FCKC End Busy Stretch with Loss

From FC Kansas City.

FC Kansas City and Chicago Red Stars faced off once again after a Kansas City win in Chicago on Thursday. The rematch was played on Verizon Wireless Field in front of 3,421 people and ended with a 3-1 score in favor of Chicago. FC Kansas City players Lauren Cheney, Kristie Mewis, Becky Sauerbrunn and Nicole Barnhart were away on international duty for the United States Women’s National Team. Desiree Scott and Lauren Sesselmann were also absent from the ‘Blues’ lineup for Canadian National Team duty. Allocated Mexican forward, Renae Cuellar scored Kansas City’s only goal off of a play up from Courtney Jones in the 3rd minute.  For Chicago, Inka Grings, had a goal in the 29^th minute assisted by Lori Chalupny. Ella Masar marked a goal in the 58^th minute from Taryn Hemmings. Sonja Fuss took credit for the third goal off a penalty kick in the 91^st minute.  The game was the first home game for FC Kansas City after a three game road trip to Portland, Seattle and Chicago.

When these two clubs met on Thursday, June 13^th the six Kansas City international players were away for duty while Renae Cuellar was sitting on the bench nursing a leg injury. Chicago only had two players missing for international duty; Carmelina Moscato and Erin McLeod were called up to the Canadian Women’s National Team. This meant that Kansas City was missing seven of the starting eleven while Chicago was missing two. The ‘Blues’ fought hard and came away with a 2-0 victory. Casey Loyd and Courtney Jones were credited with the goals in the first match up. Loyd and Jones were essential part of the game tonight. Jones had an assist in the first half, and then Loyd took a beautiful shots on goal after replacing Jones on the pitch in the second half. Four Kansas City shots were on goal, but Taylor Vancil, Chicago goalkeeper, saved three.

The ‘Blues’ were making plays up until the last whistle in tonight’s match. One extra goal was needed for Kansas City to tie Chicago. In the 91^st minute, Kansas City committed a foul in the box resulting in a penalty kick and goal for Chicago in the last minutes of play. This moved Chicago up to 3 goals and not much time to make up the difference for Kansas City. The ‘Blues’ will be back in action on Verizon Wireless Field, Sunday, June 23^rd against the Washington Spirit.