Match Recap: OL Reign Clinch Playoff Spot with Win Over Chicago
OL Reign (12-7-2) defeated the Chicago Red Stars (8-8-5) for the second time this season. With this win, the Reign clinched a spot in the 2021 NWSL playoffs in front of a home crowd of almost 4,000 fans. The team remains in second place, just one point behind the Portland Thorns in first place.
OL Reign started the match slow against the Red Stars, struggling to connect passes. As Chicago gained momentum, they found several goal scoring opportunities. The visitors opened the scoring in the 14th minute of match when Mallory Pugh took a shot from the top of the 18-yard box. The ball took a deflection and found the back of the net.
After the goal, the Reign began to connect, but were still chasing the game until Sofia Huerta and Jess Fishlock connected to find an equalizer. Huerta coolly found Fishlock’s feet well outside the 18-yard box and Fishlock made no mistakes as she fired off a powerful shot into the upper corner of the goal.
Fishlock and Huerta weren’t done there, as they connected again just four minutes later to put the Reign in the lead. Huerta put a ball into the busy box and Fishlock was ready at the back post to head the ball into the net and secure a brace. Fishlock’s brace sent the Reign into halftime up a goal.
After the break, OL Reign did not wait long to find a third, using the momentum sparked by Fishlock’s brace. In the 51st minute, Huerta chased the ball down to the corner of the field and cut it back to Rose Lavelle at the top of the 18-yard box. Lavelle took one touch before burying her left-footed shot into the back of the net to open her account for OL Reign.
Despite OL Reign having 60.9% of possession in the second half, Chicago found a second goal in the 69th minute, when Tatum Milazzo finished a rebounded ball from the top of the 18-yard box but were not able to equalize. The Reign took the 3-2 win in the end and clinched their spot in the playoffs.
The Reign are the road this Wednesday, October 13 as they take on Portland Thorns FC, their biggest rivals, in a battle for first place in the NWSL standings.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
With this win, OL Reign maintain their second-place position in the NWSL standings and are now just one point out of first place
OL Reign extended their home win streak to seven games
OL Reign have now won nine of their last 11 matches
With her two assists tonight, Sofia Huerta now leads the NWSL in assists. She has earned five assists in her last three games
With this win, the Reign have clinched a playoff spot for the fifth time in club history
Ally Watt made her OL Reign debut when she subbed into the match in the 80th minute