The Chicago Red Stars defeated the North Carolina Courage, 3-1 on Sunday in at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, to hand the defending National Women’s Soccer League champions their first loss since June 16, 2018.
Sam Kerr scored twice — including on a magnificent solo effort in second-half stoppage time to seal the game — and Michele Vasconcelos tallied what stood as the game-winning goal for Chicago. Lynn Williams scored the lone goal for the Courage.
To: @murph_vas7 & @sarahlgorden
❤️: @samkerr1 #HappyMothersDay | #MKOT pic.twitter.com/yeesLBugf4— Chicago Red Stars (@chiredstarsPR) May 13, 2019
The loss ends the Courage’s unbeaten streak at 15 games, one shy of the league record held by the 2014 Seattle Reign (now Reign FC). Chicago also ended that streak. The 3-1 loss marks North Carolina’s first multi-goal loss since a 2017 defeat to Chicago, also by a 3-1 score. North Carolina’s only loss last season came to the Utah Royals.
Chicago also drew the Courage, 1-1 in North Carolina to open the season last month.
#NWSL regular season unbeaten streaks:
16: Reign (2014)
15: Courage (2018-19)
12: Thorns (2016)
12: Courage (2018)10: FCKC, Red Stars, Pride, Thorns, which is active
— Dan Lauletta (@TheDanLauletta) May 13, 2019
Chicago, North Carolina and the Portland Thorns are all level on 8 points (Portland has played one less game). The Houston Dash sit atop the NWSL table to end the weekend, with 10 points.
MORRIS: Why the Courage may not feel so good about their current form
