NWSL Week 13 Mid Week Recap

Seattle Reign FC vs Boston Breakers, Final Score: 1-1

Until the 63rd minute, it appeared that Seattle was well on their way to secure another victory until Sydney Leroux walked away with the last laugh. Leroux’s second half goal secured a 1-1 draw for the Breakers.

Boston had better opportunities in the scoreless first half but could not capitalize despite putting four shots on goal and earning five corner kicks. The home side only managed one shot on goal but improved in the second half.

The opening goal of the night was scored by Seattle’s recently acquired forward Jessica McDonald in the 54th minute. McDonald won midfield possession and passed the ball forward for Christine Nairn before making a run into the box. Nairn spotted McDonald near the far post and served a low cross into the box which McDonald picked up and buried with her first touch.

Seattle led for 10 minutes until Leroux got on the end of a ground hugging cross from Heather O’Reilly into the 6-yard box. O’Reilly crossed the ball in front of the net but neither Seattle defender or Hope Solo could get on the end of it before Leroux effortlessly chipped it into the back of the net for the equalizer.

Walking away with a point wasn’t appealing for Seattle’s Keelin Winters who tried to break the tie in the 69th minute. Winters was on the end of a lobbed cross by Nairn into the 6-yard box but couldn’t direct her header on net. Instead, the ball sailed over the bar.

Washington Spirit vs FC Kansas City, Final Score: 1-1

A late second half penalty kick broke Washington’s five game losing streak as the Spirit tied FC Kansas City 1-1.

The first half was nothing to be proud of for either squad as only five shots were taken in total, three for FCKC and two for the Spirit. FC Kansas City could not rattle Ashlyn Harris between the posts. Ten minutes after entering the second half, the budding striker Erika Tymrak opened the scoring.

Tymrak notched her fourth goal of the season after the Spirit defense failed to shut her down outside the 6-yard box. She got on the end of a cross from Merritt Mathias, who found her behind three Spirit defenders. Tymrak effortlessly managed to slip the ball past Harris to give FCKC a 1-0 lead.

The Spirit struggled to find the equalizer as FCKC gained more possession throughout the closing half and put up four shots on target, but they won a penalty in the 87th minute when Tiffany McCarty was pulled down inside the box. Diana Matheson converted the spot kick by chipping the ball over Nicole Barnhart’s head. The 1-1 draw would stand for the remainder of the second half.

Western New York Flash vs Chicago Red Stars, Final Score: 0-1

Chicago ended The Flash’s nine game unbeaten streak on July 4th after Lori Chalupny scored the lone goal in the 57th minute.

In terms of offense, Chicago outpaced the Flash throughout the night, putting up nine shots in total to the Flash’s six. While the first half appeared to play in favor of the visitors, as they kicked the match off with a free kick in the 6th minute. The Red Stars brought the overall attacking energy to the field in the second half.

Sarah Huffman gave the Flash an early opportunity on goal in the 6th minute after colliding with Leslie Osborne outside the 18-yard box to win a free kick. Carli Lloyd took the free kick but her strike was pushed down into the six yard box by the crossbar and cleared out of danger by Chicago.

The Flash continued to press the home side but could not do much damage. Following the start of the second half, Chicago continued to play physical, racking up 15 fouls in total. Their physical approach to the game produced the lone goal in the 57th minute.

Taryn Hemmings darted down the flank and moved the ball inside the 18 yard box before she lobbed a cross into the six yard box for Chalupny who headed the ball down towards the legs of Flash keeper Adrianna Franch. The star keeper couldn’t keep possession and Chalupny scored the game winner at home.