Well that was a match: San Diego Wave FC 1, OL Reign 1

San Diego Wave FC wrapped up their 2022 NWSL Problem Cup slate with the group stage finale towards OL Reign on Saturday, with the groups splitting the factors in a 1-1 draw at Torero Stadium.

It was an ill-tempered affair, and whereas San Diego had a late purple card, additionally they received the good thing about some favorable officiating to get their equalizer, so it was a reasonably lucky consequence towards the highest staff within the group, it should be stated.

Kailen Sheridan, off the COVID protocol checklist, was again beginning in aim for San Diego, whereas Kaleigh Riehl received the beginning alongside Naomi Girma in central protection with Abby Dahlkemper on COVID protocol and out for the night time. Emily Van Egmond began in midfield with Taylor Kornieck returning to the XI.

Sadly, there have been technical difficulties on the match stream and we missed all however some scrambled opening seconds, with the stream going darkish till the sixteenth minute.

OL Reign as soon as once more discovered the opening aim and pretty early, courtesy of Ally Watt within the twelfth minute. It wasn’t as early as a few of the different first concessions for San Diego, nevertheless it was nonetheless fairly early.

Frankly, Sheridan was fortunate to not get despatched off straightaway right here after coughing up the ball and solely received a yellow card for soccer tackling the Reign participant.

From there, after we might see the match, each staff looked for a gap however there was nothing actually stellar for many of the opening half. I’d edge the final high quality of probabilities to OL Reign, however in first-half stoppage time, Wave FC had been awarded a penalty off a nook kick. Within the scramble, the referee whistled the decision when the ball pinged off Watt’s arm, though it appeared that arm was pinned to her facet and never “unnatural.” Nonetheless, San Diego didn’t complain and Alex Morgan stepped as much as convert the PK to make it 1-1 simply earlier than halftime.

Morgan exited the sport on the break and Jodie Taylor changed her to start the 2nd half. Marleen Schimmer entered the sport for Belle Briede within the 59th minute, and Amirah Ali entered for Sofia Jakobsson within the 67th minute.

The 2nd half was largely just like the first by way of run of play. Each groups had stretches with the ball and largely speculative probabilities, however the respective defenses held agency.

It received tougher within the dying minutes, nonetheless. Turnbow, on a yellow card within the 69th minute, had a pair late tackles after that and her luck ran out within the 82nd minute, as she acquired her second yellow and an ejection. It was a troublesome 2nd half for the rookie, who’s nonetheless coming to grips with the defensive facet of the sport from a midfield place.

From there, San Diego aimed to hold on with some extent, and it was nervy however they only managed to do it. Frankly, Wave FC had been pretty lucky to get the draw, however given some calls that broke their method, they made essentially the most of them and received the equalizer and held on from there. That’s what occurs typically on this sport, and ultimately San Diego received a end in half their Problem Cup video games. A reasonably respectable begin, actually.

The Problem Cup is over for Wave FC, however they’ll kick off their NWSL common season slate subsequent Sunday, once they’ll journey to Texas for the primary time, to tackle the Houston Sprint. A brand new opponent, and a brand new highway journey, can San Diego begin the common season on good observe?

What do you suppose? Depart a remark under.