Match Recap: OL Reign Defeats Gotham to Earn Important Three Points
OL Reign (9-4-7, 34 points, 2nd place) earned another win on the road and another crucial three points with a gritty 1-0 win over NJ/NY Gotham FC (4-16-0, 12 points, 12th place). Though the team has not yet clinched a playoff spot, they moved up to second place in the league, tied on points with first-place San Diego Wave FC.
In the first half, Gotham FC was content to sit back and defend the Reign, not applying any urgent pressure until the Reign entered their half of the field. The evenly matched albeit physical half went without any dangerous scoring opportunities for either side.
In the second half, OL Reign was under more pressure from Gotham, but made the most of their chances to break Gotham’s lines. In the 56th minute, OL Reign originals, Jess Fishlock and Megan Rapinoe, subbed onto the pitch and brought an immediate shift in momentum with them.
With fresh legs, the two were on the field for a single minute before combining to win a penalty kick. Rapinoe played a ball through to Fishlock, splitting two Gotham defenders in the process. Fishlock, poised to get on the end of the ball and find the back of the net, was tugged down inside the 18-yard box instead, earning a penalty kick for OL Reign.
Rapinoe stepped up to the spot with her typical cool, calm and collected demeanor to take the kick. There wasn’t a doubt in anyone’s mind as Rapinoe hit the ball power with power, straight into the back of the net to put OL Reign up 1-0 in the 58th minute of the match.
Through the rest of the match, OL Reign showed their experience and professionalism as they worked to control the match. Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce came up with a couple of saves in critical moments to maintain the shutout for the team.
The team showed tremendous character for the second match in a row on the road, holding possession of the ball at the end of the match, working it around the field to run the clock down. On the opposite side of the ball, OL Reign defended as a unit, shutting down every Gotham attack before anything threatening could build.
At the full-time whistle, the Reign earned the 1-0 win, catapulting themselves into second place in the NWSL standings, shy of the first-place spot only on goal differential. The team has just two games left in the regular season as their sights are set on clinching a spot in the 2022 NWSL playoffs.
Key Facts:
· Tonight’s match featured another new starting XI for OL Reign, which means they now have 19 different starting XIs in 20 games played this season.
· OL Reign remains undefeated in their last five road games, outscoring their hosts nine to five in those meetings.
· Forward Megan Rapinoe scored the lone goal of the match in the 58th minute, marking her second consecutive game-winning goal and fourth this season.
· Rapinoe has six goals and four assists in her last seven games played, tallying at least one goal or assist in each game, which sets a new club record for most consecutive games with either a goal or an assist. The 37-year-old is also tied with Kim Little for the most penalty kick goals all-time in NWSL history with 12.
· Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce recorded a clean sheet and finished the match with three saves and two clearances. Tullis-Joyce has seven clean sheets this season, making her tied for first in the NWSL among all goalkeepers.
UP NEXT: OL Reign will travel to Houston, Texas to take on the Houston Dash on Saturday, September 24 at 5:30 p.m. PT in their third of three consecutive road games.
MATCH SUMMARY
2022 NWSL Regular Season
OL Reign 1-0 NJ/NY Gotham FC
Date/Time: Wednesday, September 21, 2022, 4:00 p.m. PT
Location: Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
Weather: 72, Cloudy
Scoring Summary
RGN: Rapinoe – 58’
NJNY: None
Discipline
RGN: Huitema (Caution – 24’), Huerta (Caution – 77’), Fishlock (Caution – 90+1’)
NJNY: Krieger (Caution – 57’), Bike (Caution – 84’)
Lineups
RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Huerta, D Cook, D Hiatt, D Barnes (McClernon 85’), M Van der Jagt (Stanton 74’), M Quinn, M Lavelle, F King (Fishlock 56’), F Huitema (Rapinoe 56’), F Balcer (Latsko 85’)
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, D Lopez, M Athens, M Canales
Total Shots: 11 (Lavelle, Rapinoe – 3)
Shots on Goal: 3 (Three tied with – 1)
Fouls: 10 (Balcer – 4)
Offsides: 3
Corner Kicks: 0
Saves: 3 (Tullis-Joyce – 3)
NJNY: GK Betos, D Krieger, D Jean (Bike 72’), D Freeman, D Dorsey, M Zerboni, M Mewis (Torres 71’), M Pickett (Yokoyama 79’), M Monaghan (Kawasumi 46’), M Purce, M Onumonu (Sheehan 79’)
Unused substitutes: M Baxter, D Flores, D Johnson, GK Hancuff
Total Shots: 8 (Purce – 5)
Shots on Goal: 3 (Purce – 2)
Fouls: 13 (Four tied with – 2)
Offsides: 0
Corner Kicks: 5
Saves: 2 (Betos – 2)
Budweiser Player of the Match: Megan Rapinoe
Referee: Anya Voigt
Assistant Referee 1: Zeno Cho
Assistant Referee 2: Jessica Carnevale
4th Official: Joshua Encarnacion