Preview: Kansas City NWSL travels to face Chicago

Match Info:

Who: Kansas City NWSL at Chicago Red Stars

When: Saturday, August 28 at 7 p.m. CT

Where: SeatGeek Stadium | Bridgeview Illinois

Watch: Twitch

Kansas City NWSL heads out on the road again to face the Chicago Red Stars Saturday evening. Kansas City (2-10-4, 10 pts) is coming off their second win and will be looking to earn their first road win. The Red Stars (6-7-3, 21 pts) will be hoping to end a three-game winless streak and break a three-way tie for fifth place. Chicago tied Racing Louisville 1-1 in their last match but lost 1-0 at North Carolina and 2-0 at home versus Orlando.

Manager Huw Williams has Kansas City in their best form so far in their inaugural season. The two wins at home, 1-0 versus OL Reign and 2-1 over Louisville, sandwich a lopsided score line of a 4-0 loss at North Carolina. While statistically, Kansas City played well at North Carolina, the Courage punished several defensive mistakes.

The schedule makers have not made this one easy for Kansas City, this will be their third match in a week while the Red Stars have only played three games in July, their most recent on the 18^th.

“It will be tough with the quick turnaround; they are a good team that is fully rested and we are not fully rested,” Williams admitted.

With the par of wins and some good performances when they did not get the result, Kansas City is building some confidence.

“There is definitely belief, more belief right now, more excitement going into it,” Williams told The Blue Testament. “Even the game we lost four – nil, I don’t want to say it was upbeat, but it wasn’t like a normal review of a four – nil game would have been because I think we played decent overall.”

Availability:

Kansas City

OUT: Taylor Leach (left foot), Jordyn Listro (right thigh), Arielle Ship (right lower leg- SEI)

QUESTIONABLE: Rachel Corsie (right ankle)

Corsie is listed as questionable but with little time to practice recently due to schedule congestion she would be unlikely to start. The good news is Desiree Scott is back from the Olympics and should be available for this match. Chloe Logarzo came off the bench last match after returning from the Olympics also.

Chicago

OUT: Danielle Colaprico (right thigh), Vanessa DiBernardo (head), Julie Ertz (right thigh), Alyssa Naeher (right knee)

Keys to the game for Kansas City

While Kansas City has found their form in possession and creating chances, they are still inconsistent in putting those chances away. Williams has pushed his team to take more shots and that has paid off in chances created but they need to focus on being more clinical and finding the back of the net.

Solid possession stats for Kansas City has helped the defense not be under pressure as much but too many defensive mistakes have led to opponents scoring. Kansas City needs to be better and not let opponents run at the center back pairing no matter who they are but especially now until they can some defensive help back off injury.