**BRIDGEVIEW, Ill.** – The Chicago Red Stars and Angel City FC produced an entertaining 2-2 draw on Sunday night near the Windy City, with Chicago twice mounting a comeback to earn a point and stifle any progress Angel City could have made toward getting closer to the playoff line. Angel City defender Ali Riley opened the scoring in the 39 ^th minute, but three goals in 7 minutes from Chicago’s Ava Cook, Angel City’s Jun Endo, and Chicago’s Cheyna Matthews between the 68 ^th and 75 ^th minutes totaled the scoring.
Attacking early, Chicago had a good first look on goal through midfielder Cari Roccaro after just three minutes. Blitzing toward goal, a cross from out wide to the left somehow found its way to a free Roccaro on the right side of the box. With just Angel City goalkeeper DiDi Haracic in the way, Roccaro attempted to sneak the ball underneath the onrushing goalkeeper but Haracic did well to get to it and force the shot wide in the end.
Continuing to press the Angel City defense, Chicago saw a chance created in the 16 ^th minute for midfielder Bianca St-Georges at the back post, but her effort was blocked away. Then, in the 22nd minute, St-Georges was on the ball again but this time on the right flank. Attempting to pick out forward Ella Stevens with a cross from close in, Stevens directed her header on frame but could not beat Haracic as the deadlock remained.
In one of the first opportunities for the visitors Angel City, though, the side found the back of the net as Riley slammed home a rebounded chance from an Amandine Henry header from a corner to take the lead. Forward Claire Emslie was on corner kick duty and lifted in a ball that found Henry just in front of goal. However, Henry’s header was saved very well by Chicago’s Alyssa Naeher, but the rebound fell to the feet of Riley a few feet from goal. With no problem from there, Riley smashed the ball into the back of the net and after VAR review, the goal stood.
Looking ahead to the second half, a flurry of goals in that seven-minute span turned the match on its head, with Chicago’s Ava Cook starting the party in the 68 ^th minute. The ball had pinballed around the left side as the Red Stars forced their way forward, with Cheyna Matthews involved in keeping the move alive before Cook took the ball just inside the box to the left of center. Cook then dribbled around a pair of defenders before a nook of space opened up for her in the center of the box. From there, she curled a low, right-footed effort past Haracic to her left as Chicago found the equalizer they had searched for.
However, Angel City wasted no time re-establishing their lead as attacker Jun Endo tapped a cross home in the 71 ^st minute to restore her team’s advantage. Angel City worked down the right side through Emslie, who slid a ball into a perfect position between the Chicago defense and the goalkeeper Naeher, allowing Endo to rush onto it and touch it over the line from just a couple of yards out.
Just as celebrations were settling, though, Cheyna Matthews produced an impressive bit of strength before slotting home a poised effort in the 75 ^th minute. Matthews and Angel City defender MA Vignola were grappling for the ball approaching the penalty area. Matthews got the better of Vignola in the end and was able to work the ball to her right foot, where she got just enough on her shot to send it past Haracic and in.
That would be the final tally in the exciting draw though, with both teams contributing to the late season drama across the NWSL through the result. Chicago is bottom of the league table in 12 ^th place with 21 points from 19 games played, while Angel City is in 8 ^th place with 25 points from 19 games played.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights