NWSL Challenge Cup #1: Washington Spirit vs. Chicago Red Stars

Leagues, NWSL

June 27th, 2020

Final Score: Washington Spirit 2-1 Chicago Red Stars

Background of the Challenge Cup: After eight months without women’s professional soccer in the United States, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has returned in style with a one time tournament replacing the normal season schedule. In light of recent events, namely the global pandemic, the Challenge Cup is hosted by the owner of Utah Royals FC, Dell Loy Hansen in Utah. The tournament features a preliminary round, though because of a last minute withdrawal of the Orlando Pride from numerous positive COVID-19 tests, these games will only determine knockout round seeding. The later stages of the tournament work similarly to those seen in World Cups, with the winner of each match moving to the next stage of the tournament, and the loser ultimately being knocked out. The final will be held on July 26th, 2020 in Rio Tinto Stadium, one day shy of a month after the tournament opener. The NWSL Challenge Cup is the first professional sports league to return in the United States, and though there have been debates on the welfare of the tournament, it is inarguably a great boost for women’s sports in America. Aside from larger health concerns, people may be disheartened to not see a few big names of the United States National Team on television. However, big name stars, including many World Cup winners, still are featured and many more talents, international and domestic, have a chance to shine.

Game Recap: The game started out strong from both sides, with the Chicago Red Stars breaking out early to create the first chance of the game. This was met with an excellent counter in possession from the Spirit that extended all the way through the first half, creating numerous exceptional chances. The first opportunity came for the Spirit in the ninth minute with Rose Lavelle slipping the ball through to Ashley Hatch who almost converted her opportunity before Lavelle slotted her own assisted rebound home into the top of the net. Another opportunity came late in the half when Hatch this time slipped the ball through to Lavelle who was unable to place the ball past Naeher who, in turn, made a wonderful save. The second half was just as eventful, with Hatch capitalizing off of some questionable goalkeeping from Chicago. The Red Stars were not done yet however, and after Morgan Gautrat (formerly known as Morgan Brian) took advantage of a lapse in concentration form the Spirit defense, the game started to become a lot more even. Chicago had their fair share of chances after the score became 2-1, but with solid goalkeeping from Bledsoe and a compact midfield, the Spirit were able to ride that score all the way to the end of the game.

Washington Spirit Analysis:

Defense

Lavelle, Hatch Score and Spirit Down Red Stars 2-1 – NBC Chicago

The Spirit started the game in the usual 4-3-3, commonly seen amongst NWSL teams, but the Spirit made sure that they played anything but common. Their defensive structure is similar to how they have previously played in the past. They are a team that likes to play out of the back on most occasions, and they utilize the middle of the field to distribute into and push play forward. When they do not have the ball, the Spirit stay highly compact, and against Chicago in particular who are a team that like to cross from the endline, the Spirit are very wary of balls being played in behind and force opposition to cross the ball aerially from outside areas. This hurt the Red Stars who, without Sam Kerr (who moved to Chelsea FCW after the conclusion of the 2019 season), struggled to play balls in behind and were far more suited towards driving towards the endline to cross the ball into the box. The only downside to this strategy is that during a tournament where teams have not played competitive fixtures in over half a year, players tend to have lapses in concentration for periods of time and get tired as the game progresses. This was especially apparent when Chicago scored their only goal from a poorly handled driven ball into the box. A new aspect that Washington added to their game over the past few months is their ability to get wide almost instantaneously after winning the ball back. This improved their ability to counter attack and slip line-breaking passes through to midfielders or forwards from the defensive line.

Offense

The Spirit played in a similar style to the one fans would recognize from last season. The Spirit attacks through the middle of the field, a style that mimics many world class European teams. This type of approach is not seen as often in the United States, and has proven to work very well for the Spirit when done properly. Throughout the middle of the field, Andi Sullivan and Lavelle prove to be the main outlets, driving the ball forward and distributing on the wings. Combination plays through the middle have always been key for the way the Spirit likes to play under Richie Burke. Lavelle was on her game from the second she stepped onto the field, and this really showed in the way she drove the ball forward and created chances. She linked up particularly well with Hatch up front, and gave Hatch options moving forward to play into or be on the receiving end of.

