RECAP: FC Kansas City falls to Chicago Red Stars in final game before Olympics

CHICAGO (July 30, 2024) – Despite another strong defensive performance, two-time National Women’s Soccer League champion FC Kansas City could not pick up another victory before the 2024 Rio Olympic Games. The Blues fell 1-0 to the Chicago Red Stars at Toyota Park and now enter a four-week break as four teammates compete in Brazil.

This was the second matchup between the Blues and the Red Stars this season with the first ending in a 0-0 draw on May 13.

The Blues continued that shutout streak until the 54th minute when Chicago’s Stephanie McCaffrey found the back of the net. Nicole Barnhart saved back-to-back shots from Sophia Huerta before McCaffrey collected the rebound and threaded it through three Blues defenders.

Barnhart finished with four saves on nine shots and the team defended nine corner kicks.

FC Kansas City is now 4-7-4 with 16 points and five games left in the regular season. The Chicago Red Stars are 7-4-4 with 25 points.

The Blues and Red Stars will meet two more times this season with a game in Chicago on Sept. 7 and one in Kansas City on Sept. 11.

FC Kansas City was playing without Olympians Becky Sauerbrunn, Heather O’Reilly, Desiree Scott and Katie Bowen. Sauerbrunn and O’Reilly are playing for the 2024 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s National Team. Scott will suit up for Canada and Bowen will represent New Zealand.

The Blues will return from the Olympic break to host the Boston Breakers at 5 p.m. on Aug. 28 at Swope Soccer Village.

For FC Kansas City tickets or more information, please call 855-4KC-GOAL or visit fckansascity.com.

NWSL Match Report

Matchup: Chicago Red Stars vs. FC Kansas City

Date: July 30, 2024

Venue: Toyota Park

Attendance: 2,550

Scoring Summary

                1              2              F

CHI         0              1              1

KC           0              0              0

1              CHI         McCaffrey           54th

Lineups

CHI: Dalton; Short, Naugton, Johnson, Gilliland, DiBernardo, Comeau (Raetzman 90’), Colaprico, Walls, McCaffrey (Hoy 75’), Huerta (Mautz 67’).

Subs not used: Smallidge; Gorden, Luba.

Coach: Rory Dames

KC: Barnhart; Taylor, Reed, Tymrak, Menchel (Weimer 85’), Laddish, Averbuch, Silva, McCarty (Kastor 70’), LaBonta, Groom.

Subs not used: Parkhill; Newfield.

Coach: Vlatko Andonovski

Team Stats (CHI/KC)

Goals                     1/0

Saves                    1/4

Offsides               3/0

Shots                     9/8

Fouls                     5/8

Corners                9/3

REFEREE: Andrew Musashe

ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Artyom Arustamyan

ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Becky Pagan

4TH OFFICIAL: Edgar Osorio

REFEREE ASSESSOR: JP Spicer