RECAP: Stars Draw Bay FC at Home, 1-1
The Chicago Stars have certainly looked a lot better over the last two weeks, but they still don’t have a win to show for it.
A 1-1 tie with Bay FC on a steamy Sunday afternoon made it back-to-back draws for the Stars under Ella Masar.
The club’s winless run extends to 11 games.
High-Quality Football in the First Half
The hosts opened the match with strong attacking pressure. In the second minute, Taylor Malham switched the field of play over to Jenna Bike. The latter’s cross-cum-shot was deflected onto the near post, almost giving the Stars an early lead. Chicago attacked again a minute later, but Natalia Kuikka’s volley sailed over the bar.
With eight minutes gone, the Stars came even closer to an opener. A series of quick passes left Julia Grosso with possession in the danger area. She took a low shot off the turn, forcing Jordan Silkowitz into a fingertip save. Ally Schlegel also threatened four minutes later, hitting the side netting. Though the Stars were struggling to put chances away, they were entirely outplaying Bay FC.
The visitors from California finally showed signs of life in the 14th minute. Rachel Kundananji picked out Rachel Hill with an accurate pass, leaving her unmarked in front of the goal. Alyssa Naeher came up big for Chicago, denying Hill’s effort. Kundananji, always Bay’s most potent attacking force, came close with a shot of her own in the 19th minute.
Malham saved the Stars at the 28-minute mark amidst defensive disorganization, making a diving clearance in the six-yard box to prevent a Bay FC goal. Unfortunately for the hosts, Bay converted the resulting corner and took a 1-0 lead. Taylor Huff was left completely unmarked at the back post and shoved her low-footed finish past Naeher.
In the 42nd minute, the Stars finally got their goal. Shea Groom received the ball from Schlegel and stayed patient inside the box, slotting a cool finish past Silkowitz. Bay had one last chance to carry a lead into the break through Huff, but Naeher kept it 1-1 with a diving save.
Second Half Produces Controversy and Drama
Chicago looked dangerous from set pieces to start the half, earning a pair of corners in the 49th minute. Maitane got on the end of one and directed her shot goalwards, but it was deflected away by Huff. Shortly thereafter, Bay threatened on the other end. Kuikka made a vital tackle on Karlie Lema to end the attacking surge.
Chicagoland native Hannah Bebar nearly scored a screamer against her hometown club in the 58th minute, when her long-range effort flashed just wide of the post. The Stars caught another lucky break in the 69th minute, when Naeher lost possession of the ball outside her penalty area. Somehow, Kundananji’s shot missed the open goal entirely, and the score remained 1-1.
Seatgeek Stadium jeered in the 81st minute, when Groom was brought down by an off-the-ball challenge inside the box. No penalty was awarded, and referee John Griggs did not head to the VAR monitor to review his decision. The fans’ feud with the referee continued into the 86th minute, when Nadia Gomes won the ball in the opponents’ half and took off for goal. Griggs whistled Gomes for a foul on Alyssa Malonson, ending the attack. Stars’ interim head coach Masar was issued a yellow card for protesting the decision.
Griggs was again in the spotlight in the 90th minute, when Groom was brought down by a Bay defender, only for a free kick to be awarded in the visitors’ favor. In stoppage time, Bay FC very nearly won the game with a dangerous corner, but Naeher made an impressive save to keep it level. That proved to be the last opportunity of the game, with the two sides settling for a point each.
Masar Demands Referee Accountability
The primary focus of the Stars’ post-match press conference was, unsurprisingly, the refereeing.
“I’m tired of the refs,” Masar said bluntly. “I’m going to pay a fine for this, but this is the eighth time they’ve gotten it wrong.” The manager emphasized that she’s “not trying to make an excuse” for the result, but was understandably furious. “This is the last straw,” she continued.
“They get a call wrong, they tell us that it’s wrong, and then nobody holds them accountable.”
Perhaps the most baffling of Griggs’ antics was his refusal to head to the VAR monitor. In particular, the tackle on Groom in the 81st minute seemed to be worth a penalty review. Groom was diplomatic in her response to the situation, saying that “some [decisions] are going to go my way and some of them aren’t.” Masar, meanwhile, put it in simple terms: “Use VAR and tell us why.”
While the Stars were left to rue the officiating, there were many positives to take from the performance.
Sam Staab, as solid defensively as always, praised Masar’s coaching:
“I think we’ve always been a transition team, but we hadn’t really put it together, where we’re pressing and going at teams the whole game,” Staab said.
“I feel like we’re starting to do that or [Masar’s] basically forcing us to.”
Staab also commented on how she and recent arrival Kathrin Hendrich handled the Bay attack.
“They’re dynamic, they’re strong, they’re fast,” she said of the opponents. “I thought we did a decent job handling it.”
The Fight Continues
Chicago remains well below the NWSL playoff spots, with 12 points separating them from the top eight.
Nonetheless, the team is trending in the right direction for the first time all year.
The Stars have a tough test ahead in the Seattle Reign.
They’ll hit the road to take on the league’s sixth-ranked team on Monday, August 18th at 9 pm.
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