Naeher breaks all-time saves record, shuts out Orlando in win for Chicago | National Women's Soccer League Official Site

27 May 2023By: NWSL Editor

Naeher breaks all-time saves record, shuts out Orlando in win for Chicago

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill.

– A record-breaking evening for Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher helped propel the hosts Chicago to a 1-0 victory over the Orlando Pride, a result that stops a four-match losing streak in all competitions. A goal in the 22 ^nd minute thanks to a cleverly timed run from attacker Yuki Nagasato helped ultimately lift the Chicago in the end, but Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher faced 18 shots and produced six crucial saves en route to earning all three points. After Naeher made her 150 ^th NWSL appearance on May 12, she tonight broke the record for all-time career NWSL saves with 520 including tonight’s figures. Orlando wasted little time getting their attack going as Naeher made her first save in the 9 ^th minute as she picked Orlando midfielder Kerry Abello’s shot out of the area. Abello had been played down the left side of the penalty area by teammate Adriana where she unleashed a left-footed shot aimed toward the top far corner, but Naeher was in good position to make the stop. Then, one minute later, the Pride came close again as Haley McCutcheon had a shot saved from point blank range by Naeher before Abello had another shot saved in the 17 ^th minute as Naeher was only beginning to demonstrate what she was capable of on the evening. Chicago then flipped the match on its head when they jumped in front in the 22 ^nd minute thanks to Yuki Nagasato’s leaping header that sailed past Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse and in. Red Stars defender Casey Krueger was on the ball out wide to the right when she cut back onto her left foot and lifted her cross toward the back post where Nagasato was waiting. With no one marking her, Nagasato then jumped to meet the cross and produced a header from close in that Moorhouse had little chance at stopping. Regrouping for a few minutes, Orlando then began to come back in attack with forward Messiah Bright’s shot producing a save from Naeher, an attempt from Erika Tymrak in the 39 ^th minute missing to the right, and a header from Adriana in the 41 ^st minute missing high. Chicago was still able to hold on through the duration of the first half, though, and clung to their one-goal lead heading into the break. Immediately into the second half, the Pride created something out of nothing as Tymrak ripped a shot toward the far post that was inches wide of creeping in just 36 seconds after the restart. Four minutes later, Naeher earned her record-breaking save in dramatic fashion as a corner kick came in and was met by midfielder Mikayla Cluff, whose effort hit the crossbar and bounced back into play. From there, attacker Marta got enough on the ball to redirect it toward goal only for Naeher to smother the opportunity and eventually set it away. On the hour mark, Orlando came close again as Adriana saw a powerful effort from the edge of the penalty area ripple the crossbar on its way back into the field of play, though cleared by the Chicago defense. Then, just as the match was catapulting toward its end stages, Ally Watt nearly pulled her side level with a scorching shot from close in in the 89 ^th minute only to look on in agony as it was sent just wide of the near post and out of play. Chicago would see their lead then through stoppage time and the fulltime whistle, helping them earn just their second win of the regular season and second of the year at home. For Orlando, the result keeps them at 9 ^th place on 10 points (W3 D1 L5), three points above the Red Stars (W2 D1 L6).