Bridgeview, Ill. – Christine Sinclair scored the lone goal as FC Gold Pride defeated the Chicago Red Stars, 1-0, Saturday night in front of 4,884 at TOYOTA PARK.
Sinclair’s goal came unassisted in the 30th minute. Adriane drove into the box along the right side of the end line and crossed to Tiffeny Milbrett, whose shot bounced off Chicago goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson. The deflection went right to Sinclair, who was able to walk the ball across the goal mouth for her second tally of the season.
For the second consecutive game Chicago (2-2-2) managed just three shots on goal, but the Red Stars still had several outstanding opportunities. In the 27th minute Megan Rapinoe’s cross from the left side of the box just missed a diving Cristiane, who would have had a clear header to the net. Seven minutes later Karen Carney put a shot off FC Gold Pride keeper Nicole Barnhart; the rebound came to Lindsay Tarpley who just missed the net to the left.
The Red Stars had another strong opportunity in the 83rd minute, when Carney put a shot on goal off a feed from Rapinoe, but Barnhart was able to collect it for her third save of the night.
FC Gold Pride outshot Chicago, 12-7, including five shots on goal for the visitors. A game-high six shots were credited to Sinclair. Carney and Cristiane, who played a full match for the first time this season, each led the Red Stars with two shots.
With the win, FC Gold Pride improves to 3-3-1 (10 points) and passes the Red Stars (2-2-2, 8 points) in the WPS standings.
The Red Stars return to action on Saturday, May 23rd at TOYOTA PARK for rematch with regional rival Saint Louis Athletica. Tickets are available by calling (866) WPS-2009 or logging on to www.chicagoredstars.com.
FC Gold Pride (3-3-1) vs. Chicago Red Stars (2-2-2)
May 16, 2009 – TOYOTA PARK
SCORING
1 2 FINAL
FC Gold Pride 1 0 1
Chicago 0 0 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. BAY – Christine Sinclair, 2, 30.
FC Gold Pride – Barnhart; Buehler, Dew, Robinson; Adriane (Graczyk, 61), Formiga (Weimer, 82), Osborne, DiMartino (Arakawa, 72); Milbrett, Sinclair, Wilson.
Chicago Red Stars – Jönsson; Dalmy (Igwe, 61), Krzysik, Dieke; Carney, Lloyd, Östberg, Klein (Oakes, 69); Rapinoe, Tarpley (Masar, 79), Cristiane.
STATISTICS
SHOTS: BAY – 12 CHICAGO – 7
SHOTS ON GOAL: BAY – 5 CHICAGO – 3
SAVES: BAY – 3 CHICAGO – 4
FOULS: BAY – 12 CHICAGO – 12
CORNER KICKS: BAY – 4 CHICAGO – 2
OFFSIDES: BAY – 5 CHICAGO –3
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
CHI – Brittany Klein (caution; foul) 63
BAY – Kristen Graczyk (caution; foul) 66
Referee: Kari Seitz
Referee’s Assistants: Teresa Miguel; Pawel Wydra
4th Official: Stephanie Toth
Time of Game: 1:55
Attendance: 4,884
Weather: 58 degrees, partly cloudy
All statistics included in this box score are unofficial.
POST GAME QUOTES
FC GOLD PRIDE HEAD COACH ALBERTIN MONTOYA
“I think it was definitely an exciting game for the fans. Both teams had several chances to put the ball into the back of the net and fortunately we got one during the first half.”
“We held strong against an excellent attacking team. Chicago is doing the best attacking team in the league and I have a lot of respect for them. Emma is doing a great job with them. “
“Well that’s why she was my number one pick in the international draft. Honestly, she’s the engine of the Brazilian national team and I knew that as a coach. If you were to speak with George, the national team coach, that if you were to start a team he would pick Formiga as his first pick. What she does goes unnoticed because it’s the work she puts in. The right plays at the right time, she tackles, she’s tough, she defends, she gets into the attack […] she just does everything in that middle field for us. I think the world of her and she’s just gotten better and better as the games go on. She’ll not only be recognized for goal scoring abilities but she holds our midfield together.”
FC GOLD PRIDE FORWARD CHRISTINE SINCLAIR
“I think it was huge for us to get a goal in the first half. We’ve struggled to get goals lately, so it was just really important.”
“I think as a team we’ve come along away. I think it’s really difficult to start a team from scratch. You know you don’t know how players are going to gel with each other. I know off the field we got a great group and we all get along so well. It’s starting to show on the field as well. I think the quality is getting better and better every week because we’ve been around each other longer. Hopefully that continues throughout the season.”
CHICAGO RED STARS COACH EMMA HAYES
“I think the first half our attacking play was exciting. It’s the best we’ve been all season. Nonetheless we didn’t score. At the end of the day we just didn’t score a goal.”
“I think this team has shown and will continue to show it has lots of character. You know they’re disappointed. There’s a quiet locker room right now because they know they could have got a little more from the game, but their character will carry them through. “
“We’re without a few players next week, so I think that it’s an opportunity for the rest of the squad to compete in training this week. There will be some obvious changes due to national team call outs. It’s a competitive group and you can see by our faces we’re disappointed to have nothing from the game.”
CHICAGO RED STARS MIDFIELDER MEGAN RAPINOE
“I thought we played well at times today and I thought we had a lot of second chances. Both teams battled pretty hard and I think that’s good thing. We brought the fight and so did they.”
“I think we prepare the same every week, each team is a bit different. But, I definitely know that we’re going to be hungry and this is one of the most competitive teams I’ve ever seen.”