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Kansas City beats Sky Blue to take over third place

FC Kansas City beat Sky Blue FC to take over third place in the NWSL. (Photo Copyright Erica McCaulley for The Equalizer)

FC Kansas City beat Sky Blue FC to take over third place in the NWSL. (Photo Copyright Erica McCaulley for The Equalizer)

FC Kansas City defeated Sky Blue FC, 3-2 on Wednesday in their final regular-season match to move into third place in the NWSL.

With the win, defending champions Kansas City would be the No. 3 seed in the playoffs and play away at the Chicago Red Stars in the semifinals — unless the Washington Spirit defeat Seattle Reign FC on Saturday night. Anything short of a victory for Washington on Saturday would set up a return semifinal between the two teams in Seattle on Sept. 13. Seattle clinched the top seed in the playoffs.

If Washington wins on Saturday, the Spirit would play the Chicago Red Stars in the semifinal on Sept. 13. The host of that match would depend on Chicago’s result against Houston on Sunday.

On Wednesday in New Jersey, Amy Rodriguez scored twice for FC Kansas City and added an assist in the victory.

Sarah Hagen opened the scoring in the 5th minute for FC Kansas City, tapping the ball into an empty net after Rodriguez crossed the ball to the back post. Lauren Holiday created a turnover near midfield to start the counterattack.

Sam Kerr scored her first of two goals in the 39th minute, collecting the ball over her shoulder after Kelley O’Hara. Kerr clipped her shot off the inside of the post and into the goal.

But three minutes later, Rodriguez headed the ball into the net on a cross from Heather O’Reilly to put FC Kansas City back in the lead.

Rodriguez scored again eight minutes into the second half, chasing down a ball and beating Sky Blue defender Lindsi Cutshall before placing her shot past Sky Blue goalkeeper Brittany Cameron.

Kerr rose high for to head in a cross from Katy Freels in the 72nd minute, but Sky Blue’s late efforts for an equalizer did not produce another goal. Sky Blue FC finishes the season 5-8-7, missing the playoffs for the second straight season.

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