Originally published on August 25, 2014
Megan Rapinoe’s goal in the the 82nd minute lifted Seattle Reign FC to a 2-1 victory over the Washington Spirit in the semifinals of the NWSL playoffs.
The conditions and play between the two semifinal matches this weekend could not have been any more different. Saturday’s game, featuring the Portland Thorns and FC Kansas City, was heavily impacted by the scorching heat and boiling turf as both teams were clearly a step slower than usual.
In contrast, the showdown between the Reign and Spirit was absolutely electric for the entire 90 minutes resulting in perhaps one of the most exciting matches in the short history of the NWSL.
Both sides were missing a key player as Elli Reed didn’t feature for the Reign and Lori Lindsey was forced to sit for the final match of her professional career in the US with heel pain.
Heading into the match, the Reign were clear favorites after winning the NWSL shield and earning 54 points during the season, 13 points more than second place FC Kansas City. The quality in the Reign’s starting XI is stunning and features international stars including Megan Rapinoe, Sydney Leroux, Nahomi Kawasumi, Kim Little, Jessica Fishlock, and Hope Solo.
The Spirit took on the underdog role, a familiar situation for the Washington club. The Spirit have been the team grinding out surprise results all season relying on the solid, but lower profile Jodie Taylor and Diana Matheson for a majority of their goals. If the game was supposed to be a blowout in favor of the Reign, nobody told the Spirit because the team put on a valiant performance nearly scoring on several occasions and withstanding attacking pressure from the Reign fairly well.
The Spirit nearly took the lead only three minutes into the match as Kerstin Garefrekes broke away from her defenders and took on Solo 1v1, but her shot was straight at the keeper. Solo couldn’t hold on to Garefrekes’s strike and Taylor ran on to the rebound, but couldn’t put it away.
Garefrekes had another miss about 10 minutes later when the ball bounced just in front of Solo and she launched her volley straight into the gut of the Reign keeper at point blank range.
The Spirit had another golden opportunity as a miscommunication between the Reign center backs and Solo left Christine Nairn with a look on an open net from 30 yards out, but Nairn’s didn’t have the pace or placement to find the back of the net.
The Reign controlled possession in the first half, but the Spirit managed to get several quality chances on goal.
Veronica Perez, who had only minutes earlier replaced Yael Averbuch, finally broke the stalemate in the 65th minute to give the Spirit a 1-0 lead. Matheson demonstrated her amazing vision and patience when she cut back a pass to Veronica Perez in the box, who sent a blistering strike past her fellow University of Washington alum.
Referee Timon Berry awarded a questionable, at best, penalty to the Reign in the 64th minute after Sydney Leroux kicked the ball into Toni Pressley who was trailing immediately behind her. Interestingly, Little was forced to take the PK twice, but unsurprisingly she buried both.
Berry called what most would consider a make-up handball penalty ten minutes later, but Matheson’s less than stellar strike was saved by Solo.
It was Megan Rapinoe who sealed the win for the Reign in the 82nd minute as she stripped the ball from Pressley about 40 yards from goal. Ali Krieger attempted to close down Rapinoe as she streaked into the box, but Rapinoe got her shot off just in time smashing her shot beyond Ashlyn Harris and into the back of the net.
The Reign will face FC Kansas City in the final next Sunday, August 31st at Starfire Stadium at 3 PM Eastern. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.