Rose Lavelle scores on the emotional night at the NWSL Challenge Cup

The midfielder started and ended a great sequence in the eighth minute, and the spirit beat the Chicago Red Stars 2-1 at Zions Bank Stadium.

The match followed an emotional pre-game ad. Each player on both teams wore a “Black Lives Matter” warm-up shirt and knelt down while playing the national anthem. Chicago defender Casey Short cried uncontrollably and was comforted by teammate Julie Ertz.

When the starters took their positions, everyone was kneeling in solidarity with the global protests in Minneapolis after George Floyd’s death last month. The North Carolina Courage and Portland Thorns did the same before Saturday’s opening game of the tournament, which won the Courage 2-1 against Lynn Williams’ goal in second half added time.

The 23-game Challenge Cup, which runs through July 26, marks the return of US team sports since the outbreak of the novel corona virus in March. It is expected to be the only NWSL competition of the year.

Eight of the nine teams in the league take part. The Orlando Pride retired earlier this week after six players and four employees tested positive for the virus.

The regular season would have started on April 18 and ended with the championship game in Louisville in the fall, several people near the league said. Louisville will be the 10th NWSL market next year.

The Red Stars were finalists last season, but lost Australian striker Sam Kerr, the league’s MVP in 2019, against English club Chelsea. The Spirit, who finished fifth with a young squad in 2019, was ready to become a competitor this season.

Washington’s starting line-up included rookie striker Ashley Sanchez, who was ranked fourth in the college draft after the Spirit received four picks as part of the trade that sent national team winger Mallory Pugh to Sky Blue FC .

The Spirit implemented an aggressive and attractive style and went early. Lavelle sped into the central room, and when Chicago teammate Julie Ertz approached her, Lavelle shifted the ball to her preferred left foot and pushed a pass through a channel to Ashley Hatch behind the defense.

World Cup goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher of Chicago did a great job saving Hatch’s angled offer, but the rebound got in Lavelle’s way to get an eight-meter climb to the top of the net.

Lavelle should have scored again in the 42nd minute, but Naeher read the one-on-one situation well and blocked the angled bid.

Thanks to a rare mistake from close, The Spirit doubled the lead by 20 seconds in the second half.

After collecting a back pass, she was too casual with the ball when Hatch stormed her. The Spirit striker interrupted the clearing bid in the penalty area and tipped the ball into the free net before Naeher could recover.

Chicago replied five minutes later. Morgan Gautrat, formerly known as Morgan Brian, the midfielder of the U.S. national team, drove a low performance of 13 meters out of range from Aubrey Bledsoe.

Lavelle missed a golden chance in the 53rd minute and missed from six yards after Jordan crossed DiBiasi to her.

However, the momentum had worked in Chicago’s favor. In an effort to curb this – and to retain its players after an eight-month layoff – Spirit Coach Richie Burke made four substitutions at the same time. A temporary change to FIFA rules will allow five instead of three subs this year.

Chicago held the pressure to the end and Bledsoe thwarted Bianca St. Georges’ shot in the 89th minute. At the other end, Naeher saved the threat of rookie Averie Collins in injury time.

Washington will face a tough test against North Carolina, the two-time defending champion, on Wednesday. The starting shot is at 10 p.m. Eastern Time at CBS All Access, a digital payment service.