Fans return, Red Stars force draw
A lot has changed since the Chicago Red Stars last had fans for a match at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
The Red Stars played — and lost — two National Women’s Soccer League finals.
The COVID-19 pandemic altered the world, and sports were forced to get creative with bubble environments (see: last season’s NWSL Challenge Cup).
Midfielder Nikki Stanton left — and returned after a season in Norway.
Star striker Sam Kerr left too — though with the frequency her name gets mentioned during broadcasts, you’d be forgiven if you thought she still was on the team.
Racing Louisville FC joined the league and acquired former Red Stars Yūki Nagasato and Savannah McCaskill.
The Red Stars brought in several new investors — twice — as part of the NWSL’s continued growth.
And the opponent in Saturday night’s 0-0 draw, NJ/NY Gotham FC (1-0-1, 4 points), rebranded from the team formerly known as Sky Blue FC.
Yes, many things are quite different from the last time spectators came out to Bridgeview for the 2-1 victory in the NWSL semifinals on Oct. 20, 2019.
But one thing that remained was the diehard fandom.
Krystal Hernandez and her parents estimated they were about the third or fourth car in the parking lot, pulling in at least three hours before kickoff, Antonio Hernandez said. The family, like many of the 3,121 in attendance Saturday, was in the stands for the 2019 semifinal.
“Everybody was chanting all at once — like, everyone — it was an awesome feeling,” Krystal Hernandez said of the semifinal.
It was a sentiment echoed by players, especially coming off a lopsided 5-0 defeat to the Portland Thorns to open the season.
“It was just nice to have that 12th man,” forward Mallory Pugh said. “We’ve really felt their energy and I’m just looking forward to other home games.”
Pugh was lively and influential for the Red Stars (0-1-1, 1 point), who outshot Gotham 13-7, five on target, but couldn’t get the breakthrough.
Red Stars coach Rory Dames called Pugh the “most influential player in the game tonight besides the referee.”
“Mal was fantastic,” Dames said. “A lot of people have written off Mal — that’s a mistake. … She’s just scratching the surface.”
The pregame buildup was festive, with ESPN personality Sarah Spain, one of the team’s investors, doing Malört shots with tailgating fans.
Others played Spikeball or kicked around soccer balls in highlighter yellow and neon pink — a touch of normalcy that was missed during the 2020 season.
Chicago Local 134, the ardent supporters group that occupies the north end of the stadium, filled the atmosphere with songs, chants and drums.
“I’m so pumped,” Anna Amato, the group’s treasurer, said before the game. “We did a lot of virtual watches, but you just can’t replicate the atmosphere of a home game while you’re home or at your office. So, yeah, I’m jazzed.”
The Red Stars treated fans by releasing a new jersey, dubbed the Momentum Jersey, that continues their Chicago-centric kits that play on civic imagery.