Mallory Swanson, Chicago Red Stars Defeat Seattle Reign 2-1

Swanson nearly made it 2-0 in the 14th minute out of nothing. Penelope Hocking lost possession and Ally Schlegel’s attempt at the loose ball fell to Swanson 30 yards from goal. Swanson took a few touches before hitting a left-footed effort that the underside of the crossbar, bounced off the goalline and away from the Seattle net. VAR checked the goal-line decision but there was no definitive angle to determine the ball had crossed the line. Goal-line technology does exist but is not used in the NWSL.

Sam Staab’s ability to make long throws has been crucial to Chicago’s early-season success and it created chaos in the 20th minute. Staab’s throw was headed on by Ally Schlegel and bounced off a Seattle defender before falling to Taylor Malham at the edge of the penalty area. Malham’s left-footed half-volley deflected off one body before being knocked away from danger by Seattle’s goalkeeper Laurel Ivory. It was a great effort from Malham who was re-inserted into the starting lineup due to Maxi Rall’s injury.

Seattle finally had a good chance in the 27th minute but Natalia Kuikka prevented them from testing Alyssa Naeher. Lily Woodham made a run down the left side and played a cross into the center of Chicago’s penalty area that was collected by Sofia Huerta. The former Red Stars draft pick would have leveled the match but Kuikka was there to block the shot and Veronica Latsko’s follow-up flew harmlessly wide of the net.

Schlegel nearly repaid Swanson for her assist in the 29th minute. Schlegel played a ball from her own half of the pitch over the top of Seattle’s defense that Swanson collected in stride. Swanson took a shot toward the near-post that was saved by Laurel Ivory, but it was another chance from very little for Chicago.

Mallory Swanson inserted her name on the scoresheet in the 31st minute. Cari Roccaro found Jenna Bike, who made a long run down the right into Seattle’s penalty area before playing it to Swanson in the center of the box. Swanson took a couple of dribbles to her left before knocking a shot into Seattle’s net, giving her side the 2-0 lead on the road. It was a great find from Bike and Swanson showcased her skills by creating just enough space to get the shot she wanted.

Chicago should have made it 3-0 in the 40th minute but were robbed by the post. Penelope Hocking made a long run with the ball and brought it into Seattle’s penalty area. Hocking said no to Mallory Swanson’s run on her left and took the shot on herself. Laurel Ivory made a mess of the save and the shot bounced off the post before being tapped in by Swanson, but she was offside.

Chicago had all five on-target efforts in the first half while outshooting Seattle seven-five overall.

Julia Bianchi won her side a free kick in an ambitious spot less than a minute after the second half began, but the set-piece play was dreadful and the Red Stars lost possession. Natalia Kuikka managed to regain possession moments later and took a few touches before blasting a shot from distance that was parried away by Laurel Ivory. That effort was Kuikka’s first on-target effort in a Red Stars shirt and she nearly made it a 3-0 match in Seattle.

Seattle finally had a decent chance from a corner kick in the 53rd minute. Lauren Barnes’ corner kick found Jess Fishlock at the near-post but the header ripped off the side-netting, briefly scaring all Red Stars fans at home.

Cari Roccaro played another great entry pass that nearly created a goal in the 55th minute. Roccaro played a ball from her own half of the pitch over the top of Seattle’s defense to Mallory Swanson in space. Swanson got around Alana Cook but her shot was denied by Laurel Ivory from a tough angle.

Tatumn Milazzo may be in line for a second consecutive NWSL Save of the Week for the play she made to deny Seattle in the 58th minute. Lauren Barnes played a corner kick that found a wide-open Emeri Adames on the opposite side of Chicago’s penalty area. Adames took a shot across the face of the goal that was heading for the corner of the net before Milazzo booted the ball away from danger. It was a sure-fire goal from Adames if Milazzo wasn’t there and Chicago’s No. 23 was in the perfect place to deny the home side.

Adames tested the Red Stars backline again in the 61st minute but Naeher was there to deny the 18-year-old from adding her name to the scoresheet. Adames made a wonderful run down the left side and tested Naeher at the near post but was denied by the USWNT goalkeeper. Seattle did nothing with the subsequent corner kick and that stop helped quell the momentum the home side had built up.

Mallory Swanson made Ji So-Yun look silly in the 69th minute and nearly scored a goal right afterward. Sam Staab played a corner kick short to Swanson, who turned and promptly nutmegged Ji near the end line. Swanson then took a few dribbles before ripping a left-footed effort that had to be parried out for a corner kick. If Swanson had scored, this would have been an all-time finish.

Tziarra King scored her first goal of the 2024 season in the 79th minute and it was a beauty for Seattle Reign. Jess Fishlock passed the ball to the substitute ten yards away from the Red Stars’ penalty area and King took a few touches before hitting a glorious strike. King’s shot flew past a diving Alyssa Naeher and into the corner of net, giving Seattle a lifeline with just over 10 minutes of regular time remaining.

Jameese Joseph entered the match as a substitute in the 70th minute but was replaced by Nádia Gomes in second-half stoppage time. Red Stars head coach Lorne Donaldson said that Joseph had been dealing with an injury and he didn’t feel she was going to be able to finish out the match.

King’s goal wasn’t enough for her side and they fell to Chicago 2-1 despite outshooting the Red Stars 14-12 overall. The Red Stars had more on-target efforts and tested the ‘keeper eight times as opposed to only three for Seattle.

During the match, Alyssa Naeher became the first goalkeeper in NWSL history to play 15,000 minutes. Naeher credited her continued desire to get better for getting her to this moment.

“For me, I've always tried to stay focused in the moment, trying to get better from day to day and just always just learning,” said Naeher post-match. “Finding that balance of being, you know, proud of what you've accomplished, but also understanding that you still have ways to go and there's always still things that you can improve on and keep getting better and keep growing. So I think it's again, it's being part of the moments but then kind of a ‘what's next’ mentality and I think, you know, we've got a young energetic group keeping me young these days.”