Although
both teams came into this match unbeaten in their past six games,
Seattle had four wins in their streak versus four draws in Kansas
City’s. After failing to score against Kansas City in their first three
attempts this season, the Reign’s confidence level was high.
Alternatively, FC Kansas City had sure wins melt into unsettling draws
as the clock closed down in the past three games.
With
no games since last Sunday, Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski had time to
work with his side on finishing games in the manner they started them.
The extra work paid off. The ‘Blues’ came out of the game dominating
possession and having multiple offensive chances in the opening minutes
of the game. Merritt Mathias and Melissa Henderson each broke through
the Seattle Reign offside trap, but Hope Solo was able to get her hands
on each of them to keep the game scoreless. Making her home debut with
her new name, Lauren Holiday broke the stalemate in the 39th minute.
She collected a pass across the top of the penalty box from Erika Tymrak
and shot a hard line-drive shot across the goal to the far side of the
net and giving her side a 1-0 lead that would last until halftime.
A
lead coming out of half is nothing to be taken lightly and Kansas City
was determined to not only hold onto it, but try to add to their
advantage in the second half. Becky Sauerbrunn and Lauren Sesselmann
held the defensive line and thwarted any attempts from Seattle to get on
goal. At one point, Nicole Barnhart left her line to collect a shot
and was knocked off the ball by a Seattle forward. Although the ball
fell to the feet of former FC Kansas City forward, Renae Cuellar, the KC
defense swarmed to the ball and she was unable to get a clean look on
goal before Desiree Scott cleared the ball from danger.
As the clock ticked past the 85th
minute mark, FC Kansas City increased its pressure rather than sit back
as they had done in previous games. Rather than wait for the other
team to bring the ball to her and her teammates, Erika Tymrak collected a
throw-in from Jen Buczkowski and dribbled through four Seattle
defenders before curling a shot around the outstretched arms of Solo.
The rookie’s sixth goal of the season gave her side the 2-0 lead that
would last through the final minutes and give Kansas City their eighth
win of the season. Kansas City now sits in second place on the NWSL
table, two points ahead of Portland who plays tomorrow.
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