The Reign just wanted to hang around. Keep the scoreline close and maybe there would be a chance to get a win against the Kansas City Current — the top team in the NWSL.
They did their part for an hour of play at Lumen Field. The Reign scored a goal in the opening half and played textbook defense while preparing for a surge from Kansas City.
The pressure increased in the closing 20 minutes as the Current hunted for an equalizer. But the Reign held on, including keeper Claudia Dickey saving a shot in second-half stoppage time, for a 1-0 win before 5,912 fans Friday.
It was Kansas City’s second loss in a row, first by shutout. The Current (5-2-0) have a league-leading 14 goals this season.
“So many people put their bodies on the line,” Dickey said of the defensive effort throughout the match. “All those little things are making us so much better. It gives everybody this type of confidence going forward that we can rely on. … We struggled with that at times last year. People come up after the game and I didn’t have to do anything because of how the rest of the team played. It’s been fun.”
Up next for Seattle (3-2-2) is a Sunday evening match against the Houston Dash on May 11 at Lumen.
Seattle’s goal was off a corner kick in the 37th minute. Defender Lu Barnes floated a left-footed pass to Jordyn Huitema at the back post, the forward heading the ball into a cluster of players in the box.
Current forward Bia Zaneratto deflected the first attempt from striker Lynn Biyendolo, but the crafty veteran quickly flicked a right-footed touch high over keeper Lorena’s reach for the score.
It was Biyendolo’s first goal since being acquired by the Reign last winter. The NWSL’s all-time leading scorer has 81 in her career across all competitions.
“When I heard that there was a chance that we could get Lynn, it was goals like [Friday] that I was like, ‘This is why she could be huge for us,'” Reign coach Laura Harvey said. “Where it’s scrappy, in the box. She had a similar goal in [preseason] that a lot of our other forwards want the perfect sort of opportunity and she just turns something that’s like a half-chance into a chance so quickly. It’s why she’s had the career she’s had.”
Current forward Temwa Chawinga, the league’s MVP last season, didn’t start Friday. She suffered a minor injury in the team’s road loss against North Carolina last week and instead subbed on in the 61st minute against Seattle.
Chawinga’s first look at goal was about 10 minutes later deep in the box. The Reign broke up the play and an offside call nullified Kansas City midfielder Debinha’s sitter.
The bulk of the opening half was a showcase of smart defending by both teams.
KC forward Haley Hopkins had the Current’s best attempt in the 21st minute. Dickey easily saved the left-footed shot from distance.
Barnes, midfielder Sam Meza and midfielder Ji So-yun were able to stop the Current’s other threatening moments in and near the box. The Reign had six blocks on 13 shots from Kansas City overall.
“[People] don’t know how many meetings our defense has had week in and week out,” Biyendolo said of her teammates. “Us forwards are like, ‘Where is everybody?’ The defense is just watching so much film and getting better and talking. It’s really cool to see how it translates onto the field. I’m in awe of them.”
Reign defender Madison Curry missed her first start of the season. She subbed off at halftime due to an undisclosed injury during the team’s draw against Bay FC last week. She had what Harvey called a “miraculous” recovery but the staff decided to remain cautious with Curry and sub her on in the 79th minute Friday.
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