Sam Staab Scores Late Equalizer, Red Stars Split Points with Current in 2-2 Draw

The Chicago Red Stars failed in their mission to become the first team to beat the Kansas City Current in 2024 but still managed to take a point home after a 2-2 draw in front of a sold-out crowd of 11,500 at CPKC Stadium in Missouri.

The Red Stars have now gone four straight matches without a win after only recording two shots on target against the Current, both of which resulted in goals. Sam Staab’s goal off Mallory Swanson’s 90th minute ensured Chicago left Kansas City with a share of the spoils.

The match looked like it was going to be Chicago’s to lose early on as the Red Stars took an early lead through Swanson in the sixth minute.

Sarah Griffith, making her second start of the season and her first appearance since April 13, found Swanson on the left side of Kansas City’s penalty area with a lovely pass. Chicago’s No. 9 took on her defender before unleashing a left-footed rocket that beat Current goalkeeper AD Franch, ripping the back of the net as Chicago took the early lead. The goal was the fourth of the season for Swanson and the first assist for Griffith since June 25, 2023.

Chicago managed to stave off Kansas City’s attack throughout the first half as Alyssa Naeher made five saves to keep her side up 1-0 at the break.

Everything turned in Kansas City’s favor after halftime and the Red Stars were, repeatedly, their one worst enemy.

Alyssa Naeher collided with her defenders while trying to punch away a corner kick in the 51st minute and the subsequent loose ball ended up being tapped in the net by Bia Zannerato. Kansas City took the lead in the 58th minute after Temwa Chawinga capitalized on a turnover created by Hailie Mace in Chicago’s own half of the pitch.

It looked like the Red Stars were going to extend their losing streak to four before they salvaged a point in the 90th minute through Staab’s header off a Swanson corner.

The Red Stars have now secured 11 of their 17 points away from home in 2024.

Match Observations

Kansas City was inches away from taking the lead in the second minute through leading goalscorer Temwa Chawinga. An Izzy Rodriguez through ball from near midfield found Chawinga in behind Natalia Kuikka but Chawinga’s shot across the face of goal flew just wide of the far post.

The Red Stars took an early lead in the sixth minute through Mallory Swanson’s fourth goal of 2024. Sarah Griffith played a through ball to Swanson inside Kansas City’s penalty area and Chicago’s No. 9 hammered a left-footed shot past AD Franch from a tight angle on the left side. Swanson did so well to time her run on the left side but did even better to beat Franch despite very little space. The goal was the first for the Red Stars in the first half of a match since their win over Utah on May 12.

Izzy Rodriguez hit a shot on goal in the 15th minute that created a bit of chaos for the Red Stars. Rodriguez’s shot from the edge of the penalty area went right at Alyssa Naeher but Chicago’s captain wasn’t able to catch it cleanly and it bounced in front of goal. The ball was cleared but it was an early opportunity for the top team in the league to capitalize on a Red Stars mistake.

Kansas City continued to press the Red Stars’ backline after the hydration break and they would’ve tied the match at one in the 33rd minute if not for the heroics of Alyssa Naeher. Bia Zaneratto played a ball to Temwa Chawinga, who got in behind Natalia Kuikka, but Naeher made herself big as she went to the ground and knocked Chawinga’s shot away from goal. The follow-up shot from Bia Zannerato flew harmlessly wide despite having plenty of time to line up the effort after Izzy Rodriguez collected the rebound.

Bia Zannerato nearly beat Alyssa Naeher at the near post in the 42nd minute. Debinha worked the ball around the penalty area and played it to Bia on the right side. Bia’s effort had plenty of pace behind it but Naeher leaped to her right and parried the shot away from danger.

Kansas City created another great scoring chance two minutes after the referee announced ten minutes of stoppage time (insert eye roll). Lo’eau LaBonta brought the ball from the right flank into the Red Stars’ penalty area before playing it to Debinha to her left. Debinha took a few dribbles before finding Temwa Chawinga on her left, who hit a shot right at Alyssa Naeher for the routine save. The Current would have tied the match if Chawinga went to either side of Naeher but she didn’t and the Red Stars maintained their 1-0 lead.

Naeher was called into action again on a Chawinga shot in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time and made another big save after Debinha made a great pass to create enough space for her teammate to get the advantageous shot.

