Corner Kick Magic: Late Header Lifts Wave FC to 2-1 Thriller
Wave FC clinches third straight victory with two headed goals by defenders off corners.
SAN DIEGO - The Wave FC thrilled the crowd of 11,206 on a damp Saturday night with a dramatic goal in stoppage time by 17-year old Trinity Armstrong at Snapdragon Stadium. The goal led to a 2-1 defeat of Bay FC (2-3-2), and moved the Wave (4-2-1) into third place in the NWSL standings.
“I think today we were really pushing for the goal in the second half,” said head coach Jonas Eidevall. “It was great to see the mentality of how we want to play, not only at home, but in general in the league, to not be satisfied with a tie, with resolve to keep on going for it. And I really think that made a difference.”
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In the sixth minute of the game, the Wave earned a corner kick. Defender Kennedy Wesley scored her first goal of the season with a well-placed header into the left side of the goal off the corner by María Sanchez to go up 1-0. Sanchez recorded her first assist this season.
“We practice set pieces all the time, and Maria can put the ball on a dime … so she played the perfect ball,” said Wesley. “I just knew where I had to be at the right time. And all I had to do was kind of get in the way of it, but the service was perfect, and it's just how we drew it up.”
Bay FC responded with a goal of their own in the 18th minute from forward Karlie Lema off an assist by Racheal Kundananzi to tie the game at 1-1.
It looked like the Wave would take the lead when they were awarded a penalty kick in the 27th minute. Sanchez kicked the ball hard and accurately to the left end of the goal but the shot was well defended by goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz, and the score remained tied at 1-1.
The Wave dominated the first half in all statistical categories except the score. They took nine shots and had three shots on target compared to four and two from Bay FC, owned the possession game at 62%, passed often (259 versus Bay FC’s 165) and with high accuracy (88%), and took an astounding six corner kicks to Bay FC’s one.
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The second half was statistically similar to the first: The Wave took eight shots compared to Bay FC’s two, had two shots on goal to none for Bay FC, and possessed the ball 62% of the time. As in the first half, the Wave passed well (86% accuracy) and passed almost twice as often as Bay FC (304 to 154). The Wave took five corners compared to Bay FC’s two.
Despite all of the offensive dominance, the Wave appeared to be headed for a tie. Regulation ended with the score at 1-1 and five minutes of stoppage time added.
In the fifth minute of stoppage play, heroics ensued when Trinity Armstrong took on a Bay FC defender and passed to Adriana Leon for a play that led to a corner kick. Kenza Dali took the corner and Armstrong headed the ball, hard, and nearly straight down in front of her. The ball rose up and went over the goalkeeper’s head into the back of the net as the crowd erupted.
Armstrong described the conversation she and Dali had before Dali kicked the corner: Armstrong wanted to get the ball “back post.” That is, she wanted it toward the part of the goal farthest from the ball.
“I just ran up, and I locked eyes with her, I locked eyes with the ball, and the rest was a little bit of a blur, but I looked and (the ball is) in the air, and then it disappeared, and then I saw it go in the back of the net,” said Armstrong. “Thank goodness, because I knew we were working so hard to get this win. I'm so glad we were able to do it.”
“You can see the bravery that Trinity Armstrong plays with,” said head coach Jonas Eidevall. “I think she has a winning mentality. … She's great in the way she plays. And, I mean, that's very nice to see a 17-year old, not only scoring a goal on this stage, but also (taking) her space on this stage here.”
Notes
⚽ The Wave FC played three 17-year-olds in the match. Striker Kimmi Ascanio and defender Trinity Armstrong started while midfielder Melanie Barcenas entered the game in the 60th minute.
⚽ According to FootyStats, on average, home teams take 5.06 corner kicks per game while the away team takes 3.57. During the game versus Bay FC, the Wave took an extraordinary 11, and scored on two.
⚽ Over the season, eleven different Wave players have scored at least one goal, the most of any team in the NWSL. Instead of referring to those who do not start as bench players, Eidevall prefers the term game changers.
“I think we have really good depth in the squad,” said Eidevall. “We see that game after game with the energy and the quality that whoever is starting on the bench is coming on (to the pitch) with. So I think that's a really, really good advantage for us.”
⚽ The Wave FC honored TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) families at training on Saturday.
“We are welcoming the TAPS families to celebrate their lost loved one and thank them for their service,” said midfielder Savannah McCaskill. “My fiance is currently serving in the Air Force. It’s definitely very important for me to support our veterans and their families as much as I can and to use my platform to make them feel seen. I think that’s very important.”
Next Up
May 10 | 7 pm PT | Portland Thorns | Snapdragon Stadium | Get Tickets