Rapinoe Scores Two Goals in Seattle’s 4–1 Win Over Sky Blue FC
On a night in which Jess Fishlock was celebrated pre-game for her 100 appearances with Reign FC, and Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan was honored as a Reign FC Legend, Seattle beat Sky Blue FC by a score of 4–1. Playing their first home match since March 24, Reign FC fed off the energy of the home crowd all night to come away with a convincing win.
Megan Rapinoe wasted no time getting back in the action after missing the team’s last three matches. She helped earn a chance for Seattle in the 4th minute by working with Jess Fishlock to advance the ball into the attacking third. When Rapinoe was finally able to get a shot off, it was blocked away by a Sky Blue FC defender.
Seattle would get on the board in the match’s first five minutes. Steph Catley found some space down the left sideline and delivered a ball into the box. Jodie Taylor rose up and headed the ball in the net, giving her three goals on the season, and putting Seattle ahead 1–0.
The first booking of the game went to Erica Skroski of Sky Blue FC. She was given a yellow card in the 19th minute for a strong tackle on Fishlock.
Reign FC controlled the match for the first 20 minutes, completing crisp passes and keeping the pressure on Sky Blue’s defense. Rapinoe had a chance to double the team’s lead with a left-footed volley off a Steph Catley service, but sent her shot attempt over the goal.
Sky Blue FC won a free kick in the 33rd minute. Carli Lloyd stood behind the ball from roughly 25 yards away. With the crowd swirling to a frenzy in attempts to distract her, Lloyd’s shot soared above the frame.
Things kept going Seattle’s way as the clock approached halftime. Megan Rapinoe stretched the lead to 2–0 with a cheeky shot from just outside the box. After a Steph Catley ball was deflected to her right foot, Rapinoe finessed a ball up and over Kailen Sheridan for her second goal of the season against Sky Blue FC. The goal gave Seattle a 2–0 cushion in the 38th minute.
Just seconds before the halftime whistle, Fishlock connected with Rapinoe down the right side on a lovely through ball. Rapinoe moved it across to Jodie Taylor, who couldn’t quite get enough on the ball to send it in. Sheridan sprawled out to smother the ball and keep the score at 2–0. Reign FC won the first half possession battle, keeping the ball for 57.4 percent of play. The home team fired 15 shots in the first half, while Sky Blue mustered just three. Sky Blue FC also committed six fouls in the first half to Seattle’s two.
Sky Blue FC opened the second half with a set piece in the 48th minute. After careening around the penalty area, the ball settled on Carli Lloyd’s foot. Lloyd got a foot to it, but the shot was blocked away before reaching goal keeper Lydia Williams.
Jodie Taylor looked as though she was in on goal in the 55th minute, but was quickly flagged for offside before having a chance to get a shot off. Rumi Utsugi ripped her first shot of the game shortly after, but launched it too high and out of play.
Savannah McCaskill tried to chop Seattle’s lead in half with a long shot in the 59th minute. Like many of the shots on this day, the ball was a bit too tall to do any damage. Rather than forcing Lydia Williams to make a save, the shot landed harmlessly behind the net. As action moved to the other end of the pitch, Rapinoe found space on the left side and blasted home her second goal of the match.
Rapinoe’s second tally gave Seattle a 3–0 lead with 30 minutes to play. Before the crowd could even return to its seats after cheering Rapinoe, Savannah McCaskill of Sky Blue FC chipped in a goal to make things 3–1. As the sun began to set, both teams made substitutions. Rapinoe, playing her first match back from injury, gave way to Bev Yanez in the 66th minute, while Jasmyne Spencer came off the bench in place of Nahomi Kawasumi in the 76th minute.
A searching ball for Katie Johnson late in the match was broken up by Kristen McNabb, squashing one of New Jersey’s last chances of getting back into the game. Rebekah Stott uncorked a lefty shot in the 79th minute that was easily blocked away by Megan Oyster. Williams put a bow on things with another athletic save in the 88th minute to hold Sky Blue FC to just one goal.
Reign FC earned its second win of the season against Sky Blue. Seattle is now 4–1–1 with 13 points and sits 2nd in the NWSL standings. The club’s next home match at UW Medicine Pitch at Memorial Stadium is set for next Saturday, May 19 against the Chicago Red Stars. The teams will kick things off at 7 pm PT.
Tickets for the May 19 match — which is Military & First Responder Appreciation Night, presented by Pepsi — are available at www.reignfc.com/tickets.
