Chicago Red Stars vs Boston Breakers: Final Score 1-0, Lori Chaulpny makes it two straight wins

Chicago hosted Boston in their second meeting this season on Sunday, and it went much better for the Red Stars this time around. They won their second straight match, sealing a 1-0 victory thanks to Lori Chalupny.

Chalupny found the back of the net in the 25th minute for what would later be determined as the lone goal of the match. Sydney Leroux appeared to score an equalizer in the second half, but her goal was controversially ruled out by the referee.

The Red Stars had several early attempts on goal that tested Boston’s keeper Ashley Phillips. Ella Masar regularly opened up scoring opportunities for her team in the first half with the pressure she put on Boston’s back line. Boston’s defense was often slow to react to Chicago’s developing attacks, eventually leading to the Red Stars’ goal.

Chalupny’s eventual game winner came in the 25th minute. Julianne Sitch set up the goal, winning the ball from Heather O’Reilly before to the corner of the six yard box to seed a short pass to Chalupny. The Chicago midfielder was waiting and drove a shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Entering into the second half, Boston started to gain more possession and won five corners, in contrast to Chicago’s zero. However, they failed to take advantage of those chances due to Chicago’s diligent defending. Not only did Sitch assist on the winner, she also shut down the NWSL’s leading player in assists, Lianne Sanderson on several occasions.

The controversial call that harmed Boston’s chances at an equalizer arrived in the 65th minute. Leroux received a pass outside the 18 yard box from Katie Schoepfer and took a touch before placing a lot of force behind the ball. Her strike hit the top of the crossbar and bounced onto the ground and out of the net. The referee did not call for a goal and Boston would continue to search, but never find the equalizer.