As if it were a replay, Alex Morgan gives the San Diego Wave victory again from the penalty spot, the first for the Californians in 2023.
In front of over 30,000 cheering fans at Snapdragon Stadium, the Wave defeated the Chicago Red Stars, 3-2, in a dramatic matchup that saw the home team convert a late-game penalty kick to add to the excitement of the game. affair.
Yuki Nagasato opened the scoring after a corner that no one managed to finish off or clear, but their joy was short-lived, as Amirah Ali would score four minutes later, taking advantage of a Naeher mistake.
Shaw would put the hosts ahead, but before half-time Mall Swanson would put it back to equalizer from the penalty spot.
After an intense second period, the locals took the victory and the three points, also from eleven meters. Alex Morgan picks up where she left off last season and continues to be instrumental to his team.
SAN DIEGO WAVE FOOTBALL CLUB 3 – CHICAGO RED STARS 2
First game of the season and it must be recognized that it was difficult for both teams to enter it.
After several minutes of stoppage due to a clash of heads in which Casey Krueger had to be substituted as a precaution, the goal came for Chicago.
Yuki Nagasato hit a rebound off a fumble off a corner kick. The ball was well aimed at the back post, but neither team made solid contact with the ball to send it in either direction. Nagasato, smarter than anyone, hit a point-blank shot and the visitors took an early lead.
However, just four minutes later, the hosts equalized after an unexpected error by Alyssa Naeher allowed Amirah Ali to head in a header almost over her.
A poor clearance from the visitors’ defense and the ball landed on new San Diego midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard just outside the box. A powerful left-foot shot from Dougherty Howard saw Naeher initially try to divert the ball over the crossbar. However, his contact was poor and he sent the ball just over his head and off the bar, where he bounced back into play.
Ali, also smarter than hunger, arrived to hit a point-blank header and give her team the tie.
Shaw and Swanson leveled again
After the goal San Diego was putting more and more pressure on Chicago, until the Wave took its first lead of the night in the 31st minute through Jaedyn Shaw.
San Diego earned a corner kick that ended up in the middle of the box. Chicago was able to punt that ball, but unlucky enough to feed it straight to Shaw, who was standing outside the box waiting to hit. He with his right foot kicked all the poison into it and sent the ball flying past Naeher.
With eight minutes of added time in the first half, Chicago would have a chance to level the game again from the penalty spot.
The former from Chicago, Dani Collaprico, committed a foul on Arin Wright inside the area and the referee decreed the maximum penalty. Mallory (Pugh) Swanson came to the fore and was not wrong to convert from eleven meters.
Chicago fought without fail
After an intense (and lengthy) first half, play resumed to the bustle of a record-breaking crowd at the Snapdragon (the largest home opener attendance in NWSL history).
The Red Stars had the opportunity after a great cross from Nagasato to Swanson. The striker broke through San Diego’s defensive line and, once in the area, Swanson opted for power over placement and hit a whiplash at the near post with the intention of beating Sheridan. However, the Canadian made a great save and the score remained level.
Just after the hour mark, Chicago continued to threaten the Wave’s goal. Rookie Penelope Hocking moved towards goal and sent a pass to Ella Stevens, but Stevens’ shot was too straight on target and was easily saved by Sheridan.
Morgan remains lethal from the penalty spot
The energy of the game did not slacken as the second half progressed, and only two minutes before the end of regulation time, the referee pointed out the fateful spot again, this time in the Red Stars area. A clear hand from Wright inside the area and, after a VAR review, Alex Morgan took over from him and converted once more.
Aiming for the lower left corner, Morgan put his effort exactly where Naeher couldn’t reach it, putting San Diego back in front with little time to play.
Disappointment for Chicago, who struggled all night and were a nuisance throughout for San Diego, but the quality of the hostesses couldn’t be bettered.
MATCH SHEET
SD Wave: Sheridan (P), McNabb, Girma, Riehl, Westphal, Colaprico (Turnbow, min. 81), Van Egmond, Shaw (Jakobsson, min. 58), Dougherty Howard (Kornieck, min. 46), Morgan (C) y Ali (Dorniak, min. 71).
Entrenadora: Casey Stoney.
Chicago RS: Naeher (P) (C), Milazzo, Davidson (Feller, min. 84), Krueger (Bike, min. 19; Cook, min. 77), Wright, Roccaro, Nagasato, Griffith (Aguilera, min. 78), Swanson, Hocking y Stevens (Matthews, min. 77).
Trainer: Chris Petrucelli.
goals: 0-1 Nagasato (min. 18), 1-1 Ali (min. 22), 2-1 Shaw (min. 32), 2-2 Swanson (min. 45+4) y 3-2 Morgan (min. 89).
Referee: Elton Garcia.
Match played at Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego, California).
assistance: 30854 personas.
Incidences: Yellow card to Davidson (Chicago, min. 49), yellow card to Kornieck (Wave, min. 58) and yellow card to Wright (Chicago, min. 88).
Author: Marga Martin
Photography: San Diego Wave FC