Mallory Swanson’s goal was the only shot on goal for the Red Stars in the first half while Kansas City forced Alyssa Naeher into five saves before the break. The Current dominated possession (68%-32%) and the overall shots battle (18-3) despite trailing 1-0 at halftime.

Alyssa Naeher made a mistake on a Kansas City corner kick in the 51st minute and the Current subsequently tied the match at one. Kansas City’s corner kick was whipped in by Izzy Rodriguez toward the Red Stars’ goal and Naeher didn’t get a clean punch on the ball, allowing it to drop a few feet in front of her defenders. Bia Zaneratto knocked the loose ball into the corner of Chicago’s net as Naeher and multiple defenders looked on in disbelief after their collective mistake.

Kansas City continued to press the Red Stars high up the pitch after tying the match until Hailie Mace created a turnover that resulted in a Current goal in the 58th minute. Mace dispossessed Sarah Griffith in Chicago’s half of the pitch and the loose ball was deflected by Debinha to Temwa Chawinga. Kansas City’s leading goalscorer increased her tally to eight after taking a touch and ripping a right-footed shot into the corner of Chicago’s net.

The Red Stars did well to win a free kick in the 71st minute but they couldn’t take advantage of the set-piece opportunity. Penelope Hocking won the Red Stars a free kick halfway into the Current’s half of the pitch but the feed from Mallory Swanson flew too far and none of her teammates were able to get a touch on the ball before it went out for a goal kick.

Chicago finally recorded their second shot on target in the 90th minute and it was enough to tie the match at two entering six minutes of added-on time. Jameese Joseph won the Red Stars another corner kick after her header was blocked by Hailie Mace after a feed from Mallory Swanson. The second corner from Swanson was met in the air by Sam Staab and her header beat AD Franch, tying the match at two just as regular time expired.

Chicago’s two goals were their only shots on target in the match and it was enough for them to secure the 2-2 draw on the road. Kansas City outshot the Red Stars 28-8 overall while maintaining possession for over 60% of the contest.

Red Stars head coach Lorne Donaldson said post-match that his side was rushing to get rid of the ball when they conceded their two goals in Kansas City.

“There's some new people in there at new positions,” said Donaldson. “It was a rush to get rid of the ball. So we have to just settle down and just trust our game and trust the people around us. And I think, especially after they scored a second goal, we did a lot better with that.”

Leilanni Nesbeth made her sixth consecutive start in the midfield and was her usual chaos-causing self. Nesbeth had 40 touches, eight recoveries, four defensive actions, and won three duels while playing the entire match alongside Cari Roccaro. Nesbeth liked the edge she saw from her team in the face of adversity in Kansas City.

“There’s definitely been a mentality shift,” Nesbeth said post-match. “I think we all see it. It’s nice to be in an environment where everyone holds themselves accountable. From the coaching staff to the front office to the players in the locker room, everyone wants to be great. Everyone knows that we can win games and we want to win games. And now it’s just about making sure we know we have the pieces to the puzzle on the field.

“But it’s about making sure that we have that grit in that mentality to win games because not all games are gonna be pretty soccer. Sometimes you have to fight and get those ugly wins and get those ugly, ugly points somewhere. So I think we’re definitely getting back to that and it’s been cool. I think we’re definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with as the season continues.”

Bea Franklin made her first NWSL start and played 72 minutes before being replaced by Shea Groom with her side trailing 2-1. Franklin had 36 touches, seven defensive actions, three recoveries and won seven duels in just her third professional appearance since being selected by the Red Stars in the third round (41st overall) of the 2024 NWSL Draft out of Arkansas. Franklin knew she was going to get more minutes ahead of this match but maintained the same mentality as she had all season.

“I was just really excited,” Franklin said after the match. “The coaches let me know that, hopefully, I was going to get a few more minutes in this game. So my mentality for every game is the same. Just keep it really simple: win as many balls as possible and get it to the good players. So I wasn’t gonna do anything different whether I came in at the end or started.”

What’s On Tap Next?

The Red Stars are back on the road next weekend when they travel to face the North Carolina Courage on June 23. The match kicks off at 5:00 PM CT and will air on NWSL+.

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