Western New York Flash Host Sky Blue FC Wednesday Night on ESPN2
Published on August 11, 2014 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
CHICAGO (Aug. 11, 2014) - Abby Wambach and the Western New York Flash face off against Kelley O'Hara and Sky Blue FC with the playoff lives for both teams hanging by a thread when they take the field Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. ET in a match broadcast nationally on ESPN2 from Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.
Both the Flash and Sky Blue FC could be eliminated from postseason contention regardless of the result from their contest if the Chicago Red Stars beat the Boston Breakers in a game scheduled to kick off an hour after the start of the match at Sahlen's Stadium.
Western New York and SBFC would also both be eliminated if their game finishes in a draw.
Nonetheless, only the winner of the game Wednesday has the chance to stay alive in the race for the NWSL Playoffs.
The Flash will enter the match on the heels of a nine-day rest following their dramatic 4-3 road victory over the Breakers in Week 17, with forward Sonia Bermudez scoring the game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time.
The win snapped a four-game winless run for Western New York, which had lost three and drawn one while being outscored 7-3 during the stretch.
Wambach scored twice in the game against Boston to help Western New York to the vital victory in just her second game since returning from a sprain to the lateral collateral ligament (lcl) in her left knee that she suffered May 31 and forced her to miss 11 games.
The U.S. international and 2012 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year now has six goals in just eight games during an injury-plagued 2014 season. Wambach also sat out the first two games of the year with a fractured orbital bone below her left eye.
Coach Aaran Lines has depended heavily on midfielder Carli Lloyd and forward Samantha Kerr in Wambach's absence this season with the U.S. international registering seven goals and six assists and the Australia international chipping in with eight goals and four assists.
The Flash will have one game remaining after Wednesday's match. Western New York will travel to face the Red Stars on the final day of the regular season for both teams.
The game Wednesday is the third and final meeting of the regular season between the Flash and Sky Blue FC - with the two clubs splitting the two previous encounters.
The match is the second in a three-game stretch on the road to close out the regular season for SBFC.
Coach Jim Gabarra's side is 3-3-4 away from Yurcak Field this campaign - including a 3-1 victory over the Houston Dash in Week 18 that saw SBFC forward Nadia Nadim score the third hat trick of the 2014 NWSL season.
The Afghanistan-born member of the Denmark Women's National Team has five goals and two assists in five games since joining Sky Blue FC on loan from Danish club Fortuna Hjørring.
The three-goal performance moved her into a tie with midfielder Katy Freels for second on the team in scoring - one behind O'Hara, who has emerged this season as SBFC's best player with six goals and five assists.
Sky Blue FC enters the match Wednesday as winners in three of their last four games - including two straight - to keep alive their faint playoff homes.
A team which boasted the fourth-best defense in the NWSL last season, Sky Blue FC has struggled at times on defense this season - conceding 35 times in 21 games.
However, the SBFC backline of U.S. Women's National Team Captain Christie Rampone, Australia international Caitlin Foord, Lindsi Cutshall and Cami Levin as well as goalkeeper Jill Loyden have turned in several impressive performances of late - including allowing just one goal during their last two games.
National Women's Soccer League Stories from August 11, 2014
- Come to the Sky Blue FC Viewing Party at Darby Road Pub on August 13 - Sky Blue FC
- Western New York Flash Host Sky Blue FC Wednesday Night on ESPN2 - NWSL
- Breakers Hold off Thorns FC from Playoffs - Boston Breakers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
