Live-Blogging: 2019 NWSL Championship: North Carolina Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars 10/27/2019

NWSL Championship: North Carolina Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars 10/27/2019

ESPN TV Broadcast

Starting Lineups

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging on Shish on Women’s Soccer’. This Afternoon, it is the 2019 NWSL Championship Match, between North Carolina Courage taking on Chicago Red Stars. The Courage got to their third consecutive championship match, by defeating the Reign 4-1, in extra time. While the Red Stars shut out the Thorns, to advance to their first ever NWSL Championship.

The Courage are trying to view themselves as underdogs, despite winning their third consecutive NWSL Shield and trying to repeat as champs. While the Red Stars see through it and are focused on the task at hand.

The Red Stars took the season series with 2-0-1 record vs. Courage. The Red Stars won both games in Bridgeview, while the Courage and Red Stars played to a 1-1 draw in Cary, to open the season.

The season began with the Courage and Red Stars in Cary, it will end in Cary with the Courage and Red Stars. The North Carolina Courage and Chicago Red Stars, for the 2019 NWSL Championship, coming up shortly.
 
Match Location: Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, NC

Announcers: Jenn Hildreth, Aly Wagner

Courage are in their navy uniforms. While the Red Stars are in their road white tops, blue shorts. 

Courage are in their 4-2-2-2 formation. While the Red Stars are in their 4-2-3-1 formation.

1st Half:
:00:00: Red Stars will kickoff, to start the 1st Half.
:02:00: Di Bernardo's shot blocked by Labbe. 
:04:00: GOAL: Debinha scores a goall, for the Courage. NC 1, CHI 0
​
:12:00: Courage wins a corner kick.
:13:00: Williams' header blocked by Naeher. 
:20:00: Kerr's shot saved by Labbe. 
:23:00: Williams' shot blocked by Naeher. Courage wins a corner kick.
:24:00: Hinkle's shot saved by Naeher. 
:25:00: McDonald's shot blocked by Naeher. Courage wins a corner kick.
:26:00: GOAL: McDonald's header scores a goal. NC 2, CHI 0
:31:00 HYDRATION BREAK: NC 2, CHI 0

​​:34:00: Nagasoto's header saved by Labbe. 
:35:00: Debinha's shot saved by Naeher. 
:35:00: Kerr's shot missed, for the Red Stars.
:42:00: Kerr's shot missed, for the Red Stars.
:44:00: Short is in a squatting position. Possible hydration problem?
:45:00: 4 minutes of stoppage time.
:45:00+1: Short used an inhaler. 
:45:00+4: Brian's shot missed, for the Red Stars.
:45:00+5: GOAL: Dunn scores a goal, for the Courage.
:51:07: The Match has reached halftime. 

Halftime:
NC 3, CHI 0

Halftime Scoring:
Debinha (NC) 4th Minute
McDonald (NC) 26th Minute
Dunn (NC) 45+5th Minute

Halftime Thoughts:
Courage showing that they are women among girls, scoring 3 times in the 1st Half. For the Red Stars, they are looking gassed in the 1st Half.

2nd Half:
:45:00: North Carolina Courage will kickoff, to start the 2nd Half.
:45:00: SUBSTITUTION: Katie Johnson replaces Savannah McCaskill, for the Red Stars.
​:47:00: Red Stars win a corner kick.
:47:00: YELLOW CARD: Di Bernardo gets a yellow card for pulling Crystal Dunn's arm. 
:50:00: Williams' header missed, for the Courage.
:51:00: INJURY DELAY: Crystal Dunn is being looked at, for an ankle injury. 
:53:00: Johnson's shot blocked by Labbe. 
:54:00: Kerr's shot is blocked.
:54:00: Johnson's shot is blocked.
:54:00: Red Stars win a corner kick.
:56:00: Kerr's header hits the goal post.
:57:00: Courage wins a corner kick.
:59:00: Debinha's shot missed, for the Courage.
:60:00: Courage wins a corner kick.
:61:00: GOAL: Mewis scores a goal, on a header. NC 4, CHI 0

:62:00: SUBSTITUTION: McCall Zerboni replaces Crystal Dunn, for the Courage.
:63:00​: Red Stars win a corner kick.
:67:00: YELLOW CARD: Julie Ertz gets a yellow card for shoving Debinha.
:70:00: Courage wins a corner kick.
:70:00: Courage wins a corner kick.
:73:00: YELLOW CARD: Zebroni gets a yellow card for cleatting.
:75:00: SUBSTITUTION: Kristen Hamilton replaces Jessica McDonald, for the Courage. 
:75:00: SUBSTITUTION: Nikki Stanton replaces Vanessa Di Bernardo, for the Red Stars.
:76:00: Red Stars wins a corner kick.
:77:00: Williams' shot blocked. Courage wins a corner kick.
:78:00: Mewis' header missed, for the Courage. 
:78:00: HYDRATION BREAK: NC 4, CHI 0
​
:84:00: SUBSTITUTION: Brooke Elby replaces Danielle Colaprico, for the Red Stars.
​:87:00: Kerr's shot missed, for the Red Stars. 
:89:00: Short's shot hits the goal post. 
:89:00: SUBSTITUTION: Cari Roccaro replaces Heather O'Reilley, for the Courage.
:90:00: 1 minute of stoppage time.
:91:15: The Match has reached Full Time.

Full Time:
NC 4, CHI 0
North Carolina Courage wins 2019 NWSL Championship. First club to repeat as NWSL Champions. 

Final Scoring:
Debinha (NC) 4th Minute
McDonald (NC) 26th Minute
Dunn (NC) 45+5th Minute
Mewis (NC) 61st Minute

Awards Ceremony:
Red Stars are coming up the stage collecting their runner-up medals. ​Courage are now coming up to collect their gold medals. 

Debinha wins 2019 NWSL Championship Most Valuable Player Award. The Courage gets the NWSL Championship from Commissioner Amanda Duffy. Duffy gives the trophy to Team Captain Abby Erceg. 

Final Thoughts:
This was a see-saw on top of the NWSL Regular Season, but in the end it was the Women Among Girls, North Carolina Courage, who end up repeating as NWSL Champions. The Championship Season was capped off today, when Debinha scored the match's opening goal, in the 4th Minute. And it ended with a 4-0 win over the Red Stars.

For the Red Stars they come up short, but now the question will be who will score for the Red Stars? There is a strong possibility that Sam Kerr will play in Europe. With or without her, they will have to address the scoring in the offseason. 

But it is the North Carolina Courage's day, as they repeat as NWSL Champions. 2nd consecutive season they have won both NWSL Shield and Championship. This is their 3rd overall championship (2 as Courage, 1 as Western New York Flashes). 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live Blogging on Shish on Women's Soccer'. Thanks for visiting this page. And thank you for visiting my live blogs, during the 2019 NWSL Season.