The Chicago Red Stars and Houston Dash played their first competitive match in six months on Friday night, and it looked like it as the game saw no goals, disconnected periods of play and Houston fail to record a shot on target in the opener of the 2021 Challenge Cup.
It may not have been pretty, but it did earn Chicago a point on the road against the tournament’s inaugural champions.
“We came in and played the defending champs on their field,” said Red Stars coach Rory Dames afterward. “Any time you can do that and get a point you’ll take the point.