The Chicago Red Stars got some important pieces back on Saturday evening, but they could only manage a 1-1 draw against the Washington Spirit, with most of the important action coming in the first half.
The Spirit have always provided an intriguing matchup against Chicago, even with a much-altered roster this year, and the match didn’t exactly start off with the Red Stars’ finest moment. In the fourth minute a lack of defensive discipline allowed Mallory Pugh (who has developed into a magnificently dangerous player for Washington) to slip in behind the Chicago defense in space, and carry the ball to the end line.