Sam Kerr’s 8th-minute tally stood as the game’s only goal in Sunday’s second National Women’s Soccer League semifinal as the Chicago Red Stars defeated Portland Thorns FC, 1-0 to advance to their first NWSL Championship. Chicago will play the North Carolina Courage, who defeated Reign FC in the day’s first semifinal, on Oct. 27 in Cary, North Carolina.
Kerr’s goal was her first in postseason play. She broke her own regular-season scoring record with 18 goals this season. Chicago had lost at the semifinal stage in each of the last four seasons entering the match.
Yuki Nagasato, who is also a league MVP finalist alongside Kerr, delivered the assist over the top for Kerr’s early goal.
The connection of @Yuki_Ogimi ➡️ @samkerr1 picked up right where it left off from the regular season.
See how @chiredstarsPR took an early lead.
1-0 | #CHIvPOR on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/bx8LsuPgZC
— NWSL (@NWSL) October 20, 2019
Portland started the match in a 3-5-2 with Meghan Klingenberg and and Elizabeth Ball on the wings. Andressinha earned a rare start in the midfield as Portland head coach Mark Parsons tried to find a way to snap his team’s late-season slide and get them on track.
Ball was replaced by Hayley Raso to start the second half, as the Thorns shifted formations into their 4-2-3-1.
Portland was aiming for a third straight appearance in the championship match alongside North Carolina. Those two teams had split their meetings in the last two finals.
Chicago is the only team the Courage did not defeat in 2019. The Red Stars won both match-ups in Bridgeview, Illinois, and tied the Courage in North Carolina in the season-opener.
Goal Scoring Summary
- Chicago Red Stars (Sam Kerr, 8′)
Caution Summary
- Portland Thorns FC (Elizabeth Ball, 45+1′)
