye into the semifinals because of their first-place finish in the league. The Red Stars don’t need more motivation with a spot in the final on the line but have plenty extra to fuel them. Morgan Weaver scored a second-half goal to give Portland the away win in the Challenge Cup and the Thorns opened the regular season with a 5-0 hammering of Chicago in Portland.Ĭhicago have talked about the impact of that drumming and how it inspired the team to get a 2-1 win over Portland in Bridgeview on September 25 and Morgan Gautrat recently brought it up again on CBS’s podcast Attacking Third. In all competitions, the Thorns defeated Chicago twice. They have won the NWSL Challenge Cup, the Women’s International Champions Cup and the NWSL Shield. The Thorns come into the match with a target on their back. Chicago has won their previous four matches, allowing only one goal in that stretch. ![]() The Red Stars will travel to Portland for this semifinal and will not be at their stronghold but will enter Providence Park a team in form. Chicago added another home win and another home goal with the result in the first round of the playoffs. They have also scored 18 of their 28 regular season goals at home. Eight of the Red Stars’ 11 regular season wins have come at home - a franchise-best. The Red Stars advanced through the NWSL’s first-ever quarterfinal with a 1-0 win over NJ/NY Gotham FC in Bridgeview, Illinois.Ĭhicago has been ruthless at home this season. PST on Sunday and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. The top-seeded Portland Thorns take on the fourth-seeded Chicago Red Stars in Providence Park in the 2021 NWSL semifinals. ![]()
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