Seattle Reign FC 2
Washington Spirit 1
NWSL Regular Season – Match Day One
Seattle, WA – Memorial Stadium
Seattle Reign FC and Washington Spirit battled to a 2-1 Seattle victory in Memorial Stadium Saturday Night in both teams’ opener for the 2018 NWSL season. The match featured an early goal and wide open play, with the opposing side having the opportunity to snatch away a point late.
Seattle Reign FC turned over its roster and changed its coach in the offseason. Seattle cannot field a starting eleven from returning players and five of the eleven that did start were not Reign players in 2017. Add in a preseason with late arriving players from the Australian league, international call ups, and a short training camp and the potential for a sluggish opener was there. However, both clubs played a fairly wide open approach, combining for 41 shots. Apparently, the short preparation had a bigger influence on defensive cohesiveness than on the offenses.
Both keepers needed to be on the ball. Returning to the Reign from several seasons away, Michelle Betos made a claim for the starting job. New Reign coach Vlatko Andonovski minced no words, “I thought Betos was incredible today, after the game in the huddle I congratulated Jodie for the goal and Pinoe but I pointed out that Betos, she was very good and she helped us stay calm throughout the whole game. She made a couple of incredible saves, good to know that even when things aren’t going well for field players that there’s someone back there to save the day.”
The first Seattle goal was vintage Megan Rapinoe. In the seventh minute from roughly 28 yards and out front of the goal she struck a free kick to the upper left. Everyone in the stadium and on the field had to expect it. Washington set up its defense to stop it. The keeper made a valiant attempt at it. But it still scored. Shortly after she had an another free kick opportunity from an acute angle that is usually a cross, ”
The second Seattle goal speaks to the depth of the nine team NWSL. In the 35th minute it was Utsugi to Rapinoe to Taylor. Japan to United States to England. Three of the final four sides of the last World Cup represented on one goal for Seattle. There can be change, but when it is of that quality, change can be a good thing. Said Taylor, “I’ve obviously watched a lot of the players here. I had a good idea of how they like to play. We didn’t have a lot of time in pre-season, feel like gel well together, can see strengths and weaknesses, a lot of space down the left side. It is getting there, it does help though when you’ve seen the players all of the time. I’m excited for what’s to come that’s for sure.”It was more of a shot, was trying to get further inside, just wanted to shoot it on frame, and hopefully someone can get a flick-on, but always happy to get it on frame.”
Washington is a very young team, long on talent with players like Mallory Pugh, but not on experience. The Spirit speed on the counter was dangerous. Even though Seattle was up two nil in the first half, it was stellar goalkeeping by Michelle Betos dealing with the Spirit attack that kept the match from being level after 45 minutes.
Washington did break through in the 68th with Spirit pressure capitalizing on Seattle miscues in the box. Joanna Lohman had come off the bench in her first match in a yea and pounced on a Seattle defensive let down. It was a deserved goal for the hard work they had been putting in pressing despite being down two goals late on the road. Washington is on to something with their youth movement. Washington coach Jim Gabarra on the youth and specifically Mallory Pugh. “She’s come a long way, I’m really proud of her consistency and her health. Dynamic player, very proud of the stage she’s at in the team. She’s never shied away from responsibility on the team she has level of confidence, taking a penalty against Orlando in the 90th minute last year. She’s one of those special players that has a level of confidence – her and Andy cut from the same cloth, going to be really special once they settle in and Mal still has games to play before she kinda gets through her rookie season. I’m not going to be one to put any limits on her.
Seattle would bring in Morgan Andrews as an extra defender late and held on for the three points at home. The Reign FC now go well over a month without a home match and three weeks until their road trip. The unusual NWSL early season schedule, combined with grabbing three points at home, sets Seattle up for what is now an extended preseason to work out any kinks.
NWSL Match Report
Match: Seattle Reign FC vs Washington Spirit
Date: March 24, 2018
Venue: Memorial Stadium
Kickoff: 7:00pm PT
Attendance: 3,561
Weather: Clear and chilly
Scoring Summary:
SEA: Rapinoe 7’, Taylor (Rapinoe) 35’
WAS: Lohman (Banini) 68’
Lineups:
Seattle Reign FC: Betos; Utsugi, Barnes, Oyster, Nielsen; Long, Fishlock, Yanez (77’ Andrews); Rapinoe ©, Taylor, Kawasumi (62’ Spencer)
Substitutes Not Used: Addo, Bauer, Gay, Westphal
Washington Spirit: Bledsoe; Dydasco, Church, Smith, Johnson; Sullivan, Howard (62’ Ordega), Huster (46’ Lohman), Banini; Pugh, Hatch
Substitutes Not Used: Aedo, Haracic, Proffitt, Solaun
Stats Summary: SEA/WAS
Shots: 24/17
Shots on Goal: 12/9
Saves: 8/10
Corner Kicks: 4/1
Fouls: 15/8
Offside: 3/1
Misconduct Summary:
63’ Rapinoe Yellow Card (SEA)
90’ Andrews Yellow Card (SEA)
Officials:
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
Assistant Referees: Alicia Messer, Dan Stupca
Fourth Official: Levi Rippy
photos by Vanya Tucherov
