Match Preview: Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars
Match Info:
North Carolina Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars Saturday, August 20 at 7 p.m. ET WakeMed Soccer Park | Cary, NC
CARY, NC (August 19, 2022) – The North Carolina Courage are home for the second week in a row to face the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday, August 20, at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased here and the match will be broadcast on Twitch.
Saturday’s match is the second between the teams in 2022.
Last Time Out: The North Carolina Courage finished with a 4-3 loss against the Kansas City Current in their last match on August 13. The first regular-season meeting between the two teams featured goals by North Carolina’s Diana Ordoñez, Debinha, and Kaleigh Kurtz. Kansas City had goals from Kristen Hamilton, Lo’eau LaBonta, CeCe Kizer, and Claire Lavogez.
The Courage took the 1-0 lead in the 17th minute, with a goal by Diana Ordoñez who scored her NWSL rookie record leading eighth goal of the season. The Current’s Kristen Hamilton promptly tied the match three minutes later off of a corner kick. Debinha put the Courage in the lead again in the 36th minute off an assist from Kerolin. The Current’s LaBonta evened the score once more before halftime. The Courage once again pulled ahead in the 56th minute off a ball from Brianna Pinto to Kaleigh Kurtz. Kansas City’s CeCe Kizer tied it up four minutes later, and Claire Lavogez scored the tiebreaker in the final minutes of the match.
Where to Watch: Twitch
Players to Watch Presented by JubliaRX.com
North Carolina Courage – #12 Diana Ordoñez NC Courage Rookie Diana Ordoñez is on a tear recently, scoring six goals in four games and becoming the all-time regular-season NWSL rookie scoring leader with eight total goals on the year so far. Ordoñez is the second NWSL player ever to score in four consecutive matches as a rookie, joining Portland’s Meleana Shim, who did so in the league’s inaugural season of 2013. Chicago Red Stars – #9 Mal Pugh Expected to return to action Saturday following a brief stint recovering from injury, Red Stars forward Mal Pugh is tough to handle. Pugh ranks fifth in the league with six goals this season and is second overall in shots on goal (20).
Up Next: The Courage round out their home stand taking on the Portland Thorns on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased here and the match will be broadcast live on Paramount+ and Twitch.
