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Sky Blue FC Returns Home for Saturday Pairing with Portland Thorns FC

July 10, 2015 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Sky Blue FC News Release


Sky Blue FC in Action
Sky Blue FC in Action
(Sky Blue FC)

Piscataway, N.J. (Friday, July 10, 2015) - Sky Blue FC (1-6-4, 7 points) will host Portland Thorns FC (3-3-4, 13 points) in the second leg of a home-and-home series on Saturday night, welcoming the Thorns into Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey. The match will be played as part of Welcome Back Weekend, presented by Coppertone, to honor the World Cup Champion United States, with kickoff set for 7:00 PM.

"This is a huge game for us. We have to get three points on Saturday," said Jim Gabarra, Sky Blue FC Technical Director & Head Coach. "We played well last weekend in Portland, even when we were down a player after the red card, and we need to transition that level of play into this game. We must come out with confidence and maintain consistency over 90 minutes."

Sky Blue FC opened the scoring against Portland last Friday night in the 27th minute, with midfielder Taylor Lytle setting up Katy Freels for a go-ahead score. The Thorns eventually leveled the match in the 70th minute following a whistle in the box on defender Cami Levin, who was ejected after being issued a red card. Thorns midfielder Allie Long converted the ensuing penalty kick, and Sky Blue FC was forced to compete with 10 players from that moment forward. In the 79th minute, Portland took a 2-1 advantage following an Alyssa Kleiner to Sinead Farrelly score, and the same tally would stand when the final whistle was blown.

Sky Blue FC is hopeful to have its full complement of players available on Saturday night now that the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup has come to a close. The U.S. Women's National Team secured its record third World Cup Championship last Sunday night when it defeated Japan in the final, 5-2.

Individual game tickets for Sky Blue FC home matches are on sale now. Fans who are unable to purchase tickets prior to Saturday night can still pick them at the box office once they arrive at Yurcak Field.




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Sky Blue FC in Action
Sky Blue FC in Action
   

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