Originally published August 1, 2014
By Michelle Morrison
Sky Blue FC kept their slim playoff chances alive with a 1-0 victory over the Western New York Flash.
Critics and fans alike may have written off Sky Blue FC’s playoff hopes this season, given their 5-8-7 record, but in the past few weeks there has been a noticeable attitude change surrounding the club. The arrival of Danish forward Nadia Nadim has boosted the play of everyone around her.
Since joining Sky Blue in June, Nadim has contributed two goals and two assists,which translates to a point per game. Her instant connection with fellow forward Kelley O’Hara has combined for five goals.
The Nadim/O’Hara connection struck again in the 50th minute of yesterday’s match, which was started by stellar play from rookie Maya Hayes, who passed to Nadim in front of the net. Nadim then fed the ball to O’Hara for her sixth goal of the season.
“I love the way Kelley plays,” Nadim said. “I love being on the field with her, Katy [Freels], all the other players on top. I think I know how they wanted me to play and they kind of know my runs and it’s incredible that we already connect.”
Asked about playing in the NWSL, Nadim stated,”I love that the games are so tight, you don’t win like 7-0, you have to fight for every inch and that makes it so much fun.”
On the other end of the sideline, Flash head coach Aaron Lines conceded last week that his team wasn’t going to make the playoffs and Carli Lloyd echoed his sentiments after the game, saying “We knew there was no room for error and now just kind of play out the remainder of the games for pride.”
“We had some chances,” Lloyd continued. “I had one down here with the open net. Abby [Wambach] had a few and that’s just kind of football sometimes. Didn’t go in the back of the net.”
Wambach agreed. “I had clear chances to score goals today, and even though they wouldn’t say it, I feel like I let my team down.”
Referencing Sonia Bermudez’s service into the box that Wambach headed over the net, one of two such opportunities in the first half, she said, “That’s my bread and butter. I don’t miss diving headers. I want those balls back because I don’t get them as often as I like and Sonia put it in a perfect position for me to score.”
Sky Blue’s Jill Loyden earned her second clean sheet of the season, making multiple saves on national team teammates Wambach and Lloyd and punching several shots away from her net. The Flash’s Kelsey Wys was also kept busy, especially in the first half as the Flash seemed unable to maintain possession and Sky Blue kept pressing, but were unable to break through.
The match was a physical one, with both teams seeing two yellow cards each. Sky Blue’s Nadim was booked in the 23rd minute and Cami Levin in the 40th. For the Flash, Lloyd received a card in the 26th minute, as well as a warning about her physical play later in the match, and Bermudez was carded in the 55th minute.
Lloyd is now sitting on four yellow cards this season, but was not concerned about a suspension moving forward, stating that she also had four yellow cards last season and does not feel the need to play with any less physicality.
Both Wambach and Lloyd also referenced the relative parity in the league, with Wambach stating, “This league has very weird results, especially in the last two weeks, so anything is possible.” Lloyd added, “This league is crazy. It doesn’t matter if you’re top of the table or bottom of the table. Whoever comes out and plays to win on that given day is gonna come home with the win.”
As Wambach put it, “That’s part of the beauty of sports, you always get a chance to erase the past and move forward.”
Sky Blue FC is currently in seventh place (5-8-7 for 22 points) and will travel to Houston to face the Dash on August 9th at 9 pm Eastern. The Western New York Flash are now clinging to sixth place (7-11-3 for 21 points) and will face the Breakers in Boston on August 3rd at 6:30 pm Eastern.