Spirit added many new aspects to their attack from the last time they played last October. For one, they use wide areas much more frequently, and are often found making triangles of possession on the wings and using combination plays to go forward. This is partially due to a roster shake up with newcomers Ashley Sanchez and Kumi Yokoyama into the Spirit lineup. Sanchez in particular was a known commodity throughout the game, driving into space and running all over the field. This season, the Spirit seems to have perfected the long ball over the top. Because Hatch positioned herself perfectly, pressuring the center backs, she was able to wreak havoc across Chicago’s back line and run onto balls directly from the Spirit’s back line. This did not result in many goal scoring opportunities, but it is something to look out for in the coming games.

Chicago Red Stars Analysis:

Defense

Washington Spirit down Red Stars in NWSL Challenge Cup opener ...

Like the Spirit, the Red Stars prefer a 4-3-3 set up, although they are much more direct in the way they prefer to attack. In terms of Chicago’s defensive line, they are a team that is similar to North Carolina in the way they push forward and spread out wide. Unlike North Carolina however, Chicago seemed to be out of sorts using this system amongst their back four, especially in the first half. Because of how wide they usually spread themselves, Spirit broke apart their defense and used the large gaps to pass the ball through to their advantage. Chicago also is a team that likes to press very high up on the field using their back line. Again, although this does allow Chicago to be able to distribute out towards outside forwards and further up the field, the Spirit caused numerous problems for the Red Stars, playing balls in behind and over the top. Chicago however did get to grips with the game a little more as the second half progressed. They used their higher back line to play aerial balls into the final third of the field, and were more accurate in their line-breaking passes. This allowed for Chicago to have more chances down through the center of the field and at the top of the box. Although this did not appear to be their original game plan, this was certainly how they gave Spirit’s defense a lot to think about.

Offense

Chicago Red Stars Vs Washington Spirit: 3 things we learned

As noted before, Chicago loves to utilize the wide areas of the pitch. This type of play allowed for Chicago to bring their entire team into the attack, bringing central midfielders across to make overlapping runs or position themselves in the middle of the field to get onto the end of a cross. Outside backs were also important because they provided an outlet to cross the ball or switch the field to continue play. It was noted multiple times throughout the match that Chicago is a team that likes to drive towards the endline to cross the ball. The Spirit were prepared to defend against this and the Red Stars were unable to counter. As time went on, Chicago were able to get into a groove of sorts with the type of soccer they wanted to play and how to get around the issue of not being able to attack the way they wanted. They were able to expose Washington’s defense and midfield by going up the center of the field on numerous occasions and crossing the ball aerially in both wide and central areas for attacking players to get onto the end of.

After a roster shake up from last season, it was paramount for Chicago to get time on the field as a group and figure out different methods of attack with one another. The loss of Sam Kerr is not something that can just be replaced. The team needs a different type of attack to suit the personnel they have in their arsenal. In some parts of Chicago’s attack, it was apparent that they were missing the last piece to the puzzle. There was strength missing in the central forward position and someone to get on the end of loose balls and crosses. A partnership pairing was lost for Yuki Nagasato as well, and no one on the field was able to combine with her in the same lethal manner.  Chicago could not create the same chances by playing as direct as they have in the past. In the future, the Red Stars will of course be able to rebuild and redefine their style of attack. But for their games against the Spirit, they remained in the transitional phases.

Conclusion:

For now though, the gap of Sam Kerr in the Chicago Red Stars is where the Spirit have the extra edge. The Spirit were confident in their playing styles to create chances throughout the entirety of the match. With Lavelle in form and the Spirit side playing the way many successful European teams do while competing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, it comes as no surprise to watch the growth of this Spirit side from season to season. This type of play is the most modern style viewers have seen in the NWSL and a style that the future best teams in the world will one day use.

Of course, the preliminary rounds of the NWSL Challenge Cup will be remembered for the solidarity demonstrated by all of the league’s players against racial injustice. These values the players hold are something young girls can look up to all across America.

Formations:

Washington Spirit: 4-3-3

Bledsoe

Huster        Staab        Neilsen        McGrady

Lavelle        Sullivan        DiBiasi

Yokoyama        Hatch        Sanchez

Chicago Red Stars: 4-3-3

Naeher

St. Georges        Morse        Gorden        Short

Gautrat        Ertz        Dibernardo

Nagasato        Hill        Watt

Written by Maddie Metz

Creator of Only Women’s Soccer

Sources:

Images:

Scroll to top