October the 1st in Nigeria is independence day. Although there will likely already parties planned in Francisca Ordega’s house the party might be getting started just a bit earlier than planned. The Nigerian international and Washington Spirit forward on Friday night became the hero of 4,249 wet supporters at the Maryland Soccer Plex scoring the game-winning goal in their 2-1 win over the Chicago Red Stars.
Ali Krieger started the scoring for the Spirit in the 36th minute. The Red Stars goal came from Christen Press who leveled the score in the 83rd minute. Thanks to Ordega’s goal in the 111th minute the Spirit have reached their first-ever NWSL final appearance.
Possession was the key for both sides early in the match. With two of the top midfields in the NWSL playing for a championship spot the Spirit and Red Stars engaged in a game of chess, moving pieces up and down the pitch looking for a weakness in their opponents defense. But both defenses were more than ready carefully tracking runners on the outside and intercepting attacking chances.
The Spirit nearly broke through in the 20th minute when Crystal Dunn would break through the Red Stars defense and hammer her shot back post. Her chance would beat Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher but not the woodwork. Dunn would pose a problem to Red Stars defenders Samantha Johnson and Casey Short all night using her speed to win multiple 50-50 balls.
After finding a crack in the Red Stars defense the Spirit would exploit it. Defender Shelina Zadorsky would lay in a cross from the right flank into Krieger. Krieger’s header would get past Naeher and give the Spirit the 1-0 advantage.
In the second half the Red Stars began to get out of their conservative posture and began to create attacking chances. Midfielder Vanessa Di Bernadello began to make diagonal passes out to Press and Sofia Huerta with the idea of opening up the compact Spirit defense. It almost paid off in the 52nd minute when Huerta found some space at the top of the eighteen yard box. But she was unable to frame her shot right and lifted it over the bar.
The Red Stars would equalize late thanks to a pass from Short into Press. The United States Women’s National Team player fired her shot past Wys to silence a very partisan Spirit crowd.
Press very nearly had the game-winner late for the Red Stars, breaking through the Spirit defense and getting around Wys. But Press’ shot would hit the bar denying Chicago the chance to advance and giving Washington a second chance.
In overtime both sides seemed to have tired legs and chances were few and far between. But in the 111th minute Ordega made the most of a chance laid in from midfielder Christine Nairn.
The Spirit will face the winner tomorrow night’s Portland Thorns/ Western New York Flash match in the NWSL final. The NWSL championship match will take place at BBVA Compass Stadium on Sunday October 9th at 9pm EST. The match will be shown live on FS1.
Washington Spirit- Kelsey Wys, Whitney Church, Shelina Zadorsky, Tori Huster, Joanna Lohman (Diana Matheson 70′), Christine Nairn, Estefania Banini (Katie Stengel 87′), Ali Krieger, Francisca Ordega (Megan Oyster 116′), and Crystal Dunn
Goals- Krieger (36′) and Ordega (111′)
Yellow Card- Nairn (57′)
Chicago Red Stars- Alyssa Naeher, Arin Gilliland, Julie Johnston, Samantha Johnson, Casey Short, Danielle Colaprico, Vanessa Di Bernardo, Sofia Huerta, Taylor Comeau (Amanda Da Costa 70′(Katie Naughton 114′)), Christen Press, and Cara Walls (Stephanie McCaffrey 66′)
Goal- Press (81′)
Yellow Card- Johnson (122′)
ATTENDANCE: 4,249
