**SAN DIEGO, Calif.** – In front of a raucous 30,000-plus fans at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday night, San Diego Wave FC defeated the Chicago Red Stars, 3-2, in a dramatic encounter that saw the home side convert a penalty late on to separate the two sides. With the result, the Wave have now won two out of two season openers and have won two out of two home openers as well as they eked out a big result against a gritty Chicago side.
After both sides took their time to settle into the match, an unexpected goal came for the Chicago Red Stars as attacker Yuki Nagasato slammed home a rebound following a loose ball off a corner kick. Chicago’s corner into the box was swung toward the back post, but neither team made solid contact on the ball to send it either way. As it pinballed around the penalty area, it eventually fell to the ever-ready Nagasato, who rocketed a close range effort into the roof of the net and the visitors took an early lead.
However, just four minutes later, the hosts San Diego found an equalizer following a horrible and unexpected error by Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher allowed Wave forward Amirah Ali to head home from a yard out. As a low cross was sent in and deflected by a Chicago defender, the ball fell to new San Diego midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard just outside the box. A powerful drive with Dougherty Howard’s left foot saw Naeher initially attempt to parry the ball over the crossbar. However, her contact was mixed, which sent the ball just over her head and off the bar where it bounced back into play. Waiting in the wings was Ali, who had a point-blank header remaining in order to find her side’s equalizer as Chicago’s lead proved brief.
As San Diego compiled pressure on Chicago, the Wave then took their first lead of the night in the 31 ^st minute through forward Jaedyn Shaw. San Diego earned a corner that saw the ensuing ball in driven toward the middle of the penalty area. Chicago was able to clear that ball, but only as far as the 18-year-old Shaw, who was standing just outside the penalty area and waiting to strike. Winding up her clinical right foot, she swung with venom and sent the ball sailing past Naeher for her first of the year and second of the night for the home side.
Heading into eight minutes of added time, though, Chicago would be provided an opportunity to find an equalizer of their own as Red Stars defender Arin Wright was judged to have been fouled by San Diego newcomer Danielle Colaprico, who arrived in the offseason after over 150 appearances with Chicago. Stepping up to the spot was Chicago’s leading scorer of last year, Mallory Swanson, and she made no mistake in converting. Belting her effort into the setting netting of the left side of the goal past Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, Swanson levelled the game at two apiece.
After an extensive first half, four goals split between the two sides saw Chicago’s early lead erased by two from San Diego only for the Red Stars to pull back level in the dying embers of the opening 45 (and then some) minutes. The back-and-forth affair is the 10 ^th match in NWSL history in which both teams scored multiple goals before halftime.
Into the second half, the Red Stars had the first quality look on goal as Nagasato unleashed Swanson down the left side. As the aerial ball rolled toward the penalty area, Swanson did well to latch on and break past the San Diego defensive line. Into the box, Swanson opted for power over placement as she attempted to beat Sheridan at the near post only for the goalkeeper to produce a fine save and keep the score level. Just after the hour mark, Chicago continued threatening the Wave goal, this time as first round selection Penelope Hocking drove in toward goal and squared a pass for teammates Ella Stevens, but Stevens’s shot was too square on goal and easily held by Sheridan.
The game’s energy did not relent as the second half wore on, and just two minutes from the end of regulation the Wave were awarded a penalty as Arin Wright—who won Chicago’s penalty earlier in the evening—was judged to have stopped forward Alex Morgan’s shot from the right side of the box with her hand. Morgan, who buried a number of spot kicks last season, took penalty kick duties, and converted once again. Taking aim at the bottom left corner, Morgan put her effort exactly where Naeher could not reach it and lifted San Diego back in front with barely any time to play.
The full time whistle brought bitter disappointment for Chicago, who did well to battle all evening and remain more than a thorn in San Diego’s side, but the hosts’ quality could not be overcome.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights