Chicago Red Stars earn second straight shutout

The Chicago Red Stars earned their second straight shutout after a 1-0 victory over the Houston Dash thanks to a lone goal from Mallory Swanson. The club enters the summer break with a 7-7-2 record and 23 points, which puts them comfortably above the playoff line. Following the summer break, the Red Stars will prepare for the NWSL X Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup with their first match against NJ/NY Gotham FC at SeatGeek Stadium on July 20. Tickets are available now at chicagoredstars.com/tickets.

KEY MOMENTS:

24′ Mallory Swanson makes a run for Chicago into Houston territory, before passing to Natalia Kuikka on the left wing. Kuikka’s first attempt to cross from the 18-yard box is blocked, but the defender collects the rebound for Swanson who races towards goal, but her attempt to put the ball in the back of the net is thwarted by the Houston defender

45+1′ Chicago wins the ball in the Houston half. Midfielder Leilanni Nesbeth passes the ball to Swanson with her heel and Swanson touches the ball at the top of the box before striking it with her left foot past the Houston keeper to open the scoring, 1-0 Chicago

48′ Chicago’s Jameee Joseph creates space on the right wing of the field, crosses the ball into the Houston penalty area and a Houston defender misses the ball, creating an opportunity for Jenna Bike to head the ball towards goal, but the keeper manages to recover in time to save the shot, 1-0 Chicago

55′ Houston finds one of their attackers in the Chicago penalty area with a cross and the attacker sends a header towards goal, but Chicago’s Alyssa Naeher gets a hand on it to clear the danger

75′ Chicago’s Bea Franklin finds Jameese Joseph in midfield. Joseph takes the ball with virtually no traffic and takes a powerful shot that unfortunately goes straight at the Houston keeper, 1-0 Chicago

86′ Houston uses a quick pass to get the ball through the Chicago backline, creating a foot race between their forward and Alyssa Naeher to see who can get to the ball first. The Houston forward beats Naeher to the ball, but Naeher gets a glove on the ball to clear the danger

GAME NOTES:

• With his goal tonight, Swanson now has seven goals scored this season.

• Swanson has now scored in four consecutive games for the Red Stars, tying Jen Hoy who also scored in four consecutive games for the Red Stars in 2014. Sam Kerr holds the club record with six consecutive games with a goal

• With her assist tonight, Leilanni Nesbeth now has her first career assist and is the first person from Bermuda to assist on a goal in the NWSL.

• Swanson’s winning goal tonight is the forward’s eighth for the club, tying her with Sam Kerr for second in club history in game-winning goals.

• The Chicago Red Stars have scored in each of their last 5 NWSL games, scoring 8 goals in that stretch.

• Tatumn Milazzo continues to show his best form by ranking among the Red Stars’ top five in terms of passes completed in the final third (6), tackles made (2) and recoveries

Next game

Chicago Red Stars vs. New Jersey/New York Gotham FC Saturday, July 20 at 4:00 p.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium

Halftime goals

1 2 F

CHI 1 0 1

WHOA 0 0 0