Sky Blue FC (0-13-3, 3 points) will return to National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) action on Saturday, traveling to play the Chicago Red Stars (7-4-7, 28 points) at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. The match-up gets underway at 8:00 p.m. ET, and fans can watch the action live via NWSLsoccer.com.
“Our goal is to build off the match against Portland last weekend,” said Denise Reddy, Sky Blue FC head coach. “In that game, we were able to put forth one of our most complete performances of the season on both sides of the ball. We now look to continue that momentum on Saturday, and we feel confident in our ability to get a result in Chicago.”
Saturday night will mark the third and final pairing of the season between Sky Blue FC and the Red Stars. The two clubs first met in April at Toyota Park, playing to 1-1 draw. In that match, Chicago struck in the 1st minute via an Alyssa Mautz to Sofia Huerta connection. However, Sky Blue FC kept the scoresheet clean the rest of way, eventually responding with an equalizer in the 78th minute when Katie Johnson hooked up Savannah McCaskill.
The two teams played again earlier this month at Yurcak Field, with the Red Stars claiming a 3-1 result behind a Sam Kerr hat trick. After falling behind by a count of 3-0, Imani Dorsey pulled one back for Sky Blue FC in the 73rd minute when she finished a McCaskill feed for her first professional goal.
Sky Blue FC will be looking to snap a four-game skid in Chicago, most recently falling to Portland Thorns FC last weekend at Yurcak Field. In an eventual 2-1 result, Sky Blue FC held an 18-8 edge in shots and saw two potential equalizers hit the woodwork in the second half. Scoring the lone goal for Sky Blue FC was Dorsey in the 27th minute, who put away a McCaskill assist.
The Red Stars will enter Saturday night on a two-game winning streak after edging Seattle Reign FC two weeks ago at Toyota Park, 1-0.
Both teams will be missing some key players on international duty this weekend. Sky Blue FC will be without the services of Carli Lloyd (USA) and Katie Johnson (MEX), and Chicago will be missing Morgan Brian (USA), Julie Ertz (USA), Sam Kerr (AUS), Alyssa Naeher (USA) and Casey Short (USA) while they are competing in the 2018 Tournament of Nations.
Sky Blue FC will return home to Yurcak Field on Saturday, August 11, hosting the Houston Dash for a 7 p.m. kickoff at its Champion Women! Night. When gates open at 6 p.m., a special concert will be held on the concourse by the Grouser Girls, presented by Skye Energy Drink. Tickets for that game are available now online or by calling 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849).
For all of the latest news on Sky Blue FC, follow us on social media: @SkyBlueFC
