By Lesley Ryder
VAR intervened late in the dying moments of the match to award a penalty, and seal Chicago’s fate. Ally Sentnor converted the kick to secure the win for Utah, 1-0.
Both teams struggled to generated shots on target, but each team had their moment to score. Ally Sentnor rang an Olimpico attempt off the post early in the match. Chicago countered with opportunities of their own. Ludmila, Ally Schlegel, and Jameese Joseph combined to bring the ball into threatening territory, but couldn’t complete their chances with a shot.
The second half brought more of the same—neither side could get their footing at first. Chicago made a trio of substitutions, replacing their attacking line by the 70th minute. According to head coach Lorne Donaldson after the match, the substitutions were tactical, and out of necessity. Ludmila was awarded a yellow card in the first half, and he was concerned she would soon double her total. “I was avoiding a red card… the way the game was going, it's was going to be a red card, so we had to make a tough decision.”
As time wound down in stoppage time, a seemingly routine effort to win the ball in the box by Cari Roccaro drew scrutiny as the Utah player went down with the contact. The VAR official alerted the center referee to review the play, and the decision was made to award a penalty to Utah. Ally Sentnor sent her kick past a diving Alyssa Naeher to put Utah up on the scoreboard, with time expiring.
The match was a stark difference from Sunday’s efforts against Bay FC, when the Stars went up 2-0 in the first half. The team didn’t register a shot on target until Leilanni Nesbeth’s effort in the 89th minute.
“I definitely think we have to take ownership over our lack of production in the final third. I think there were times like me personally, turning and facing up, but just a little bit lack of focus and the details on in that final third,” said Schlegel in the post-match presser. “I think that Utah defended well, but I think we have our chances… chances don't do much when you're not putting the ball in the back of the net.”
The silver lining for the Stars was the defensive effort. After giving up nine goals in their first three matches, they’ve allowed just two in their last two outings, with both goals coming from penalty kicks.
“I think these two games together, the way the team defended, there's a lot of positives to build on, and that's that's what we need to hold on to in this moment,” Alyssa Naeher reflected “Never going to dismiss a loss because I hate losing. I probably hate losing more than I like winning. But, you know, it doesn't take away from the fact that this team defended well, battled hard, and those positives that we can take from this game.”
Lorne Donaldson believed the Stars had their chances, but could not bury them in the waythey had in the last match. “We have lots of good opportunities. We just didn't finish.There's no there is no reason reasoning behind it. We just didn't execute.”
The Stars have lost four of the first five matches this season.
Notes
- Ava Cook returned to the pitch for the first time in just over a year since she tore her ACL in training.
- Sam Staab extended her time on the pitch in her return from her achilles injury. She was substituted out in the 79th minute.
- Cari Roccaro made her 47th consecutive start, putting her in second place for the Stars all-time.
- Alyssa Naeher has now faced the most penalty shots in NWSL history.