Riding The Coaster in Toyota Park: Chicago Crashes, DC Survives

Bridgeview, IL  July 26, 2009  Talk about symmetry! Three weeks ago on the same pitch, the same two clubs played. At the end there was a one goal differential. The winner was the first in WPS history to come from behind to win. Today, there was a one goal differential. The club that fell behind came back to win.

Three weeks ago, it was the Chicago Red Stars. Today, it was Washington Freedom. But the Red Stars' record of coming from behind wasn't the most important thing the visiting team destroyed today. Today, Washington destroyed Chicago's season, virtually ending the host's bid for a postseason opportunity.  

For Chicago fans, the match was a roller coaster ride. It began with a powerful go-ahead goal by Megan Rapinoe from the right side in the 15th minute, fed by Carli Lloyd. It was the earliest goal in team history. It gave the home fans every reason to be optimistic about the outcome of the game, as the roller coaster surged fast and high.

Following Rapinoe's goal, the Red Stars began to play with increased passion and aggressiveness, suddenly taking control of the game at both ends.  But when Washington's Abby Wambach evened the score later in the half, the Red Stars began to visibly deflate and the roller coaster took a hard, fast dip.

As the match progressed both teams had scoring chances, but could not connect.  As the Red Stars attack took shape the roller coaster raced higher and with each failure to finish, rushed down. 

Wambach scored again to go ahead in the 56th minute, but was answered by a Chicago score from Karen Carney in the 69th minute, assisted by Heather Garriock who had just entered the game.

But Chicago continued to fight, had more opportunities, more close calls and near misses, and the roller coaster ran up again.

Throughout the match both clubs had numerous near misses, but for a while it appeared Chicago's defense had coalesced. Ifoema Dieke was a human wall, kicking and heading balls away from the goal right and left. But then it happened.  

In the 89th minute, Freedom midfielder Allie Long broke through a pair of Chicago defenders on the left side of the box and beat Red Stars goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson to her left for the goal, Long’s second of the season.

The two teams combined for 36 shots, which has become a hallmark of the rivalry.  Jönsson made 11 saves in the match, two shy of her franchise mark which was set in an April 11 draw at Washington.  Jönsson’s top four save totals of the season have all come against the Freedom.

With the loss, Chicago remains at 17 points with two games remaining in the regular season. Washington moves into a tie with Sky Blue FC for 23 points.  Because those two teams still have a head-to-head meeting remaining, the Red Stars have been eliminated from postseason contention.

For Chicago, Rapinoe and Carney each tallied their second goal of the season. Carney (pictured above) was selected by fans as the player of the game.

In our opinion, however, Ifeoma Dieke was the player of the game. Had it not been for her defensive ubiquity, Chicago would not have been in the game until the final minute. Unfortunately, defensive valor is seldom recognized, but in this case especially, recognition is well-deserved.  

The Red Stars will host their final home game of the 2009 season on Sunday, August 2nd, when they welcome the WPS regular season champion Los Angeles Sol. Led by three-time defending FIFA Player of the Year Marta, the Sol will make their only Chicago appearance of the year. 

Chicago has played well against Los Angeles, and given the fact that the game is meaningless to both teams in the sense that Los Angeles has already clinched the regular season championship and Chicago has been eliminated from playoff contention, it should be a wide open, entertaining match. A Chicago victory would not surprise.