San Diego Wave came out with a statement win on Saturday, Aug. 27 by defeating the Portland Thorns 2-0 at Providence Park to place them on top of the NWSL standings.
The Wave scored in the 17th minute when forward Alex Morgan gave a quick pass to teammate Kristen McNabb just outside the box who shot to the top corner of the net giving San Diego the early lead. Portland had a chance to tie the game in the 34th minute when forward Sophia Smith shot the ball with her left foot from close range that went just over the crossbar.
San Diego extended the lead in the 41st minute when goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan kicked the ball down the field finding the head of midfielder Taylor Kornieck who flicked it back to a streaking Morgan. Morgan then placed her shot past goalkeeper Bella Bixby for the 2-0 lead – her 51st career NWSL goal and 13th of the season. This puts her two goals ahead of Smith and Diana Rosario Ordoñez of the North Carolina Courage for the league lead.
The Thorns created few scoring opportunities in the second half thanks to San Diego’s stifling defense with Sheridan not having to be called on much. This ended as Sheridan’s 20th career NWSL clean sheet and first since July 30 in the 1-0 win against Chicago Red Stars.
San Diego Wave is in first place with 31 points followed closely by Houston Dash and Kansas City with 29, and Portland with 28. San Diego travels to face the defending champion Washington Spirit on Sept. 10 followed by a home game against Angel City FC on Sept. 17 in the team’s inaugural match at Snapdragon Stadium.
“I thought we kept the ball really well at times,” said San Diego head coach Casey Stoney. “We defended exceptionally, we were really great in both boxes. Credit to the entire squad because you see the players that get out there and perform, but you don’t see the ones that don’t.”
ALBION SAN DIEGO
Albion San Diego continued its impressive play over the last couple of months with a
2-1 home win over Flower City Union on Saturday evening at Canyon Crest Academy Stadium.
Forward Alioune Diakhate connected with midfielder Tyler Gabarra in the 40th minute then shot the ball from 10 yards out and beat Flower City goalkeeper Steven Ortiz for the 1-0 lead.
Albion extended the lead before the end of the first half when forward Mayele Malango gave Diakhate a quick pass where he proceeded to get by the defense with a beautiful move to the left and chipped it over Ortiz for the 2-0 score.
Flower City pushed their lines forward to create more opportunities in the second half with Albion goalkeeper Ben Roach having to be called upon in the 80th minute to deflect a point-blank shot and again in the 85th minute with a diving save off a free kick from 25 yards out.
Flower City scored its only goal of the match on the ensuing corner kick from a header by defender Dylan Evande, but could not muster any other chances against Roach with Albion closing out the victory in front of the home fans.
Albion San Diego now sits alone in third place with the league having eliminated the two division groupings in preference for a single eight-team table decided by points per game average.
“We control what we can control,” said Albion San Diego head coach Ziggy Korytoski. “I think all the cards will fall into the right place when it’s all said and done. Once the season comes to a conclusion we want to be on top.”
Up next is a trip north to face LA Force on Sept. 3 followed by a home game against Chattanooga FC at Cal State San Marcos on Sept. 7 in a match that could decide second place in the NISA standings.
Hector Trujillo has been covering soccer starting with the San Diego State University men’s soccer team in 2003 for The Daily Aztec. A graduate of SDSU where he received his B.A. and M.A. degrees, Trujillo has a lifelong passion for playing and writing about the beautiful game.
Wave photo courtesy of San Diego Wave. Albion photo courtesy of David Frerker.
