Ludmila’s brace not enough as late goals by Lynn Biyendolo and Jordyn Bugg draw Seattle level 2-2
By Lesley Ryder
The Stars came out at Soldier Field with another strong first half performance. Ludmila opened the scoring in the 11th minute after a scorching run downfield. Moments later, she came loose running with Jenna Bike. She grooved past a Reign defender and scored her second goal in just three minutes.
Chicago kept control for most of the half, not allowing a shot on target until the first minute of stoppage time. Seattle’s biggest scoring threat came in the 34th minute when Natalia Kuikka was called for a penalty, but a video review overturned the foul call on the field.
Seattle took the reins in the second half of the match, outshooting Chicago 15-3. Chicago’s rookie goalkeeper Halle Mackiewicz kept busy in her first home start, making 4 saves, including a stunner off Lynn Biyendolo’s shot from distance in the 64th minute.
As the second half progressed, Chicago’s defensive line dropped deeper and deeper toward their own goal. Interim coach Masaki Hemmi used his last substitution to put Hannah Anderson on the pitch for Shea Groom. Hemmi believed the fifth defender would be an advantage for the Stars going into the final 15 minutes for the match.
The plan backfired on the Stars. In the 87th minute, a failed clearance from Cari Roccaro went to the boot of an unmarked Lynn Biyendolo. Biyendolo had plenty of time to line up her strike from just outside the 18’ box, and past a diving Halle Mackewicz.
Moments later, The Stars were pinned down in their defensive third again. Seattle’s Maddie Dahlien and Jordyn Bugg outnumbered the Stars out wide, allowing Bugg to send a cross that had eyes for the back of the net. It sailed past three Chicago defenders to even the score as the clock hit the 90th minute.
Seattle became the first team in NWSL history to complete a comeback after trailing by two goals after the 85th minute.
Another late goal
“I thought maybe adding another defender would allow us to be more aggressive in the wide areas, and it became the opposite of that” Hemmi told reporters after the match. “I think if the line of confrontation is higher, like it was in the first half, then we’re not taking those free punches when they come into the box.
The Stars have allowed 10 goals in the final 15 minutes of a match this season. It’s a troubling stat when the season is 12 games through.
Hemmi looks to the work his team has done in the last few weeks to improve. “We were struggling to sustain possession, purposeful possession, to progress the ball forward. That’s something we’ve worked on, and I think we’ve improved on that.”
According to FBref, the Chicago Stars still rank last in the NWSL in progressive carries, and progressive passes. They’re ranked in the bottom three for pass completion percentage.
“In those last moments when opponents are throwing more numbers at us, we need to be more game savvy. Maybe it’s a clearance, maybe it’s an aggression to get a block around the box… I think those things really need to be addressed” Hemmi explained “We haven’t really worked on it as much, then we’re getting punished in those situations. So we need to continue to get better in there. We’re definitely coming back this week in training and be addressing that going forward.”
The Stars are now winless in their last eight matches, with one more match before the July break.
Match day notebook
- Chicago lost Ludmila in the 61st with an apparent head injury when she jumped to stop a Seattle free kick. There was no update on her condition available after the match.
- Sam Staab wore the Captain’s armband for the second week in a row while Alyssa Naeher remains unavailable sue to injury. “If I do half as good a job as Alyssa, we’ll be fine… I’m just keeping it warm for her.”