Match Recap: Reign FC Falls on the Road
Seattle Reign FC lost 2-1 to the Chicago Red Stars in the team’s first road match of the 2024 season. The Red Stars scored first but the Reign managed to level the score, before conceding once more.
The Reign started the match off on the front foot, forcing Chicago to chase the ball from the first whistle. With just one change in the lineup that saw veteran defender and captain Lauren Barnes slot into the backline in place of the second-year Reign defender Shae Holmes, the Reign were looking to control the ball and find a rhythm.
The Reign took three shots just four minutes into the match, all from the team’s Canadian players, Jordyn Huitema and Quinn, though all three were blocked. As the teams began to settle into the match, it became a wide open, box to box battle between the two teams, who both look significantly different than last season.
In the 14th minute of the match, midfielder Jess Fishlock served a cross into the box for Huitema, nearly connecting to find the opening goal of the match, but the header went high, clearing the danger for Chicago.
The 30th minute brought another promising chance for the Reign, this time from South Korean midfielder Ji So-Yun, who had been causing problems for Chicago all match. Her shot forced Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to make a diving save to keep the ball out of the net.
As the half was coming to a close, Chicago scored, taking the lead in the 42nd minute of the match. After forward Jenna Bike crossed a ball over into the box, it was half cleared to the top of 18-yard box, where Bianchi took possession and fired the ball into the back of the net.
Coming back from halftime down a goal, Head Coach Laura Harvey opted to field the same lineup. Notably, Barnes was leading the team from the backline, coming up with several important challenges to shut Chicago down. Ji, who had an excellent showing in the midfield, opened the half with shots in the 53rd and 57th minutes before finally opening her NWSL account.
In the 63rd minute, Ji became the first South Korean player to ever score an NWSL goal. Defender Sofia Huerta started the play with a cross served into the box, but Chicago’s defense was there to head it away from goal, but out of danger. Just outside the 18-yard box, Ji was lurking and made no mistake as she displayed her technical ability to settle the ball and loop a perfectly placed shot into the top corner of the net.
However, five minutes later, Chicago found the game winner as Taylor Malham crossed the ball all the way through to the back post, where Maximiliane Rall slotted it through to score. Though the Reign made substitutions to bring on fresh legs, the team could not quite break through Chicago’s defense to find another equalizer.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
50th GOAL SCORER: Ji So-Yun’s game-tying goal in the 63rd minute made her the club’s 50th player to score a regular-season goal for the club.
JESS FISHLOCK: With today’s appearance, midfielder Jess Fishlock tied Jess McDonald for the fourth-most regular season appearances (182) in NWSL history. Fishlock currently has the third-most regular season starts (178) and minutes played (15,485) in the league all-time.
JI SO-YUN: Midfielder Ji So-Yun tied the game 1-1 with her goal in the 63rd minute, marking her first goal with the Reign in just her second-ever start for the club. Ji finished the match with a team-leading six shots.
SERIES: The loss brings the all-time series to 11W-11L-8D between the Reign and the Chicago Red Stars.
UP NEXT: Seattle Reign FC will travel to San Diego to take on the Wave on Friday, March 29 at 7:00 p.m. PT. Fans can stream the match on Prime.
MATCH SUMMARY
2024 NWSL Regular Season
Seattle Reign FC 1 – 2 Chicago Red Stars
Date/Time: Saturday, March 23, 1:00 p.m. PT
Location: SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois
Weather: 36, Mostly sunny
Scoring Summary
SEA: Ji – 63’
CHI: Bianchi – 42', Rall – 68'
Discipline
SEA: McClernon (Caution – 85’)
CHI: Kuikka (Caution – 28')
Lineups
SEA: GK Dickey, D Huerta, D Barnes (c), D McClernon, D Woodham (Brown 69’), M Fishlock, M Ji, M Quinn, M James-Turner (Van der Jagt 69’), F Balcer (King 81’), F Huitema (Adames 81’)
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, D Lester, M Stanton, M Athens, D Holmes
Total Shots: 16 (Ji –6)
Shots on Goal: 2 (Ji – 2)
Fouls: 5 (Quinn – 2)
Offsides: 2
Corner Kicks: 7
Saves: 1 (Dickey – 1)
CHI: GK Naeher (c), D Malham, D Staab, D Kuikka, D Rall, M Roccaro, M Bianchi (Nesbeth 79’), M Gomes (Av. Cook 46’), F Swanson (Al. Cook 84’), F Schlegel (Griffith 78’), F Bike
Unused substitutes: GK Wood, D Biegalski, D Milazzo, D Anderson, F Joseph
Total Shots: 6 (Six tied with – 1)
Shots on Goal: 3 (Three tied with – 1)
Fouls: 8 (Bianchi, Bike – 2)
Offsides: 1
Corner Kicks: 2
Saves: 1 (Naeher – 1)
Player of the Match: Ji So-Yun
Referee: Rebecca Pagan
Assistant Referee 1: Chris Schurfranz
Assistant Referee 2: Matthew Rodman
4th Official: Alex Beehler
Var: Ekaterina Koroleva
Avar: Tom Felice