The OL Reign looked to get back on the winning track in this match against the 3rd place NY/NJ Gotham FC, who were coming into Cheney stadium with a two-game winning streak. The Reign were looking to finally get past Gotham for 3-points this season, as they had no beaten NY/NJ in the two contests between the clubs this year. The Reign had been flying high before last match, with a three-game winning streak and one of those games being a 5-1 offensive explosion vs Houston. That momentum came to a screeching halt when the team traveled to Kansas City, and dropped 3-points to the leagues last place team (Giving KC their first win of the season). Eugenie Le Sommer also sustained a concussion in the match. As we head into the latter part of the season, every match shows to be even more meaningful, especially with how tight the table is (With a win and a little help, the 8th place team could jump all the way to 3rd place), so with that being said, this match loomed large for your Reign. This match would also be Head Coach Laura Harvey's first match back as the official boss in front of the home crowd, so welcome back coach Harvey!
Pre-game
Olympians: Prior to kickoff of this match, your Reign Olympians (As well as Gotham Olympian Carli Lloyd, who is playing her last match in Tacoma, and except for Nicole Momiki who is currently away from the team on loan) were honored with an Olympian homecoming. Angelina of Brazil, Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle of the USA, and Quinn of Canada were honored and all held their respective countries flags. Megan and Rose had their bronze medals, and Quinn had their gold medal with them. Congratulations to our Reign Olympians, Quinn, Megan Rapinoe, Rose Lavelle, Angelina, and Nicole Momiki!
The Reign Olympians are honored before kickoff
Last weeks recap: In last weeks match, the Reign took their 3-game winning streak into Kansas City to take on the last place Kansas City NWSL team, that had not recorded a win yet. The Reign would be stifled, not taking advantage of the ball in good areas of the field that would create chances for them and really not being aggressive in the way that would get them 3-points. Eugenie Le Sommer had her head hit the ground hard on an attempted header, suffering a concussion. Kansas Cities Victoria Pickett would get a 73rd minute goal to score the lone goal of the match and secure their first match of the season, stopping the Reign's momentum at Legends Field in Kansas City. A frustrating result for a team that had been on fire in their last three contests.
Injury report:
OUT:
Ally Watt - Right Knee
Rosie White - Illness
Eugenie Le Sommer - Concussion
Le Sommer was held out of this match but should be good to go for next weeks doubleheader against the Thorns in Lumen field
QUESTIONABLE:
Dzsenifer Marozsan - Right leg
Marozsan would start on the bench for this match
Key points to watch:
Strike early: As has been the case this season in Reign wins, if they score early, it will almost always mean that the team is going to come out of that match with three points. The Reign are 5-1-0 when they score first. On the other side, Gotham is 4-0-2 when they score first, so essentially whoever scores first in this match will supposedly have the upper hand. Score early, and get ahead of Gotham before they get ahead of you.
Convert your chances: The last two matches against Gotham, the Reign have put up a combined 39 shots, 12 on target (18 shots, 6 on target the first match, and 21 shots, 6 on target in the second match) and they have no goals in those matches to show for it. It is crucial going forward that the club does a better job of converting their opportunities, especially with the quality of attackers and midfielders that are on the roster, and considering the number of shots that are being put up.
Defend against Gotham's transition offense: Gotham does a great job of scoring on transition offense, and they do amazing with possession. Two of the top 5 leaders in assists Allie Long, former member of the Reign, is near the top in the league in pass % so it will be crucial to frustrate Gotham and not let them get metaphorical layups in transition, easy crosses for goals that shouldn't be scored. It will not be an easy task, but it is what the home front will need to do to come out with three points.
Starting lineup:
Goalkeeper: Sarah Bouhaddi makes her 11th straight start in goal, and will be looking to keep a clean sheet against Gotham FC, a feat that she has not been able to complete this season against the NY/NJ club.
Backline: The defensive backline in front of goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi would include Madison Hammond, Alana Cook, Kristen McNabb, and captain Lauren Barnes.
Kristen McNabb is a new face on the backline as compared to recent weeks. It will be interesting to see how McNabb gels with this backline. You can check out the CSS interview with her if you click here
Midfield: The midfield would consist of Rose Lavelle, Dani Weatherholt, and Jess Fishlock.
Lavelle makes her return to the starting lineup after being out of some of the clubs matches post-Olympics, joining veterans Weatherholt and Fishlock who have held down the midfield for the majority of the season.
Attacking front: The attacking front tasked with scoring goals against Gotham keeper Kailen Sheridan would see Sofia Huerta, Bethany Balcer, and returning Olympian Megan Rapinoe
Rapinoe is slotted back into the starting lineup with Eugenie Le Sommer taking this game off with a concussion. She will be back next week against
Bench: The bench unit would see Ella Dederick, Amber Brooks, Angelina, Quinn, Dzsenifer Marozsan, Tziarra King, Steph Cox, Shirley Cruz, and Celia.
