Chicago Red Stars Vs Portland Thorns: Semi-final Preview

The playoffs are here. For the Chicago Red Stars, it starts by hosting the Portland Thorns. Here is a preview of this critically balanced NWSL semi-final.

It’s playoff time for the Chicago Red Stars! After a long season, the team has reached the point of no return. With rumors surrounding Sam Kerr and NWSL expansion looming to take players away, the time is now for the club to finally take the next step and make a deep run in the playoffs.

Having reached this point in each of the past four years, they have never reached the finals. They are looking to change that this time around, with a team that is more than capable. In their way is the Portland Thorns, a team that brings a foreboding presence to the Red Stars whenever they meet.

It’s been almost an entire month since the last game the Chicago Red Stars played, which means two very different things. First, all of the short-term injuries are over. All the one-week muscle injuries and stomach flus are gone. This is about as healthy as the Red Stars will be. Second, and more concerningly, match sharpness is important and the Red Stars haven’t seen the pitch for an official game in all this time. Rest is good, but too much can set a team back.

The Portland Thorns, meanwhile, have only had one week off, but it’s something that they absolutely needed. Limping their way to the finish line this season, Portland only earned four points out of their last five games. Contrast that to the Chicago Red Stars who won all five of their last five matches. There are rumors about problems within the locker room, but this is the playoffs. Stuff like that may very well be pushed aside. And the Portland attack is scintillating. Christine Sinclair and Tobin Heath have tremendous technical ability, Hayley Raso cleans up with her speed and Midge Purce should be the MVP this season. This is no easy task for the Chicago Red Stars.

An even tougher battle for Rory Dames’ team, however, will be with themselves and the media. After recent rumors suggested Sam Kerr will sign with Chelsea in the FA WSL, it will be interesting to see how the team reacts. Kerr has previously stated that she hasn’t given any thought to her future and is focusing on the task in front of her. Given her performances this season, there is little reason to doubt her. But for all of her individual brilliance — she has been the golden boot in the NWSL for three seasons running — she doesn’t have a single trophy to show for it. She wants something out of this season before she even starts considering moving on.

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As for the team as a whole, quite curiously, the Red Stars have gone 23 games without a draw this season, only taking home a single point in the first two games of the season, one of them against Portland. The Red Stars seem to be a team based on a binary outcome, win or lose. Moreover, when matches have been decided by late goals, it has predominantly been the Red Stars who have come away with the victory. This is a clutch team. And in the crucible of the postseason, that is critical. After all, these are the playoffs, not a picnic.

Projected XI:

Chicago Red Stars (4-3-3): Alyssa Naeher; Sarah Gorden, Tierna Davidson, Julie Ertz, Casey Short; Morgan Brian, Vanessa DiBernardo, Danielle Colaprico; Yuki Nagasato, Sam Kerr, Savannah McCaskill

Portland Thorns (4-2-3-1): Adrianna Franch; Meghan Klingenberg, Emily Menges, Emily Sonnett, Ellie Carpenter; Lindsey Horan, Dagný Brynjarsdóttir; Tobin Heath, Christine Sinclair, Hayley Raso; Midge Purce

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How To Watch:

Sunday, October 20th, 2:30 PM CDT; At SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, IL, on NBC Sportsnet Chicago, and online with the Yahoo Sports App

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