Orlando Pride Vs Chicago Red Stars: Week 21 Preview
The Chicago Red Stars will look to begin their revenge tour with a trip to Orlando against the Pride. Here is a full Week 21 preview.
One game down, two more to go. Coming in hot off a convincing 3-0 victory at home, the Chicago Red Stars now face their two greatest demons of the season, starting with the Orlando Pride. Chicago handled Orlando earlier in the season, winning 3-2 off the back of a Sam Kerr hat trick; but those good feelings turned just a few weeks ago when the Red Stars disintegrated in a 2-1 loss at home. This is an important match, not only for the Red Stars’ playoff chances, but for the chance to prove that they can beat the Pride.
And the Red Stars will not have a better opportunity. Based on the injury report from the weekend, Orlando will be without Marta due to a hamstring injury, while Alex Morgan will continue to sit out after her head injury in the previous game against Chicago. It’s possible for Marta to make the bench, but if she wasn’t ready to make the bench on Saturday, it would be surprising if she was ready to start in four days’ time. For the Chicago Red Stars, Arin Wright was a late scratch due to an illness and I’m betting on her not making it into the matchday squad due to similar reasons.
Along with those two major injuries, the Orlando Pride also lost their most dangerous player outside of those stars: Chioma Ubogagu. After the game in Chicago, she was offered an opportunity to play for Real Madrid’s women’s side and was allowed to leave. Great news for her, horrible news for the Pride, who have leaned on her heavily this season.
Moreover, recently, Orlando have conceded some silly goals from turnovers in the defensive third. In the NWSL, that is something that will be punished time and time again, as Orlando have discovered.
They do, however, have a knack of scoring late goals, although these are often just consolations. While that sounds like a back-handed compliment, this is important to note because a 1-0 lead against this team will not be enough. In the two games they’ve played since beating the Red Stars, they’ve scored a late goal in each. The Red Stars, then, must put the game to bed if they get the opportunity to do so.
The biggest takeaway from the last game for the Chicago Red Stars was that the team was finally well-rested. This is not the case just three days and a thousand miles later. Players are going to be tired again and it will be cumulative and carry over into the next game against Sky Blue FC. The Red Stars have a good squad, but their best players aren’t the sort of athletes that’ll sit a game out. Julie Ertz has been playing full 90 minutes for months now and, while the woman is made of steel, she’s got to be feeling it somehow. Sam Kerr was taken off in the 68th minute, seemingly to give her some rest, but rest will be in high demand throughout the squad over the next few weeks.
More from MLS Multiplex
- Javier Milei Elected in Argentina: Potential Impacts on MLS and Signings of Argentine Players
- Orlando City and New York City FC in the Battle for Matías Arezo; Grêmio Enters Negotiations! Who Will Come Out on Top?
- USA, Honduras, Panama, and Canada Close in on a Spot in the 2024 Copa America
- De Gea Turns Down Al-Nassr’s Lucrative Offer: Speculation Points to Possible Reunion with Messi at Inter Miami
- Messi’s Magnetic Impact in the United States
Then again, with an early lead, you can sit back and play a little easier. The Chicago Red Stars have proven that they can score early and put heavy pressure on the opposition early. As stated, Orlando have shown difficulty in handling pressure against their backline and players like Sam Kerr and Savannah McCaskill are relentless in their pursuit of opposing players. If they can get a couple of early goals, they can hopefully sit back and grind out a win with as little effort as possible.
Of course, nothing is that easy and nothing comes without effort, but the Chicago Red Stars are expected to win. But that, this season, has not always been a good thing.
Projected XI:
Chicago Red Stars (4-2-3-1): Alyssa Naeher; Casey Short, Katie Naughton, Julie Ertz, Sarah Gorden; Morgan Brian, Danielle Colaprico; Yuki Nagasato, Vanessa DiBernardo, Savannah McCaskill; Sam Kerr
Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1): Ashlyn Harris; Kristen Edmonds, Erin Greening, Shelina Zadorsky, Carson Pickett; Boyles, Alanna Kennedy; Rachel Hill, Marisa Viggiano, Claire Emslie; Camila
Next. Chicago Red Stars Vs Houston Dash: 3 things we learned. dark
How To Watch:
Wednesday, September 11th, 4:00 PM CDT; At Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, FL, on NBC Sportsnet Chicago, and online with the Yahoo Sports App