Sam Hiatt is absent from both the starting lineup and the bench this match.
First half: The issue of not being able to convert chances would ring true early on, as Dani Weatherholt, Jess Fishlock, and Rose Lavelle would all have opportunities on goal within the first 3 minutes of the match, but would not be able to put one of those opportunities in the net. Gotham would be the team to strike first in this match, when Ifeoma Onumonu was left all by herself in the box and was able to strike the ball into the top corner just above Reign keeper Sarah Bouhaddi to put Gotham up 0-1. The Reign would get a free kick just outside of the box shortly after in the 12th minute, but Megan Rapinoe's attempt would be blocked by the Gotham wall. The opposing side would keep the pressure on, when Ifeoma Onumonu would score again, beating defender Lauren Barnes in a 1 on 1 opportunity to put Gotham up for a score of 0-2.
Halftime adjustments and notes: The Reign come into this half down by 2 goals, and the issues that they have faced in this first half are issues that I mentioned in the keys to the match. The Reign have not been able to convert their chances, with several attempts and corner kicks so far but no goals to show for it. The Reign in the first half put up 12 shots, 5 of those shots on target. Gotham put up 3 shots, 2 on target, and had 2 goals. Gotham has been doing exactly what the Reign have needed to do. Gotham also struck early, something that the Reign have needed to do in their wins, and the opposing side got a goal in transition. All of the points that were mentioned in my keys to the match were touched in, but Gotham did what was outlined to give them success, and the Reign have not. The adjustments that will need to be made are simple. Keep the pressure on that has been there in this game, but you NEED to convert those chances. I would not be surprised to see some substitutions right out of the half.
Second half: Gotham would come out in the 47th minute and get a free kick, starting the offensive attack early. Gotham would get shots off in the 51st minute and 53rd, the latter of the shots being a Carli Lloyd shot that was just barely saved off of the finger tips by Bouhaddi and then hits the post, being cleared by Madison Hammond. The Reign would take the attack to Gotham, culminating in a corner kick off of Bethany Balcers cross into the box. Megan Rapinoe would cross the ball in on the corner and find Kristen McNabb for an OL Reign header goal! Bringing the score to Reign 1, Gotham 2. in the 55th minute! The Reign would be the team that kept the offensive pressure going, drawing fouls and corners, but no score until the 75th minute when Sofia Huerta would draw a penalty kick after playing some great keep away. Megan Rapinoe would take that penalty and score an upper central penalty kick goal! We were drawn all level in the 75th minute in Tacoma! After a lull in the action, Megan Rapinoe draws a penalty kick in the 88th minute! She would go on to convert that kick in the right side of the goal, bringing us to a score of Reign 3, Gotham 2! We would not see any more action after that goal, and the Reign would go on to win by a score of 3-2!
3,627 fans in Cheney stadium celebrate the final whistle
Reign substitutions in this match:
66th minute: Dani Weatherholt comes off for Quinn
70th minute: Bethany Balcer comes off for Dzsenifer Marozsan
81th minute: Rose Lavelle comes off for Angelina
Post game thoughts: I am not quite sure what to think about this game. The Reign had initially come out with some offensive aggression pretty early on, but Ifeoma Onumonu scored in the 8th and 14th minute and seemingly buried the Reign. Onumonu, in Gotham's three games against the Reign, has scored 4 times. That is an issue, but it is the last time that the Reign will see Gotham in the regular season. Megan's cross to McNabb for the first goal sparked her huge second half, and scoring those two penalty kicks obviously were what helped the Reign win, but going forward you cannot rely on penalty kicks to win games, especially looking at matchups against Portland next week in the doubleheader and later on in October in Providence park, Washington twice, as well as Orlando. It will be key to continue to work on the conversion of opportunities but pulling this win out was huge, so we can celebrate that for now before the huge matchup against the Thorns in the doubleheader. It is a game that you are happy to win, but you know that you need to do better the next time out. As of 9:19pm on August 21st, the Reign are in third place in the NWSL table. With the matchup of Orlando and Washington coming up tomorrow (the 22nd), a win for either team would for the respective winner into third place. A draw would mean that the Reign stay in third heading into the clash against Portland.
Player of the game:
Reign player of the game: Kristen McNabb
Statline: 2 shots, 2 shots on target, 1 goal
Charles' player of the game: Megan Rapinoe
Statline: 6 shots, 3 shots on target, 2 goals, 1 assist. 8 corner kicks
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