Los Angeles-Chicago: Red Stars Rise in Final Home Game of Season Over Sol

A 3-1 defeat for the Los Angeles Sol to the Chicago Red Stars at Toyota Park in Bridgeview summons the question: Have the Sol slumped at the wrong time?

And another question: where was this effort by the Women of the Windy City during a good deal of the 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season?

Emma Hayes's club pulled in a performance that was reminiscent of their 4-0 victory over the Boston Breakers early in the season.

But a series of poor finishing, patchwork defending and ill-advised passes proved the point loud and clear to Women's Professional Soccer: The Sol can be beaten.

One can sense that the Breakers—the only team to not have lost to the Sol this year—are taking careful note as their post-season aspirations will fall on this match on August 9.

Chicago opened the proceedings in the 24th minute. The Red Star transition worked to perfection with Carli Lloyd's goal off a feed by Lindsay Tarpley.

The second half was all Chicago as Los Angeles buckled under the half-time deficit.

The Red Stars capitalized on the Sol's defensive ineptitude with Brittany Klein helping Tarpley score in the 47th minute.

In spite of a consolation goal from Han Duan via Shannon Boxx in the 89th minute, Cristiane scored her seventh of the season in the 92nd, rubbing salt to the wounds of what has been the Sol's worse performance to date.

“Whether we’re playing the champs or whether we’re playing whoever, it doesn’t matter," said Tarpley following the contest. "Every game is important and we’re disappointed we’re not in the playoffs, I think that’s fair to say and that’s our goal.

"We want to be the top of league; we have some work to do, but I think it was great for us to be able to go out there and play well and have fun and play in front of our fans.”

The victory for Chicago ensures that the belief for bigger and better things from the Red Stars will be coming.

“We showed this time when we got a goal against us that we had enough character to go straight down the other end and get the winner," said Hayes after the match. "I think there’s credit to the team to show their character in a game on some levels in meaningless to us at least because we’re out of the playoffs.

"For me, that will be the benchmark moving forward. This is a building platform for next year so I am happy with the result. ”

“Like Emma said we are pros and it’s important for us to be staying sharp," said Lloyd following the contest. "A game against the first place team and we’re not even in the playoffs, you still have to compete. You don’t get many games in a year and you could be hurt tomorrow, you never know.

"For me, I just want to give it my all every game, as well as the rest of the team.”

In fact, the only minuses for Chicago were yellow cards to Natalie Spilger and Niki Krzysik to go with the blown clean sheet for Red Stars goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson.

The Sol must address two issues heading into the Aug. 9 season finale against the Boston Breakers: (1) who will fill the shoes of Camille Abily, who will be competing in the Women's Euro 2009, and (2) the lack of defensive consistency the past three matches.

“Playing with the best players in the world has been a great experience," said Sol forward Brittany Bock. "We couldn’t take this game, but you know we move on and go to Boston and do our stuff there.”

Kickoff at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, MA is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET and will be covered by Fox Soccer Channel.

Chicago wraps up its 2009 season on the road against St. Louis Athletica. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Aug. 5.


08.02.2009

Bridgeview, Illinois – Toyota Park

Los Angeles Sol – Chicago Red Stars 1:3 (0:1)

1 2 F
Los Angeles 0 1 1
Chicago 1 2 3

Scoring Summary

CHI – Carli Lloyd (Lindsay Tarpley) 24’
CHI – Lindsay Tarpley (Brittany Klein) 47’
LA – Han Duan (Shannon Boxx) 90’
CHI – Cristiane (Ella Masar) 91’+

Misconduct Summary

CHI – Natalie Spilger 39’ (caution)
CHI – Nikki Krzysik 64’ (caution)

Lineups

Los Angeles Sol: Karina LeBlanc; Sharlota Nonen (71: Han Duan), Stephanie Cox, Brittany Bock, Allison Falk; Shannon Boxx; Manya Makoski; Aya Miyama; Aly Wagner (75: Katie Larkin); McCall Zerboni (71: Liz Bogus); Marta.

Chicago Red Stars: Caroline Jonsson; Marian Dalmy (61: Nikki Krzysik), Natalie Spilger, Jill Oakes, Frida Ostberg; Carli Lloyd, Brittany Klein, Lindsay Tarpley (64: Heather Garriock), Karen Carney; Cristiane, Megan Rapinoe (68: Ella Masar)

Referee: Kari Seitz
Asst. Referee: Danielle Magouirk; Ian Gut
Fourth Official: Victor Herrera
Attendance: 7,959