Washington Spirit 1, Chicago Red Stars 1: First Thoughts

Washington Spirit 1 Ordega 4’

Chicago Red Stars 1 Mautz 20’

• Lineups are here!
• Pregame thought 1: Sam Kerr starts! Julie Ertz on the bench! Ahhhhhhh!!!!
• Pregame thought 2: Seriously y’all, I am Extremely Hype.
• Let’s goooooooooooooooooooooooo
• 4’ GOAL Welp. That didn’t take long. Pugh hit a great cross from the flank and Ordega was able to finish at the far post. WAS 1-0 CHI

• 6’ That was definitely a team failure but like... Gilliland could’ve maybe done a little better there. Ah well, plenty of time to get back in it.
• 12’ The immediate response from the Red Stars after conceding has been... how do I put this delicately? Tepid.
• 14’ Aw jeez, forget tepid, a CRS defender just gave the ball away 20 yards from goal. This team needs to get it together and fast.
• 17’ Some more “activity” but nothing resembling a coherent attack yet. Annnnny moment now.
• 20’ GOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL I’m not sure how it happened but SOMEHOW the ball ended up in Washington’s net and Mautz is getting credit for it! Game on!! WAS 1-1 CHI

• 23’ AWW DANG and immediately after that Kerr almost heads it in for a second goal! See, this I like!
• 28’ The backline is starting to look more composed as well. Definitely a good sign.
• 30’ Possible another good sign and possibly not: Stanton is feeling feisty tonight. Somehow doesn’t have a card yet.
• 38’ Some relative calm shattered when Ordega forces Naeher into a save. The offside flag was up so nothing would’ve counted anyway.
• 41’ WTFWTFWTF Bledsoe comes up with a heroic double save from a corner kick. I have no idea what happened but honestly? Give her SOTY right now. (AND she’s got a bloody lip for her troubles!)

• 44’ AND AGAIN! Chicago comes close to taking the lead but for a clutch save by Bledsoe! Wow.
• 45’ Washington hammering Naeher’s goal looking to retake the lead. Chicago holding steady. Three minutes of stoppage time.
• Halftime! WAS 1-1 CHI
• Halftime thought 1: So, definitely some room for improvement here. But the score is level and Kerr is definitely feeling her way into the game.
• Halftime thought 2: A draw would definitely be fine here but I think we can do better than that.
• Second half is underway!
• 51’ Washington hitting back early as Andi Sullivan takes a shot from outside the box. It’s wide of the post, but a little too close for comfort.
• 54’ Oooooh Kerr with a shot outside the box that drifts wide of the po
• 56’ Mautz picks up a yellow. #TheChicagoWay
• 59’ Dydasco barrels into Yuki and somehow Yuki gets whistled for the foul.
• 61’ Oh man, Kerr juggled the ball a bit and then tried to hit a side-volley but it’s wide of the post. Imagine if that went in.

• 62’ Michele Vasconcelos checks into the game, replacing Alyssa Mautz.
• 65’ UNCLE NAEHER WITH AUTHORITY

• 70’ Kerr knocking on the door! She hits a daisy cutter from 22 yards out but Bledsoe manages to save it.
• 74’ E R T Z (she checks into the game for Stanton)
• 79’ Kerr drifting out wide, sends in a cross from the right flank but there’s a bit too much on it.
• 81’ A Chicago corner kick isn’t cleared well and there’s some ping pong in the box before it goes out for another corner. The second one is picked out by Bledsoe.
• 83’ Yuki picks up a yellow card for... something?
• 87’ UGH Bledsoe tries to intercept a cross and misses, setting up Kerr near the penalty spot but she can’t quite get her shot off. Almost!!
• 89’ Ertz fighting to keep possession in the attacking third but gets whistled for a foul. Oh, how I missed you.
• 90’ Kerr picks up a yellow. lol. Two minutes of stoppage time.
• 92’ Washington gets a free kick on the left flank. Last chance for them. Aaaaaaand... nope.
• Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep! Final score: WAS 1-1 CHI
• Final Whistle Thought: I’ll take it. #ScamGang strikes again!

Stay tuned for more postgame coverage and a full recap here on Hot Time In Old Town. In the meantime, join the conversation in the comments or on social media.