Sky Blue FC were seconds away from their second straight loss when a controversial red card gave them an opportunity to draw with the visiting Seattle Reign last night at Yurcak field in Piscataway NJ.
In the game’s 90th minute, the Sky Blue were awarded a penalty kick as a result of a handball infraction on Seattle midfielder Jessica Fishlock during a furious flurry in the match’s waning moments. Twice it seemed like the ball crossed the Seattle goal, but instead was punched away by Seattle goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer. Following the final attempt, which was struck by defender Hayley Haagsma, the whistle was blown for a handball infraction on Fishlock. After what seemed like several minutes of discussion between the referees, Fishlock was issued a red card, and the home side awarded a penalty kick which was taken by Danish striker Nadia Nadim. Nadim had to wait to take her kick after more discussion, but she sent a rocket past a diving Kopmeyer : ” The ball was going in the goal but she (Fishlock) jumped up and smacked it with her hand,” said an exuberant Nadim after the game. When asked about having to wait so long to take the kick she responded “usually you just take it, but I was trying to stay focused”.
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The first half started slowly for both sides, with the Reign finding better scoring opportunities and did a better job at maintaining possession. Seattle created a couple of dangerous opportunities that forced Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Brittany Cameron to make two crucial diving saves in point blank range.With the absence of defenders Kelley O’ Hara and Christie Rampone, Cameron will be looked upon to be more vocal in setting the defense.
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For the home side, their scoring opportunities weren’t as abundant. The best scoring chance for Sky Blue FC in the first half came in the 44th minute. On the play, midfielder Katy Freels picked off a ball about 25 yards out and found herself space to make something happen. She then turned upfield and saw a chance to get off a shot, but her attempt was off the mark.
Skyscraper Blues
In the second half, Cameron continued to make key saves and keep her team in the match., turning away two more consecutive point blank shots in the 50th minute that were well struck and on target, bringing a roar from the crowd. However, Seattle was finally able to break the scoreless deadlock in the 76th minute. On what started off a corner kick, defender Lauren Barnes eventually collected the pass on top of the left side of the penalty area, and with players in front of her impairing the vision of Cameron, Barnes unloaded a hard shot that stayed close to the ground and then into the back netting and Seattle found itself on top with a 1-0 advantage.
That’s the way the game seemed to be heading until the wild last two minutes, ending in the controversial call on Fishlock. When asked about the play, Seattle HC Laura Harvey said: ” I didn’t see it, but she (Fishlock) said she hit it with her head.I’ll have to see the replay.”
“It was an important psychological shift for us to come back and get the draw,” said Jim Gabarra, Sky Blue Head Coach. “When you get into these games and give up a goal, it is a confidence booster to know that you have the ability to come back. After allowing the goal, we found some energy and commitment to go forward, which created some chances and eventually led to the penalty kick opportunity.”