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Saint Louis Athletica Shuts Down Chicago
Saint Louis Athletica bounced back from a week off by handing Chicago a 2-0 loss, its third straight loss.
May 24, 2009 3:28:24 AM
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Saint Louis Athletica came to Chicago on a mission. And they left with a 2-0 win. The Chicago Red Stars fell flat for the third straight match. Despite creating chances, they couldn’t capitalize on anything.
“This is the time that the team as a whole has to come together and along with the staff, we have to find solutions on things in my opinion which are not based off ability,” Red Stars head coach Emma Hayes said. “Mentally we have to develop a collective. For us, we’re better than we’re showing at the moment.”
Saint Louis had very few shots in the first half, but two proved lethal. Eniola Aluko started the initial play that ended in an own goal. She then netted a goal 16 minutes later to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
“To play against Chicago is always a complicated thing,” Athletica head coach Jorge Barcellos said. “I think we did everything we needed to do.”
Chicago failed to convert in each half, despite 12 shots, including six on goal. Athletica goalkeeper Jillian Loyden stepped in for Hope Solo, who is with the U.S. National Team. She impressed in her WPS debut, making six saves and earning a clean sheet.
First Half
Chicago started out attacking. Cristiane headed a ball high early in the first half. In the 20th minute, Karen Carney almost gave the home team the lead. Carney launched sent a freekick bomb toward goal. Loyden made the save.
Aluko sent a shot toward goal in the 25th minute. It bounced off of Red Stars defender Ifeoma Dieke, over goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson and into the net to give Athletica a 1-0 lead.
“I was trying to cut it back to Kerri Hanks but it deflected off the defender and went in,” Aluko said. “Sometimes you get goals like that.”
After the goal, Chicago continued with the pressure. Carney took shots in the 35th and 38th minutes that both threatened the net. But before the Red Stars could find the net, Saint Louis struck again.
Kendall Fletcher found an open Aluko in the 41st minute and sent her a short pass. Aluko tapped it into the net to give the club a 2-0 lead. Chicago’s Brittany Klein and Cristiane threatened in the final minute of the half, but to no avail.
Second Half
The Red Stars brought on some new faces in the second half. Forward Danesha Adams and midfielder Heather Garriock both returned from injury. Garriock played just 11 minutes before exiting the pitch with a pulled leg muscle. Michelle Weninoe made her Chicago debut as a replacement for Garriock.
The Red Stars continued their shots in the second half, including a Cristiane blast in the 61st minute. Carney rocketed a shot toward goal seven minutes later for two of the best opportunities of the match. Loyden easily made the saves.
In the 78th minute a head-to-head collision between Chicago’s Natalie Spilger and Saint Louis’ Kerri Hanks sent Spilger to the pitch. Spilger exited the field and did not return.
After the game, the Red Stars also announced that Carli Lloyd suffered a laceration to her left knee during a U.S. Women’s scrimmage on Saturday. She will miss the U.S. friendly vs. Toronto on Monday as well as a week or two with Chicago.
The Red Stars (2-3-2, 8 points) and Saint Louis (2-2-2, 8 points) are now tied for fifth in the WPS standings.
“Now is the test again of our character,” Hayes said. “We can’t fold. We lost the game in two moments. It’s crucial that we identify what those problems are once a goal goes in. It is emotional, I can assure you that. We need to get on the same page and have a collective focus.”
Goal.com
For more on Women’s Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com’s women’s soccer section.
“This is the time that the team as a whole has to come together and along with the staff, we have to find solutions on things in my opinion which are not based off ability,” Red Stars head coach Emma Hayes said. “Mentally we have to develop a collective. For us, we’re better than we’re showing at the moment.”
Saint Louis had very few shots in the first half, but two proved lethal. Eniola Aluko started the initial play that ended in an own goal. She then netted a goal 16 minutes later to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
“To play against Chicago is always a complicated thing,” Athletica head coach Jorge Barcellos said. “I think we did everything we needed to do.”
Chicago failed to convert in each half, despite 12 shots, including six on goal. Athletica goalkeeper Jillian Loyden stepped in for Hope Solo, who is with the U.S. National Team. She impressed in her WPS debut, making six saves and earning a clean sheet.
First Half
Chicago started out attacking. Cristiane headed a ball high early in the first half. In the 20th minute, Karen Carney almost gave the home team the lead. Carney launched sent a freekick bomb toward goal. Loyden made the save.
Aluko sent a shot toward goal in the 25th minute. It bounced off of Red Stars defender Ifeoma Dieke, over goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson and into the net to give Athletica a 1-0 lead.
“I was trying to cut it back to Kerri Hanks but it deflected off the defender and went in,” Aluko said. “Sometimes you get goals like that.”
After the goal, Chicago continued with the pressure. Carney took shots in the 35th and 38th minutes that both threatened the net. But before the Red Stars could find the net, Saint Louis struck again.
Kendall Fletcher found an open Aluko in the 41st minute and sent her a short pass. Aluko tapped it into the net to give the club a 2-0 lead. Chicago’s Brittany Klein and Cristiane threatened in the final minute of the half, but to no avail.
Second Half
The Red Stars brought on some new faces in the second half. Forward Danesha Adams and midfielder Heather Garriock both returned from injury. Garriock played just 11 minutes before exiting the pitch with a pulled leg muscle. Michelle Weninoe made her Chicago debut as a replacement for Garriock.
The Red Stars continued their shots in the second half, including a Cristiane blast in the 61st minute. Carney rocketed a shot toward goal seven minutes later for two of the best opportunities of the match. Loyden easily made the saves.
In the 78th minute a head-to-head collision between Chicago’s Natalie Spilger and Saint Louis’ Kerri Hanks sent Spilger to the pitch. Spilger exited the field and did not return.
After the game, the Red Stars also announced that Carli Lloyd suffered a laceration to her left knee during a U.S. Women’s scrimmage on Saturday. She will miss the U.S. friendly vs. Toronto on Monday as well as a week or two with Chicago.
The Red Stars (2-3-2, 8 points) and Saint Louis (2-2-2, 8 points) are now tied for fifth in the WPS standings.
“Now is the test again of our character,” Hayes said. “We can’t fold. We lost the game in two moments. It’s crucial that we identify what those problems are once a goal goes in. It is emotional, I can assure you that. We need to get on the same page and have a collective focus.”
Goal.com
For more on Women’s Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com’s women’s soccer section.
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