Washington Spirit Falls to Regional Rivals Sky Blue FC 2-1

Washington Spirit  |   June 25, 2016
Washington Spirit Falls to Regional Rivals Sky Blue FC 2-1 Featured Image

Photo: Jose Argueta/ISI Photos

Boyds, MD (June 25, 2016) – The Washington Spirit (5-2-2, 17 points) fell to regional rivals Sky Blue FC (3-3-4, 13 points) 2-1. Diana Matheson scored for the Spirit with a header in the 77th minute. Sky Blue FC scored goals in the eighth and 64th minutes, respectively. 2015 Mac Hermann Trophy winner Raquel Rodriguez scored the first goal of the match with a drilled shot from the top of the box. Australian forward Sam Kerr increased the team’s lead with a volley into the back of the net.

In the eighth minute, Sky Blue earned the first goal of the match when Leah Galton played a ball to Rodriguez at the top of the box. Rodriguez fired her shot into the top right corner of the net past Spirit goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé‘s extended arms.

Just one minute after getting subbed into the game, Kerr scored Sky Blue’s second goal in the 64th minute. Galton earned her second assist of the match when she sent a long cross into the box from the left flank that found Kerr. Kerr executed a side volley that slid past a diving Labbé and into the back of the net.

In the 77th minute, the Spirit closed the gap with its first goal of the match. Argentinian forward Estefania Banini sent a ball into the box from the left flank. Matheson defied gravity and headed the ball into the right side of the net past Sky Blue keeper Caroline Stanley.

Labbé made numerous impressive saves in the match, showing the extent of her skill before heading to Rio. In the 30th minute, she came up big when her quick reaction saved a driven header from Sky Blue forward Tasha Kai. Defender Kelley O’Hara played a well placed cross that landed within feet of the goal and found Kai.

The Washington Spirit will play its next home game next Saturday, July 2nd against reigning champions FC Kansas City. The Spirit will be without both their American and Canadian internationals until August as both teams prepare for and compete in the Rio Olympics. For tickets, please go to our website.

NWSL Match Report

Match: Washington Spirit vs. Sky Blue FC
Date: June 25, 2016
Venue:Maryland SoccerPlex, Maryland
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Attendance: 3,448
Weather: 86, sunny

Washington Spirit Lineup: 1- Stephanie Labbé; 22- Alyssa Kleiner (17- Cali Farquharson 78′), 6- Shelina Zadorsky, 4 – Megan Oyster, 11-Ali Krieger; 8-Diana Matheson, 23- Tori Huster, 7-Christine Nairn (Joanna Lohman 66′) ; 10- Estefania Banini, 14- Francisca Ordega (12- Katie Stengel 45′), 19-Crystal Dunn

Subs not used: 3 -Caprice Dydasco, 18 – Kelsey Wys, 5 – Whitney Church, 20 – Cheyna Williams
Head Coach: Jim Gabarra

Sky Blue FC Lineup: 18- Caroline Stanley; 19- Kelley O’Hara, 13- Kristin Grubka, 3- Christie Rampone, 8- Erica Skroski; 11- Raquel Rodriguez, 16- Sarah Killion, 21- Leah Galtan, 33- Erin Simon (7- Nikki Stanton 78′) ; 6- Taylor Lytle, 32- Tasha Kai (Sam Kerr 63′)

Subs not used: 2- Shawna Gordon, 12- Kim Decesare, 15- Coco Goodson, 24- Kelley Conheeney, 27- Caroline Casey
Head Coach: Christy Holly

Team 1 2 Final
Washington Spirit  0  1  1
Sky Blue FC  1  1  2
SCORING SUMMARY
Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assist
 1 8 Sky Blue FC Raquel Rodriguez  Leah Galton
 2 64 Sky Blue FC Samantha Kerr Leah Galton
 3 77 Washington Spirit Diana Matheson  Estefania Banini
CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS
Time Team ## Player Card Reason

Stats Summary: WAS/NJ
Shots: 7 / 5
Shots on Goal: 5 / 4
Saves: 2 / 3
Corner Kicks: 9 / 2
Fouls: 5 / 6
Offside: 1/ 4

Officials:
Referee: Leszek Stalmach
Assistant Referee 1: Sean Regan
Assistant Referee 2: Maggie Short
4th Official: Corson Fidler

Spread the love