FC Kansas City returns home to face Chicago

FC Kansas City returns home to face the Chicago Red Stars tonight hoping to turn the season around. The Blues have played well in matches but given up some goals they should not have and only have a draw to show for their first three matches. The game kicks off at 7:00p.m. CT at Verizon Wireless Field located on UMKC's campus.

Coach Andonovski's team was one of the best all season last year but have struggled with consistency this season. The first two matches FC Kansas City played a 4-4-2 but last match returned to their more familiar 4-2-3-1. It seemed to help as they played a more creative game.

"It gave a little more freedom to Cheney (Lauren Holiday)  and Erika (Tymrak), they found themselves a little bit more in the game and were more dangerous,"  Andonovski explained after practice this week.

With the change from the 4-4-2 to the 4-2-3-1, Andonovski slotted rookie Jenna Richmond next to veteran Jen Buczkowski. Along with the defense they were able to keep the Thorns controlled for most of the match.

"I thought the team did well, it was great atmosphere, fourteen thousand people. Having that for my first start I was very pumped, very excited," Richmond stated.

Andonovski was pleased with the Richmond's first match, "Good, very happy with her performance, she made no mistakes with her passes, was very good in our build up and covered lots of ground defensively. She was very good in that position."

The FC Kansas City head coach said he expected to stick with the 4-2-3-1 against Chicago but hinted that there would be lineup changes.

Notes:

It's been quite a week for Richmond. In addition to getting her first start, she also got engaged when Columbus Crew defender Matt Wiet proposed.

Amy LePeilbet appears to be closer to seeing the field. It's been a long recovery from a knee injury but she LePeilbet participated in practice fully last week. While it was all small sided games, she looked very good and it would not be a surprise to see her in the 18 soon, but not tonight.

Maegan Kelly has been waived by the team. The forward from Marquette was selected by FC Kansas City in the fourth round of the 2014 NWSL College Draft. It is reported that she will be signing with a team in Europe soon.