NWSL Sky Blue FC

Season-High Crowd Expected in Must-Win Saturday Home Match

Published on August 20, 2015 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Sky Blue FC News Release


Morristown, N.J. (Wednesday, August 20, 2015) - A season-high crowd is expected on Saturday night, as Sky Blue FC (4-7-6, 18 points) welcomes Portland Thorns FC (6-7-4, 22 points) to Yurcak Field at 7:00 PM EST. In a match that is essentially equivalent to a playoff fixture, Sky Blue FC is facing a situation where it needs to win in order to keep its 2015 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) playoff aspirations alive.

"We have to approach this as if it is a playoff game," said Jim Gabarra, Sky Blue FC Technical Director & Head Coach. "We have to win and get the three points, and then we can take a look at the other results around the league. We have our work cut out for us, but the only thing we can control is the performance that we put on the field on Saturday night. Portland is also fighting for the playoffs, so we have to do whatever it takes to make sure we get the win."

On-field and center circle club seats for Saturday night have already been sold out, and only a limited number of bleacher tickets remain in what is certain to be a highly intensified 90 minutes of soccer. In its simplest terms, Sky Blue FC must win this match in order to keep its postseason hopes alive. There still exists a situation where a draw on Saturday night could keep Sky Blue FC in the playoff mix, but the New Jersey club would need a lot of things to fall in its favor. The top three spots on the NWSL Table are already out of reach, so Sky Blue FC is in a position where it can only earn the fourth and final playoff seed.

Sky Blue FC currently trails fourth place FC Kansas City by seven points, a team it will host at Yurcak Field on September 2nd in its 2015 regular season finale. FC Kansas City plays the Boston Breakers at home later on Saturday night, with kickoff slated for 8:00 PM EST. If they are able to win that contest, Sky Blue FC would be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, regardless of the result of its game with Portland.

Saturday night marks the third meeting of the season between Sky Blue FC and the Thorns, with the series currently split at one win each. In its first pairing, Portland defeated Sky Blue FC at home, 2-1, while the New Jersey side returned the favor the following weekend at Yurcak Field, 1-0.

Individual and group bleacher tickets are on sale now for Saturday and can be purchased online at tickets.skybluefc.com or by calling 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849).

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from August 20, 2015


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