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Since the last time that Chicago and FC Kansas City have met, the Blues have rattled off two wins and three draws to put themselves in third in the league. Chicago has won two in a row themselves and are sitting in sixth place but a possible playoff spot is within reach. Can the Blues continue their unbeaten run, or will Chicago continue to climb in the standings?
About the teams
FC Kansas City
The Blues have drawn their past two matches against teams that they could have and possibly should have beaten. New acquisitions Teresa Noyola and Tiffany Cameron both got some playing time as substitutes but FC Kansas City was not able to put a goal up on the board despite the subs. Lauren Cheney will be returning for this match after missing the previous two matches where the Blues certainly could have used her offense and playmaking in the midfield.
Chicago Red Stars
Chicago is coming off of two straight wins and are looking to be in much better form then they were at the beginning of the season. They knocked the Washington Spirit around 2-0 last week and pulled off a 1-0 win over Western New York the week prior. Their defense has been a strong factor in both of those matches as well as good performances from keeper Erin McLeod. They'll come in looking for their third straight win and another opportunity to climb the table as the NWSL season starts to hit the home stretch.
How they will win
FC Kansas City
Lauren Cheney, (Well, Lauren Holiday now after her wedding) will be back today after missing the previous two matches. In those two matches the Blues have really struggled offensively but the return of Lauren should provide a spark in the midfield that will give the Blues some creative playmaking ability and firepower up top. A controlled midfield led by Holliday will be crucial for the Blues' success.
Chicago Red Stars
Chicago's defense has held strong the past two games and it will need to continue that trend if they want to beat the Blues. Holding the Flash's attack like they did two weeks ago was a huge achievement for the Red Stars and it shows that they can hold just about any offense in the league. If they can hold strong in the back and sneak in a goal sometime in the match they should be able to pull off a third straight win.
Score Prediction
FC Kansas City 1-0 Chicago
Chicago has done well with their defense but there are still some holes from time to time. The full strength Blues lineup should be able to get at least one goal on their way to victory.