Still deprived of its internationals Rose Lavelle, Megan Rapinoe and Quinn, at rest after the Olympics, as well as Ally Watt and Rosie White, injured, “The Bold” kept in mind a first success against Kansas City (2-0, doubled by Balcer, on July 11) before tackling this second confrontation.
The first minutes of play were marked by two clear chances, one on each side. Fishlock responding to Labonta, but the two strikes narrowly escaped the frame. There followed a long round of observation during which most of the phases of possession were confined to the midfield. Sofia Huerta was signaled by an attempt at the entrance to the area which once again grazed the amount of Abby Smith.
Hard blow for the Reign at the half hour of play. The player in shape of the moment, Eugenie Le Sommer (3 goals in the last two matches), had to give way to Tziarra King following a violent shock with an opposing player. Kansas City was more dangerous at the end of the first half, without finding the loophole.
Kansas City ends up finding the loophole
The deal did not change when she returned from the locker room, Victoria Pickett transplanted in the axis starting from her left side and wound up her shot, which came to die a few tens of centimeters from the cage. Sarah Bouhaddi (47 ‘). It was ultimately the same Victoria Pickett who ended up finding the flaw, very happy to recover the ball in the feet following a free kick blocked by the wall. The Kansas City right midfielder was quick to shoot Bouhaddi at close range (1-0, 72 ‘).
Despite the repeated assaults of Laura Harvey’s players in stoppage time, symbolized by a last header from Sofia Huerta captured by Abby Smith, their hosts won by the smallest of margins. OL Reign, who had not lost since July 18, still occupies 7th place in the NWSL standings with 19 points before receiving one after the other Gotham (Sunday 22/08 at 4 a.m.) then the leader Portland (Monday 08/30 at 1 a.m.).
Kansas City : Smith, Pickett, Edmonds, Ball, Weber, Bowen (Vincent, 87’), Pickett, Labonta, McCain, Mace (Silva, 84’), Hamilton (Miramontez, 90+5’).
OL Reign : Bouhaddi, Celia (Hammond, 64’), Cook, Hiatt, Barnes, Weatherholt (McNabb, 75’), Marozsán (Cruz, 75’), Fishlock (Pruitt, 86’), Huerta, Balcer (Angelina, 64’), Le Sommer (King, 35’).
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