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Red Stars, Sky Blue FC Play To First Scoreless Draw in WPS
The Chicago Red Stars and Sky Blue FC played ninety action-packed, but scoreless minutes. The teams earned the first draw in WPS history. Chicago remains undefeated, while Sky Blue is still in search of its first win.
Apr 19, 2009 10:45:25 PM
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The Chicago Red Stars and Sky Blue FC played to a 0-0 draw on a soggy and chilly spring evening. Both teams had their share of chances, but no one was able to find the net. The Red Stars continue their unbeaten streak (1-0-2), while Sky Blue FC (0-1-2) is still winless. Sunday’s match marked the final home opener for Women’s Professional Soccer. The 0-0 result became the first scoreless draw in WPS history.
First Half
The Chicago Red Stars came out firing on all cylinders. In the fifth minute midfielder Carli Lloyd headed the ball toward goal. One minute later midfielder Megan Rapinoe sent a cross into the box. In the eighth minute Chicago had its first freekick opportunity of the day. Sky Blue midfielder Jen Buczkowski took down Cristiane in midfield. Lloyd rocketed the shot off the defense and into goalkeeper Karen Bardlsey’s arms.
Sky Blue FC defender Julianne Sitch blasted a shot toward goal in the 20th minute. Chicago goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson grabbed the ball for the save. Sitch received a yellow card in the 26th minute for taking down Red Stars midfielder Karen Carney outside the left side of the box. Carney bent it into the net. Bardsley punched it over for a corner kick.
Chicago’s Rapinoe was all over the field in the first half. In the 29th minute, she shot the bgall wide left. Then in the 36th minute, she challenged Bardsley and won. Bardsley went down sliding, while Rapinoe maintained possession of the ball, dribbled it back into play, turned and shot.
In the 37th minute, Kacey White hammered a ball toward goal, Jonsson again grabbed it for the save.
Four minutes later, Chicago had the best chance of either team. A flurry of Red Stars shots just before the half got the crowd tot heir feet. Rapinoe attempted a bicycle kick which went off Bardsley’s hand and over the bar, keeping the net clean.
The Red Stars out shot Sky Blue FC 12 to 3 in the first half, including three shots on goal to one. Bardsley made four saves, while Jonsson made two. At half-time the clubs were in a 0-0 deadlock.
Second Half
Both teams entered the pitch in the second half searching for a goal. Sky Blue FC picked up the pace toward the end of the match, forcing more shots. However the overall speed of the match slowed down. Sky Blue FC made a goalkeeper change going into the second half. Jennie Branam replaced Bardsley, who was suffering from back spasms.
In the 59th minute Meghan Schnur took down Rapinoe for a yellow. The Red Stars fell flat on the freekick opportunity. In the 61st minute, Sky Blue forward Sarah Walsh crossed the ball into the box. Collette McCallum shot the ball high.
Both teams brought on extra offense hoping to find the net. Sky Blue forward Natasha Kai entered the match in the 62nd minute. Red Stars forward Ella Masar entered the match in the 63rd.
In the 67th minute Rapinoe crossed to Carney, who rocketed it over the bar. Five minutes later, Sky Blue’s McCallum sent a low ball barreling toward the goal. It just missed the right post.
As time wore on, both teams threw all they had at each other. But a slippery field made way for some not-so-pretty soccer toward the end. Masar received a yellow card in the 78th minute for a rough tackle on Sitch.
Sky Blue had a good chance in the 82nd minute, when Kai sent a short ball toward goal. Jonsson grabbed it for the save.
Chicago’s captain forward Lindsay Tarpley looked to be the club’s hero again in stoppage time. Carney crossed to Tarpley, who blasted the ball at goal. Branam grabbed it for the final save of the match.
Chicago out shot Sky Blue FC 18 to 7, with four shots on goal. But at the end of the day, both teams struggled to finish.
Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
First Half
The Chicago Red Stars came out firing on all cylinders. In the fifth minute midfielder Carli Lloyd headed the ball toward goal. One minute later midfielder Megan Rapinoe sent a cross into the box. In the eighth minute Chicago had its first freekick opportunity of the day. Sky Blue midfielder Jen Buczkowski took down Cristiane in midfield. Lloyd rocketed the shot off the defense and into goalkeeper Karen Bardlsey’s arms.
Sky Blue FC defender Julianne Sitch blasted a shot toward goal in the 20th minute. Chicago goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson grabbed the ball for the save. Sitch received a yellow card in the 26th minute for taking down Red Stars midfielder Karen Carney outside the left side of the box. Carney bent it into the net. Bardsley punched it over for a corner kick.
Chicago’s Rapinoe was all over the field in the first half. In the 29th minute, she shot the bgall wide left. Then in the 36th minute, she challenged Bardsley and won. Bardsley went down sliding, while Rapinoe maintained possession of the ball, dribbled it back into play, turned and shot.
In the 37th minute, Kacey White hammered a ball toward goal, Jonsson again grabbed it for the save.
Four minutes later, Chicago had the best chance of either team. A flurry of Red Stars shots just before the half got the crowd tot heir feet. Rapinoe attempted a bicycle kick which went off Bardsley’s hand and over the bar, keeping the net clean.
The Red Stars out shot Sky Blue FC 12 to 3 in the first half, including three shots on goal to one. Bardsley made four saves, while Jonsson made two. At half-time the clubs were in a 0-0 deadlock.
Second Half
Both teams entered the pitch in the second half searching for a goal. Sky Blue FC picked up the pace toward the end of the match, forcing more shots. However the overall speed of the match slowed down. Sky Blue FC made a goalkeeper change going into the second half. Jennie Branam replaced Bardsley, who was suffering from back spasms.
In the 59th minute Meghan Schnur took down Rapinoe for a yellow. The Red Stars fell flat on the freekick opportunity. In the 61st minute, Sky Blue forward Sarah Walsh crossed the ball into the box. Collette McCallum shot the ball high.
Both teams brought on extra offense hoping to find the net. Sky Blue forward Natasha Kai entered the match in the 62nd minute. Red Stars forward Ella Masar entered the match in the 63rd.
In the 67th minute Rapinoe crossed to Carney, who rocketed it over the bar. Five minutes later, Sky Blue’s McCallum sent a low ball barreling toward the goal. It just missed the right post.
As time wore on, both teams threw all they had at each other. But a slippery field made way for some not-so-pretty soccer toward the end. Masar received a yellow card in the 78th minute for a rough tackle on Sitch.
Sky Blue had a good chance in the 82nd minute, when Kai sent a short ball toward goal. Jonsson grabbed it for the save.
Chicago’s captain forward Lindsay Tarpley looked to be the club’s hero again in stoppage time. Carney crossed to Tarpley, who blasted the ball at goal. Branam grabbed it for the final save of the match.
Chicago out shot Sky Blue FC 18 to 7, with four shots on goal. But at the end of the day, both teams struggled to finish.
Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
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