Stumptown AC Suffers 2-1 Loss at Chicago House

BRIDGEVIEW, IL - Stumptown AC hit the road for one last final away contest of the 2021 NISA Fall Season, taking the pitch at SeatGeek Stadium in the suburbs of Chicago on a cold and clear evening. The game picked up with a trio of second half scores, with Chicago House AC stealing the 2-1 result.

Just four months ago on August 14, Chicago House AC won the first meeting of the season between the two teams in Matthews, registering a 1-0 victory for the first win in team history for Chicago House.

In the 14th minute tonight, Stumptown AC had an opening bid find the back of the net only to have the linesman waive off the score. Off a long Robert Hines thrown in, Isma Longo squared a pass back to Yuki Shibata waiting in front of the Chicago House AC goal mouth. Shibata’s first time shot was powered into the net, but it was ruled that Longo had not gotten his pass off before the ball had crossed the end line.

Midway through the first half, the Stumptown defense was called into action as Chicago House AC had a number of corner kicks in a quick window. Stumptown goalkeeper Kevin Gonzalez and his back line were up to the challenge, keeping a clean sheet intact without concern.

Chicago House AC keeper Michael Novotny made a highlight reaction save on Stumptown midfielder Colin Stripling in the 27th minute. On a secondary rush, Longo’s cross to a streaking Stripling was headed down off the ground at Novotny, who was able to deflect the attempt over the crossbar.

Just two minutes after the halftime break Novotny stone walled a pair of point blank shots from Hines and Longo to preserve the 0-0 deadlock.

Chicago House AC scored the first goal of the night on a quick corner in the 53rd minute, with Rodolfo Sulia heading home a sitter to take a 1-0 lead.

In the 64th minute the Stumps nearly tied things up on a sliding back post poke from Shibata. Hines was the set up man, whipping a ball behind the back line for Shibata to lunge onto but Chicago House AC was bailed out as the attempt hit the left post and stayed out of the goal.

Stumptown found the equalizer it was pushing for, with Stripling breaking thru in the 79th minute. A beautiful curled cross in by Jared Odenbeck was met on the six yard box, with Stripling heading it home past a helpless Novotny.

The tie did not last longer, and in the 86th minute Chicago House AC forward Wojciech Wojcik made something out of nothing, poking a right footed shot into the side netting to regain a 2-1 lead.

Both teams will return to action next Saturday night in their season finales, with Stumptown AC playing its final match at home at the Matthews SportsPlex against Chattanooga FC. The game is slated for a 7pm kickoff and tickets can be purchased at www.StumptownAC.com/tickets.