Match Recap: Reign FC Grabs Important Three Points Against Louisville

Seattle Reign FC won 1-0 against Racing Louisville FC on Tuesday evening. After playing a scoreless first half on Sunday, the match was abandoned due to an on-field medical emergency. Today, the match resumed, and the Reign battled to a 1-0 victory, headlined by Jess Fishlock’s 90th minute goal. 

As the match kicked off on Sunday, forward Mia Fishel made her first-ever start for the Reign and began the match strong, earning the first shot of the match just three minutes in, sending a warning sign to Louisville. 

It was clear from the start that the match would be a physical battle as Racing quickly gathered possession of the ball, attacking on the opposite end of the field, though it would take a while before Claudia Dickey was truly tested in the goal.  

Just before the 8th minute, Ary Borges rocketed shot toward Dickey from distance, but the seasoned goalkeeper was able to keep the ball out of the back of the net. Moments later, she was called on to make another save, briefly bobbling the ball before controlling it and fully clearing the danger. 

The12th minute brought another attacking chance for the Reign, as Madison Curry used her speed out on the right side of the field to play a ball through to Jordyn Huitema up top, but the Canadian international’s shot went wide. 

Momentum in the match shifted as the Reign were asked to defend for the majority of the first half, but the team was up to the task. A giveaway in the backline forced another save from Dickey right in front of goal, before she was tested yet again in the 41st minute, keeping a clean sheet as the first half was drawing to a close. 

The match was abandoned in first half stoppage time, following a medical emergency involving Louisville’s Savannah DeMelo. 

As the match resumed on Tuesday evening, the Reign began the second half with the same lineup. Louisville started the half on the front foot, immediately putting the Reign under pressure. The visitors spent a lot of time in their attacking half of the field, but the Reign weathered the storm. 

Emma Sears nearly gave Louisville in the 54th minute with Louisville's best chance of the match, as she raced into the box to get on the end of a cross from Ella Hase, connecting with the ball but sending it off frame. 

The Reign started to make substitutions in the 72nd minute, bringing on the fresh legs of Maddie Dahlien in the place Fishel. The Reign began to get more into the attacking half of the field, flipping the script on Louisville. 

In the 86th minute, the Reign had a close chance, moving the ball around the 18-yard box to allow Curry to serve a cross into the center of the box, where Huitema got her head on the end of it, but didn’t have enough power to send it beyond Bloomer. 

The breakthrough for the Reign finally came in the 90th minute, when substitute Jess Fishlock scored. In transition, the Reign won the balla and Huitema tapped a ball to the feet of Dahlien, who fed Fishlock into the middle of the 18-yard box, allowing the veteran to take one touch and finish to the far post. 

The Reign played smartly through stoppage time of the match, holding onto the win and earning all three points in the match. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

FISHEL: Forward Mia Fishel made her first Reign FC start, taking two shots, both of which were on target. 

DAHLIEN: Forward Maddie Dahlien notched her third assist of the season as she provided a pass to set up Jess Fishlock’s game-winning goal. 

FISHLOCK: Fishlock, ever the difference-maker, scored her 47th regular season goal and her fifth of the season.  

UP NEXT: The Reign travel to Kansas City to take on the No. 1 ranked Current on Saturday, September 20 at 4:20 p.m. PT.