Red Stars never give up, finally break losing streak

There was a calmness in the Chicago Red Stars' locker room at halftime Wednesday night at Toyota Park.

Despite trailing the Washington Freedom, despite their nine-game winless streak, despite a shutout streak about to hit 450 minutes, despite entering the game at the bottom of the WPS table, the Red Stars never lost confidence in themselves.

"It's not the first time we've dominated games this season," coach Emma Hayes said, "but what we did differently is we put the ball in the back of the net."

In the second half the Red Stars (3-6-5, 14 points) became the first WPS team to come from behind to take a lead. They held on to win 2-1.

Brazilian forward Cristiane broke the scoreless streak with a back-heel goal in the 48th minute off a Lindsay Tarpley assist. That matched Abby Wambach's 34th-minute goal for Washington.

"Throughout this whole season we have continued to fight for each other and push through this time," Tarpley said of the team's drought.

Tarpley got the second goal in the 61st minute, drilling a shot off Washington goalkeeper Erin McLeod's fingertips.

The Red Stars totaled a whopping 28 shots on the night, starting with some good chances in the first minute.