**Bridgeview, Illinois** – The Chicago Red Stars bounced back from defeat last week to earn another win, this time over Gotham FC thanks to a clean sheet and two-goal win with goals from Tatumn Milazzo and Ava Cook in the first and second halves respectively. The win helps Chicago back into fourth place on 14 games played while Gotham, the only club yet to have earn a draw, is handed their third straight defeat and eighth on the year in total.
A relatively tame first half, Chicago was still able to knock on the door with an opportunity in the 36 ^th minute that forced Gotham goalkeeper Michelle Betos into action. Midfielder Danielle Colaprico held possession some 25-plus yards out from goal and spotted the forward run of teammate Yuki Nagasoto toward goal. Colaprico then clipped the ball to the back post for Nagasoto, but the midfielder’s headed effort on goal did not have the power required to beat Betos as she stooped to make the save.
However, in the fifth minute of stoppage time in the first half, Chicago would earn its first goal of the night with Colaprico again providing the pass that made defender Tatumn Milazzo’s goal possible. Following a corner kick that was cleared out of the 18-yard box but not away from danger, Colaprico held the ball in a similar position as to the earlier pass and made the same lofty pass toward the back post for Milazzo. However, Milazzo was able to leap over the defender and loop her header over Betos and into the back of the net to go a goal up.
At the halftime break, Chicago’s goal just seconds from the interval’s whistle is what made the difference.
Chicago would continue to pester the Gotham defense as forward Sarah Luebbert came close to scoring in the 56 ^th minute as one of the best second half chances for her side. The Red Stars held the ball on the right side of the field where a cross was played into the box that bounced around the playing surface before finding Luebbert. Winding up from close range, Luebbert was able to direct a right-footed shot toward goal only for Betos to equal it with a good save as the Red Stars held onto the one-goal lead.
That would not last long though, and Chicago wound up finding its second goal via a set piece play in the 66 ^th minute that Ava Cook finished off. Forward Mallory Pugh set up shop on the right side of the field and whipped in a ball toward the back middle of the penalty area for Cook. Rising up, the defender than nodded the ball on toward goal and watched as it nestled into the near corner to help her side’s advantage.
In the end, Chicago outshot Gotham 15-4 in total and 4-0 in shots on goal as the two goals either side of halftime helped them defeat the visitors and earn all three points.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights