By Marilia Macedo
On October 23, at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, a big crowd could see the NWSL semifinal between OL Reign and Kansas City, and the Current got a well-deserved spot in the final after a 0-2 win.
The match started with both teams trying to find the best way to keep the ball and open the score, and who got the best at it was Kansas City in the first 5 minutes.
In the 4th minute, Kizer combined a great play with LaBonta inside the area that Quinn could not clear, and Alexis Loera sent the ball to the back of the net, 0-1.
After that, the home team struggled to connect the plays while the Current was finding spaces and bringing danger to the keeper Tullis-Joyce, but they failed to seize the opportunities.
Later, Rapinoe made a great cross that Huitema headed. It could have been the equalizer, but AD Franch made herself bigger and stopped the great chance.
In the final minutes of the first half, Fishlock had two great opportunities to score: the first one, she attempted out of nowhere, and the ball hit the crossbar, while in the second, the goalkeeper saved.
Without changes, the Reign came to the second half, trying to speed the game to reach the goal. However, the visitors’ defensive system and AD Franch could interrupt Huitema, Lavelle, and Fishlock.
Kansas City, which had fewer chances, needed only one ball to double the lead, and that was what Kristen Hamilton did: in the 63′, Hamilton right-footed from the outside of the area and beat Tullis-Joyce, 0-2.
Presenting big games to their fans was not enough for Reign to get a spot in the final. Even with the loss in the semifinal, Laura Harvey’s squad should be proud, finishing the year with two trophies (NWSL Women’s Cup and NWSL Shield), and now the club must work harder to come back stronger and bolder for next season.