WPS Philly Exerts Independence, Bringing Down Chicago Red Stars

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (May 15, 2010)--"I can speak for every person on this team that we will keep fighting, and no matter what it takes we will find it."

That post-game statement by Chicago Red Stars defender Marian Dalmy captures the frustration and determination of what continues to be Women's Professional Soccer's most under-achieving club for a second year.

Tonight's comments referenced yet another frustrating loss. This time it came after Chicago fell behind Philadelphia Independence in the sixth minute on a defensive lapse, and couldn't recover.

The goal by midfielder Joanna Lohman, on a cross from Amy Rodriquez, would be enough as the expansion Independence went on to protect their 1-0 lead, earning their first road win of the young season.

When asked about the goal, Philadelphia Coach Paul Riley stated, "We've been talking about deep runs and we knew Chicago played a little flat in the back. And we figured we maybe could get beyond them and get the midfielders beyond them, and Joanna Lohman obviously made a great run."

The surprisingly strong Independence improved to 3-1-2 as the Red Stars dropped to 1-4-1 on the season.

Falling behind early and playing the rest of the match in a panicky funk has become the theme of the Red Stars season thus far. Chicago fell behind in the first 15 minutes for the third time this season. Although Chicago tightened up their defense after the lapse, the damage was done.

Offensively, the Red Stars offense seemed disorganized throughout the first half, although they gradually became more effective in the second, getting the advantage in shots and chances.  But once again, as has been the case since opening day last season, Chicago was unable to capitalize on any of those chances.

In the 78th minute, with the Red Stars needing an equalizer, Coach Emma Hayes brought in a third attacker in Ella Masar. But the Red Stars could not find the back of the net.

One of the Red Stars' best scoring chances in the closing minutes came in the 86th minute, when midfielder Karen Carney sent a cross into Masar from the right side. But Masar could not put her foot squarely on the ball and it went wide.

"We go behind and then we panic, and rather than just settle into the game we want to take it in our own hands individually," Hayes lamented. "And it's become a stress for the team because it hasn't put goals in."

For the fifth time out of six matches this year, Chicago had the advantage in shots taken, 12-7. But Philadelphia had a 5-3 advantage of shots on goal.

Philadelphia goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc made three saves for the clean sheet. Chicago goalkeeper Jillian Loyden had four saves.

In the post-game interviews, the pain and disappointment felt by the three who represented Chicago in the media room, was palpable. 

"It's very quiet in the locker room, right now," Hayes said. "They're hurting in there. Don't think they don't care. They're hurting." 

Loyden barely spoke.

Dalmy summarized it well. "We worked this week on digging deep and finding the fight. I don't think we had it as much in the first half, in the second half we did, but you can fight all you want. If you don't score you're not going to win games. And you have to keep the other team from scoring."

When a reporter asked, "How do you do that?" Dalmy answered, "I don't know."

Apparently her coach doesn't know either.

"This team has been better than it was tonight. I don't think we can sit here and say this team dominated the game or deserved a great deal more because I don't think we were good enough. And that's my responsibility to figure out the ways to put the team in that position and make sure we're strong for Gold Pride [on May 29]."

When pressed Hayes suggested she might experiment some more with player combinations in an attempt to tweak team chemistry but seemed to be at a loss as to what would work better.

One curious move by Hayes during the match was her decision to replace midfielder Megan Rapinoe with Kosovare Asllani in the second half. When asked about that Hayes said that Rapinoe had not been following the strategy she'd been given as the game got out of hand. According to Hayes Rapinoe has a tendency to move out of position and try to do too much. Subbing her out after a half was a strong message to stick with the plan. "She's a pro," Hayes commented. "She'll figure it out. She'll be fine."

Failure to score wasn't all Chicago's fault. The Philadelphia defense was the most aggressive and impregnable unit the Red Stars have faced this year.

Their two biggest defensive backs, Katherine Reynolds and Sara Larson, referred to by Coach Paul Riley as "The Twin Towers" were more like two panels in a solid wall that deflected more than a few Chicago shots off the back.

