OL Reign 0
Kansas City Current 2
NWSL Semifinal
October 23, 2022
Seattle, WA – Lumen Field
The OL Reign played host to the Kansas City Current on Sunday in Seattle in the 2nd NWSL Semifinal. The winner of the match would go on to face Portland Thorns FC, who had beaten San Diego Wave 2-1 earlier in the afternoon.
The OL Reign defense has been stingy all season, conceding the fewest goals in the league and giving up very few bad goals. In the fourth minute, Reign defenders were unable to clear a ball, and in the ensuing scrum Alex Loera would get a clean look and get a goal past Phallon Tullis-Joyce for a shock early lead.
An early end to end pace would create dangerous moments for both sides, but the early goal was much more of capitalizing on a moment more than the interesting combination play both teams were creating in the attack.
The hosts continued to get good ball movement and combinations, but the Current kept closing well and kept the Reign from getting good looks with all that possession. The Current were also doing well in their attack, pushing numbers forward and putting the Seattle defense on its heels in a way not often seen in 2022.
Kansas City would lose Cecelia Kizer to injury just before the half. They were able to see out the first half with the lead and held off some late reign attacks to enter the interval with the single goal lead.
The season in Seattle had a number of stories. One of those stories was all the chances they would create and control and in many games manage to not break through on the score sheet. They won the NWSL Shield with a stingy defense and low goal scoring total. Much of the early second half of this match was a microcosm of the season, they pushed the KC defense hard, but in the 62nd minute would concede a game breaking goal on the counter. In the end, OL Reign would take 14 corners and a number of other set pieces, just banging on a door they would not break through.
Kristen Hamilton made it two nil to the visitors, carrying the ball forward and finding an opening to crack a long range shot to the left post. Suddenly, it was a much different ball game. Where it had looked like the Seattle side might level, the goal margin was now two with under 30 minutes left.
It’s a tough end to a season in Seattle. The Reign fought down the stretch to win a third shield, but success in the playoffs and championship continues to elude them. Three shields are a great accomplishment for any club in a ten year window.
The Current played well. Grabbing the early goal altered the game from the fourth minute forward. KC absorbed a relentless Reign attack, countered with numbers, took the chances they had, and did what a road team needs to do to win against a good team. Kansas City had a great season, with a long unbeaten run, and went on the road in the playoffs and got it done.
Portland versus Kansas City will be a tough match in DC on Saturday the 29th at Audi Field.
21,491 filled the lower bowl of Lumen Field for this match. They sang, chanted, and cheered, and saw a tough and hard fought match.
BOX
Scoring Summary
RGN: None
KC: 4’ – Loera, 63’ – Hamilton
Discipline
RGN: None
KC: None
Lineups
RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Huerta, D Cook, D Hiatt, D Barnes (McClernon 88’), M Fishlock, M Quinn (Stanton 88’), M Lavelle (King 88’), F Rapinoe, F Huitema, F Balcer (Balcer 68’)
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, D Lopez, F Latsko, M Athens, M Canales
Total Shots: 16 (Fishlock – 5)
Shots on Goal: 7 (Fishlock – 3)
Fouls: 10 (Quinn, Van der Jagt – 2)
Offsides: 2
Corner Kicks: 14
Saves: 1 (Tullis-Joyce – 1)
KC: GK Franch, D Edmonds, D Ball, D Merrick (Rodriguez 64’), D Mace, D Del Fava, M Loera (Leach 85’), M LaBonta (Curran 85’), M Scott, F Kizer (Bennett 45’), F Hamilton
Unused substitutes: D Winebrenner, M McCain, GK Miller, M Logarzo, GK Schneider
Total Shots: 8 (Hamilton – 3)
Shots on Goal: 3 (Three tied with – 1)
Fouls: 12 (Scott – 3)
Offsides: 1
Corner Kicks: 2
Saves: 7 (Franch – 7)
Referee: Alex Billeter
Assistant Referee 1: Tiffini Turpin
Assistant Referee 2: Jeremy Smith
4th Official: Brad Jensen
