Bridgeview, IL, Saturday, April 26, 2025
Chicago Stars FC suffered a tough 0-3 loss at home against San Diego Wave FC, despite leading the match in total shots and showing attacking intent throughout the game. The Stars had several scoring opportunities but couldn’t capitalize, and the defeat leaves them looking to rebound in their upcoming match against Gotham FC on May 4. The match started with high energy from both teams, each pressing aggressively to force mistakes and gain an early advantage.
Chicago looked to utilize their key players, Jameese Joseph and Ludmila, to break through the Wave defense, creating multiple high-quality chances. Their most promising opportunity came in the 23rd minute when Ally Schlegel and Joseph combined for a clever passing move that led to a close-range shot. Despite the effort, San Diego’s goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan made a critical save, keeping the score level.
San Diego broke the deadlock in the 31st minute following a corner kick that Chicago failed to clear. The ball fell to the Wave’s Sofia Lundkvist, who placed a well-struck shot past a diving Alyssa Naeher. Chicago entered the second half with increased urgency and kept pushing forward, once again creating chances through aggressive pressing and intelligent runs, but failed to find the net.
Late in the game, Chicago’s commitment to offense left them vulnerable at the back. The Wave exploited this space, leading to an unfortunate own goal by the Stars and a late goal by San Diego’s Ascanio. Despite the loss, Chicago showed moments of quality and will look to convert their chances more effectively in future matches as they prepare for a crucial away game next weekend.