Their midfield was also relentless defensively, winning more than their share of 50/50 balls, constantly frustrating what is usually a dominant Chicago attack.

For Chicago, Karen Carney was voted Player of the Game by the fans, but the real player of the game wasn't one of the choices posted on the scoreboard. 28 year old defender Natalie Spilger, starting in place of Dieke who was serving a suspension, seized the opportunity, and played like a madwoman. Although surrounded by the likes of Markgraf, Dalmy and Engen, Spilger carried the defense in hustle and in effectiveness, using every legal part of her body to repel and rebuff Philadelphia advances.

Bottom line: Philadelphia displayed the surprising strength they've been showing all season with the exception of their only loss, last week in St. Louis. They were the better team tonight, and may well be the better team period.

Speaking of his club's good fortune, Coach Riley seemed as surprised as anyone at how well his group of cast-offs (those left unprotected in the WPS expansion draft), still trying to get to know each other and gel as a team, could be fighting for second place.

"We have a lot of girls with something to prove (when they play their former clubs)" Riley said. "We're great in the locker room."

This week it was former Red Stars Nikki Kryssik and Danesha Adams with scores to settle. Both were claimed by the Independence when the Red Stars made them available for the expansion draft.

Kryssik has played the full 90 minutes in every match so far this season. Riley cited her as one of the team's leaders. He said that's one of the good things about expansion. "There is a lot of talent not getting much playing time. Give them the opportunity and they'll shine." 

Riley gave his opponents their due, saying "Every time Carney or Cristiane, or Asllani, Rapinoe-- any time they came at us I lost another strand of hair... Chicago is a very talented team, so to get a result on the road here is a big win for us. I think it's the first away win in franchise history, so for us it was a big one." 

The best news for Chicago was the attendance. The crowd of 5,645 was among the club's best in history-- a welcome number after the first two home games were well below last year's gate.

After the league takes a hiatus next week to allow for US Women's National Team activity, the Red Stars return to the home pitch on Saturday May 29th, 7PM, to face  league leading FC Gold Pride.

It will be the two clubs' second meeting in three games. The Bay Area side is 5-1, and defeated Chicago soundly in their first meeting last week. Losing by a score of 2-0, the Red Stars played most of the match short-handed due to defender Ifeoma Dieke's ejection at the 25th minute, for a foul in the penalty box. 

Red Stars fans can only hope that Coach Hayes can use the two week break to find the right combinations and motivate her players to dig deep enough to find that "fight" Dalmy alluded to, that has thus far eluded them.

If not, the Red Stars are in for a lot more quiet locker rooms in the weeks to come.

Philadelphia Independence at Chicago Red Stars
May 15, 2010 -- Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill.
Independence 1, Red Stars 0
Independence   1 0 - 1
Red Stars          0 0 - 0
SCORING SUMMARY
1.Philadelphia - Lohman (Rodriguez), 6.
Red Stars: Loyden (GK), Dalmy, Engen, Spilger (Masar, 78), Markgraf, Rapinoe (Asllani, 46), Formiga, Carney, Chapman, Cristiane (McDonald, 65), Nogueira
Independence: LeBlanc (GK), Krzysik, Falk, Larsson, Mitts, Buczkowski, Lindsey, Seger (Magnusdottir, 72), Lohman, Sanderson (Senty, 82), Rodriguez (Adams, 87)
STATISTICS:
Shots: Red Stars 12, Independence 7
Shots on goal: Red Stars 3, Independence 5
Saves: Red Stars 3, Independence 4
Corner kicks: Red Stars 6, Independence 3
Offsides: Red Stars 1, Independence 4
Fouls: Red Stars 7, Independence 7
Referee: Tony Crush
Referee's assistants: Matthew Kreitzer, Greg Dopka
Fourth official: Jorge Cuate
Attendance: 5,645

Photo by David Durochek, shows "Player of the Game," Karen Carney in action against Philadelphia.