Seattle Reign FC made home advantage count on Friday night, edging Chicago Stars FC 1-0 at Lumen Field behind Maddie Mercado’s decisive 53rd-minute goal.
After a scoreless first half, Seattle found the breakthrough shortly after the restart. Mercado struck in the 53rd minute to separate the sides and give the Reign the lead their attacking pressure had been building toward.
The hosts controlled much of the match, finishing with 55.7 percent possession and a commanding 24-5 edge in total shots. Seattle also put six efforts on target, won 13 corners and created 18 shot assists, repeatedly forcing Chicago to defend deep around its own penalty area.
Chicago remained in the contest despite seeing less of the ball, recording two shots on target and three corners. But the Stars could not find a late equaliser as Seattle protected its narrow advantage through five minutes of stoppage time.
The 7,646 supporters at Lumen Field saw a tight contest decided by one clinical second-half moment: Mercado’s 53rd-minute finish. The result moves Seattle Reign FC to an 8-3-7 record, while Chicago Stars FC fall to 4-1-14.
Goal scorer: Maddie Mercado, 53′ (Seattle Reign FC).
