California "Squeaming:" What a Difference a Month Makes to Chicago in LA

CARSON , Calif. — For the second time in a month, the Chicago Red Stars arrived at LA’s Home Depot Center in need of a momentum fix.

On their first appearance, Chicago came within a minute of winning a 1-0 match but settled for a tie when LA’s Camille Abily scored during stoppage time.

Even the tie was a moral victory.

By scoring her first goal of the season, Chicago’s Cristiane broke a 300-plus minute team scoring drought, kept the team’s undefeated road record intact, ended a losing streak at three, and recharged their momentum, sending them on to the Bay Area where Cristiane scored another goal and protected the road streak for one more game.

What a difference a month makes.

This time instead of breaking a scoring drought, Chicago extended their barren streak past the 400 minute mark—a new WPS record. Instead of pumping up their momentum, the Red Stars fell further and harder than they have until now.

Things got ugly for Chicago early. Shannon Boxx scored for the home team in the 15th minute. Abily drew Chicago blood a second time this season with a goal in the 20th minute. Marta added two goals in the second half as the Los Angeles Sol hit the Chicago Red Stars for their biggest loss to date, 4-0, Saturday, June 27, before 4,653 fans at the Home Depot Center.

The score gave Los Angeles a share of the WPS team scoring record set by the Red Stars at Toyota Park, versus Boston on April 26. That match was also Chicago’s last WPS victory.

Chicago’s best chance of the game came in the 33rd minute when Cristiane played a ball into the box for Lindsay Tarpley, who put her shot in the net but was flagged for offside. 

With the loss, Chicago remains in seventh place in the WPS standings but just three points out of fourth place, pending the rest of the weekend’s action.  Los Angeles extends its lead in the league points standings.