Seattle Reign FC 0
FC Kansas City 1
NWSL Regular Season – September 24, 2017
Seattle, WA – Memorial Stadium
Entering Sunday evenings home finale, the calculus for the postseason was very simple. All Seattle had to do was win both of its final matches, hope Orlando loses, and then see if the goal difference can be made up. Long shot or not, still being alive meant something to play for other than just the end of the season.
Seattle attacked in waves with various players getting good looks and near misses in the early stages, but KC would grab the early lead on a goal by Shea Groom from an assist by former Reign player Sydney Leroux. Against the run of play, the KC goal put Seattle’s entire season in jeopardy. Seattle needed goals and points so going into the half down was even more brutal.
For Seattle, the goal simply wouldn’t come despite opportunities in the KC end. Reign defender Rebecca Stott’s second half crossbar volley could’ve been the equalizer, but in the end it struck and spun up and over. Reign coach Laura Harvey reflected, “I thought we came out and started really strong. I thought the goal was against the run of play, but then once they scored, we made hard work of it. I thought that was a really open game, probably the most open Seattle-Kansas City has been in a long time. But, I thought it kind of summed up our season, we had a lot of the ball, I don’t think Lydia had to make too many saves, but we didn’t get enough quality higher up the field, and we gave the ball away in areas that we need to be better at. Overall disappointed that we couldn’t find a goal, because I think if we had found a goal, we would’ve been able to settle down a little bit and play a bit more, but once we were chasing the game, that played into their hands a little bit.”
Kansas City ended the Reign FC seasons in 2014 and 2015 with one goal wins in the NWSL Championship matches, and a one goal win Sunday night ended Seattle’s post-season hopes in 2017. The intensity and importance of the Seattle and KC matches is not lost on the players, Sydney Lerous remarked, “I don’t know I think we just play really hard against each other, both teams play really good soccer with possessions styled teams and I think when those come together you get really good soccer. We’ve always had good matches with them even when I’ve been with Seattle.”
Reign Fc defender and long time defender Elli Reed announced her retirement this week. Teammates more warm ups with the number 7 on them in pregame exercises. Post-match, Reed said, “That was a surprise, so I didn’t know that was going to happen, but that’s just what this club and this team is all about, just special and supporting each other, so that was pretty cool to see everyone wearing my jersey I warm-up.” Adding, “I’m definitely lucky in a way, because it wasn’t an injury or anything like that, I got to step away on my own terms which was nice. I just felt it was the right time for new challenges and things like that, but I was happy that it was my decision to step away.”
Pre-match, several starters and reserves from both sides participated in the ongoing protests in the sporting world by remaining in the Memorial Stadium tunnel.
Photos by Vanya Tucherov
Match: Seattle Reign FC (8-8-7, 31 pts) vs FC Kansas City (8-9-6, 30 pts)
Date: September 24, 2017
Venue: Memorial Stadium
Kickoff: 6:00pm PT
Attendance: 4,991
Weather: Clear
Scoring Summary:
KC – Groom (Leroux) 23’
Lineups:
Seattle Reign FC: Williams, Stott (Reed 78’), McNabb, Corsie, Pickett, Nairn (Johnson 61’), Fishlock, Utsugi, Rapinoe, Mathias (Yanez 75’), Kawasumi
Substitutes Not Used: Bauer, Crummer, Dallstream, Kopmeyer
FC Kansas City: Barnhart, Moros, Averbuch (Taylor 65’), Sauerbrunn, Miramontez, Scott, Gibbons, LaBonta, Kelly (Newfield 81’), Groom, Leroux
Substitutes Not Used: Bowen, Tymrak, Parkhill, Flynn, Ratcliffe
Stats Summary: SEA/KC
Shots: 13 / 11
Shots on Goal: 1 / 2
Saves: 3 / 1
Corner Kicks: 5 / 2
Fouls: 6 / 5
Offside: 1 / 3
Misconduct Summary:
SEA – Rapinoe (Yellow) 69’
Officials:
Referee: Karen Abt
Assistant Referees: Maggie Short, Alicia Messer
Fourth Official: Jeff Arthurholtz
