Flash Win Second in a Row; Beat Undefeated FC Kansas City
Published on May 11, 2013 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Western New York Flash News Release
Rochester, NY - For the second-straight game, a team has entered Sahlen's Stadium undefeated and left with its first loss. On Saturday night, the Western New York Flash won its second game in a row with a 2-1 victory over FC Kansas City. The Blues entered the game riding a 2-1-0 record, but fall to 2-1-1 on the year. The Flash, however, improve to 2-1-2 with the win.
Backed by two quality goals from Abby Wambach, the Flash was able to take a 2-0 lead into the locker room at the half.
In the 34th minute, Wambach netted her second goal of the year after a perfect long ball from Brittany Taylor. Taylor was able to target Veronica Perez at the top of the box, who used her chest to pass to Wambach in the middle of the 18. The US forward went to her trusted left foot, firing a shot past Kansas City's Nicole Barnhart.
Just five minutes later, Wambach was on the board again this time after creating her own opportunity. Looking to clear, Kansas City defender Leigh Ann Robinson dropped a pass back into her own 18-yard box, but the ball went between teammates Becky Sauerbrunn and Lauren Sesselmann. Seeing the miscue, Wambach stepped in and stole the ball, putting her team up by two.
In the final minutes of the first half, Wambach was denied the hat trick on a desperation save by Barnhart. After defender Katherine Reynolds collected on an overlapping run on the left side, she played a cross in to an unmarked Wambach who struck a hard header to the far post. But Barnhart was able deny the third Flash goal on a dive to her left.
Holding a 2-0 lead after 45 minutes, the Blues took the shutout bid away from Adrianna Franch with a 52nd minute goal by Lauren Cheney. Cheney was able to flick a header past the left hand of Franch, connecting on a cross from Robinson.
But in similar Flash fashion, the defense was able to withstand any offensive onslaught from the Blues and added another three points to the season's total.
The Flash defense was able to contain forward Renae Cuellar, who has scored a goal in each of her first three appearances with Kansas City. However, the Mexican international was held not only goalless, but to just one off target shot in her 59 minutes.
With the game scoreless, Cuellar had a solid scoring chance in the first half after Taylor missed a header clear. The ball found her feet about 20 yards out, but Alex Sahlen was able to recover and deny Cuellar a one-on-one bid with Franch.
Saturday's game also marked the season debut of US national Carli Lloyd who had missed the first four games of the year with a shoulder injury. Lloyd, who first practiced with the team on Friday, entered the game as a 64th minute substitute and instantly made her presence felt. On her first touch, Lloyd drew a free kick just outside the box and her set piece attempt nearly beat Barnhart but was punched beyond the end line.
That shot led to a corner kick for the Flash, as Wambach's hat trick bid was again denied on a last resort from the Kansas City backline. Wambach made an aerial attempt at the goal, and her header beat Barnhart, but with her heels on the goal line Desiree Scott got in front of Wambach's chance.
Minutes later, Lloyd collected a pass 23-yards out and danced her way through the defense and into the box, but her shot went right to the arms of Barnhart.
As an answer to Cheney's score, Samantha Kerr looked to add her third goal of the year in the 56th minute, firing a hard shot from the left side with the outside of her right foot. But the ball took just enough movement to the right to rocket off the far post.
Kansas City answered with two give-and-go efforts over the next couple minutes, but Angela Salem broke up the first attempt between Cheney and Erika Tymrak. In the 74th minute the Blues found Jen Buczkowski alone in front of Franch after receiving a pass from Cheney, but Franch was able to cut down the angle and make the tie-denying save.
Franch, like Barnhart, got some help from the woodwork in the match when Kristie Mewis sent a long shot off the crossbar in the 35th minute. Looking for an answer to Wambach's first score, Mewis quickly pulled the trigger from the right side, but her left footed attempt was just off the target.
Franch finished the game with six saves while Barnhart ended with three. Despite being outshot 12-9, Western New York was able to move into fourth place in the National Women's Soccer League, tied at seven points with Kansas City.
Wambach led the Flash with four shots in a complete game effort, while Lloyd totaled three in her 26 minutes.
The Flash will complete a four-game homestand on Friday, April 24th when it welcomes the Chicago Red Stars to Sahlen's Stadium for a 7:05 p.m. contest.
National Women's Soccer League Stories from May 11, 2013
- Reign FC falls 0-2 at Sky Blue FC - Seattle Reign FC
- Flash Win Second in a Row; Beat Undefeated FC Kansas City - Western New York Flash
- FC Kansas City Suffers First Defeat - FC Kansas City
- SBFC Reigns over Seattle - Sky Blue FC
- SBFC Reigns over Seattle - Sky Blue FC
- Seattle Reign FC Faces Sky Blue FC Tonight in New Jersey - Seattle Reign FC
- In a Flash: WNY vs. FC Kansas City - Western New York Flash
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