Match Recap: Reign FC Earns Crucial Three Points Against Boston

Seattle Reign FC secured three crucial points in the hunt for the NWSL Playoffs on Friday night, defeating Boston Legacy FC 2-0 at Lumen Field behind a brace from Jess Fishlock.

The match was played a blistering tempo, with the Reign employing a high-flying press from the opening whistle. Seattle repeatedly won back possession from Boston before stringing together quick attacks in transition.

Seattle fired a warning shot in the 14th minute when Ainsley McCammon picked off the ball before splitting three defenders with a pass into Maddie Dahlien, who flicked it into Fishlock. The Welsh legend cut inside and fired a shot to the near post that forced Boston goalkeeper Casey Murphy into a sprawling save.

The Reign’s relentless pressure paid off in the 23rd minute. Dahlien intercepted a pass near midfield and played a one-touch pass into the feet of Fishlock, who drove toward the edge of the box and picked out the bottom corner with a venomous, dipping shot past Murphy.

Boston’s first real look came in the 33rd minute when Alba Caño slipped a pass to Aissata in the box. The Mali striker then laid it off to an onrushing Sammy Smith, whose curled effort sailed wide of the post.

Seattle nearly scored a second in the 43rd minute courtesy of a sweeping team attack. McCammon played a 40-yard outside-the-foot pass into the path of Maddie Mercado. The Reign’s leading scorer played a quick 1-2 with Dahlien before clipping a cross to the back post, where Sofia Huerta rose highest for a headed shot but was denied by a kick save from Murphy.

The Reign picked up exactly where they left off to start the second half, as Dahlien intercepted a back pass in the 46th minute before forcing Murphy into an impressive reflex save.

In the 58th minute, McCammon once again sprung the team in transition with an inch-perfect ball into space for Dahlien. The pacey winger beat her defender before lobbing the ball to the back post for Mercado, but her headed shot missed narrowly missed the goal.

Seattle doubled their lead in the 64th minute via familiar script. McCammon kicked off the counter attack with a pass that split two defenders into Fishlock in a pocket of space. The Reign captain then played Dahlien down the flank, who drove forward before laying it back to Fishlock. The talismanic midfielder needed one touch to settle it before firing her shot into the top-right corner for a 2-0 lead.

Mercado almost added a fourth three minutes later, but her shot from eight yards out was deflected over the goal by a last-ditch tackle from a Boston defender.

The Reign continued to carve apart Boston in transition, as Fishel nearly scored a Goal of the Year contender in the 71st minute with a curled shot that crashed off the crossbar.

Seattle closed out the final 20 minutes of the match with a composed performance to see out the home victory, which temporarily pushed the team into 6th in the NWSL standings.

UP NEXT: Reign FC hosts the North Carolina Courage on Friday, October in the club’s annual Queen’s Match at Lumen Field. (SINGLE MATCH TICKETS | JESS FISHLOCK BOBBLE BUNDLE)

KEY TAKEAWAYS

KEEP WRITING HISTORY: With her brace on Friday night, Fishlock passed NWSL and U.S. Women’s National Team legend Megan Rapinoe as the club’s all-time leading scorer in the regular season with 52 goals.

Fishlock announced earlier this year that this will be her final season. Don’t miss Seattle’s next weekend’s matchup with North Carolina Courage as the club honors Fishlock during the annual Queen’s Match.

THE FUTURE IS HERE: Although she didn’t get on the scoresheet, McCammon put on a masterclass in midfield player against Boston. Defensively, the 19 year old helped screen the back line and disrupt the Legacy’s high-tempo possession style. But where she truly shined was in possession, as she orchestrated wave after wave of attack with her incisive passing.

LUMEN FORTRESS: With the 2-0 win, the Reign became the first team in NWSL history to record five straight home shutout wins in the regular season. They picked up the clean sheet against a Boston decide that had scored in 13 consecutive matches, and was last held scoreless back on May 13.