RECAP: FC KANSAS CITY ENDS REGULAR SEASON WITH A SIX-GAME UNBEATEN STREAK AFTER DEFEATING SKY BLUE FC 3-2
FC Kansas City will visit Chicago in the semifinals unless Washington defeats Seattle on Thursday.
PISCATAWAY TOWNSHIP, NJ (September 2, 2024) – FC Kansas City faced a tough challenge in the team’s visit to Sky Blue FC. However, a brace from Amy Rodriguez and a goal from Sarah Hagen helped the Blues snap a 3-2 victory from Yurcak Field to extend their unbeaten streak to six games in the regular season finale.
Midfielder Jen Buczkowski finished the regular season as the only player to have started all 66 games in National Women’s Soccer League history totaling 5,848 minutes. In addition, Kansas City allowed 20 goals this season averaging one goal per game.
Coach Vlatko Andonovski made a couple of changes to his starting lineup including Liz Bogus who started instead of Erika Tymrak who was out of the match with a right ankle sprain as well as Hagen sharing the top of the field with Rodriguez.
Kansas City got on the board early in the match when Heather O’Reilly found a wide open Rodriguez who crossed the ball past two Sky Blue FC defenders before Hagen simply tapped it in for her fourth tally of the season in the 5th minute.
Later in the half, Australia international Sam Kerr found the equalizer when she received a ball from Kelley O’Hara on the left side of the box before rifling a shot off the inside post in the 39th minute ending FCKC’s shutout streak in 415 minutes. However, just when the home team had gained momentum after tying the match, Rodriguez gave the Blues a 2-1 lead in the 42nd minute after heading home a chip from O’Reilly.
Seven minutes into the second half, Becca Moros sent a long ball to Rodriguez who dribbled past Sky Blue FC’s backline before finding the back of the net for the sixth time this year in the 52nd minute of play to make it 3-1.
At the 62nd mark, Mandy Laddish and Yael Averbuch entered the match for Rodriguez and Holiday respectively. Ten minutes later, Kerr would shorten the lead for Coach Jim Gabarra’s side after heading in a goal similar to Kansas City’s second in the 72nd minute.
Despite their efforts, Sky Blue FC was unable to notch a third and tying goal before referee Levi Rippy blew his whistle.
FC Kansas City will now head to the playoffs for the third year in a row (only team to have done so). The Blues will visit the Chicago Red Stars on September 13 at 12:30 p.m. CT unless the Washington Spirit wins this Saturday. In that case, FCKC will visit the Seattle Reign on that same date at 8:30 p.m. CT.
FC Kansas City at Sky Blue FC, September 2, 2024 – Yurcak Field, Piscataway Township, New Jersey
Scoring Summary:
FCKC: Sarah Hagen (Amy Rodriguez), 5
SBFC: Sam Kerr (Kelley O’Hara), 39
FCKC: Amy Rodriguez (Heather O’Reilly), 42
FCKC: Amy Rodriguez (Becca Moros), 52
SBFC: Sam Kerr (Sarah Killion), 72
Starting Lineups:
FCKC: Barnhart; Robinson, LePeilbet, Sauerbrunn, Moros; Buczkowski, Bogus (Silva), O’Reilly, Holiday (Laddish); Rodriguez (Averbuch), Hagen.
SBFC: Cameron; Foord, Rampone, Cutshall, Levin; O’Hara, Freels, Killion, Haagsma (Gordon); Filigno (Hayes), Kerr.
Disciplinary Summary:
FCKC: Becky Sauerbrunn (Caution), 92
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