In an impressive performance, the visiting Chicago Red Stars routed Racing Louisville FC 4-0 on Aug. 27.
Yuki Nagasato and Mallory Pugh scored two goals each for Chicago; in fact, one of Pugh's goals occurred just three minutes into the game. Chicago's back line earned its first clean sheet (shutout) since July 2.
This win (Chicago's first since Aug. 7, according to The Equalizer) moves the Red Stars to fifth on the National Women's Soccer League standings, with only two points separating them from the top spot.
Chicago will next take on the OL Reign on Friday, Sept. 9, at 9 p.m. CT at Seattle's Lumen Field.
—Unfortunately, on the flip side, the Chicago Fire soccer team fell 2-0 to second place CF Montreal on Aug. 27 at Soldier Field.
With the result, the Fire maintained their position in the Eastern Conference, with six points separating them from a three-way tie for the seventh and final playoff spot in the East.
Throughout the 90 minutes, Fire forward Jhon Duran helped to generate several dangerous opportunities for Chicago, including an attempt in the 64th minute, when the 18-year-old striker combined with Kacper Przyblko inside the 18-yard-box before setting himself up for a driven shot on frame. However, the attempt would be denied by Montreal goalkeeper Sebastian Breza, who stretched to make the diving save.
Chicago will embark on a two-game road stretch, playing two more games in eight days, beginning with a visit to the New England Revolution on Wed., Aug. 31, at Gillette Stadium. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT, the match will be televised on WGN-TV and CF 97 Live, and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.
—In their first game of the 2022 season, the Northwestern University Wildcats beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 31-28 in a game played in Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on Aug. 27.
Some have called Northwestern's win an upset, although Nebraska finished 3-9 last season. All of the Huskers' losses were by single digits, and the frustration continued with this latest setback. (Nebraska became the first major-conference team in the AP Poll era, which goes back to 1936, to lose seven consecutive games by single digits, according to ESPN Stats & Information.)
Nebraska coach Scott Frost accepted responsibility for a controversial onside kick decision in the game while acknowledging he needs to do more to retain his job, ESPN noted. Frost made the call to attempt an onside kick with Nebraska leading 28-17 midway through the third quarter; Northwestern easily recovered the kick at the Nebraska 44-yard line and scored five plays later.
Northwestern has next week off before hosting Duke University on Saturday, Sept. 10.
—Both of Chicago's MLB teams lost Aug. 27.
The Milwaukee Brewers (66-59) beat the Chicago Cubs (55-72) 7-0 in Wisconsin.
The Brewers won for just the ninth time in the last 24 games as they try to move back into playoff position, according to ESPN.
The teams play again Sunday, Aug. 28 in the final matchup of the season between these two NL Central rivals.
And the Chicago White Sox (63-64) fell below .500 as they lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks (58-67) 10-5 at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Arizona's Geraldo Perdomo and Carson Kelly each had three RBI as fourth-place Arizona handed Chicago its eighth loss in 10 games.
The teams conclude their series on Sunday, Aug. 28.
