Sky Blue FC defeated FC Kansas City 1-0 on Saturday. (Photo copyright Howard C. Smith)
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Sky Blue FC maintained its position atop the NWSL table with a 1-0 victory over FC Kansas City on Saturday at Verizon Wireless Field.
Sophie Schmidt scored her league-leading fifth goal of the season from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute after Kansas City defender Lauren Sesselmann dragged down Lisa De Vanna in the box, grabbing a handful of jersey. Sesselmann was sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity as the last defender and the home side had to play the rest of the match with 10 players.
Kansas City still pushed forward, with Lauren Cheney sending a shot just wide in the 39th minute. Coach Vlatko Andonovski replaced fullback Merritt Mathias with Courtney Jones in the 70th minute, switching to a three-back system as FC Kansas City pushed for the equalizer.
Jones nearly made the difference when her 79th minute cross found Renae Cuellar, but the Mexican international skied the ball over the bar from six yards out on a lunging effort. Cuellar was stuffed by Sky Blue goalkeeper Brittany Cameron in stoppage time when Cameron quickly came off her line to close down a through ball.
Caitlin Foord almost double the lead for the visitors in the 48th minute when she stormed forward with the ball, beating five Kansas City defenders before goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart pushed Foord’s shot wide.
It wasn’t all good news for Sky Blue FC, though. Kelley O’Hara left the game in the 26th minute with a right ankle injury. No further details were provided.
—
Box Score
|
GOALS
|
1
|
2
|
F
|
|
Sky Blue FC(6-1-1)
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
|
FC Kansas City(3-2-1)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1 23 Sky Blue FC Sophie Schmidt PK
|
Time
|
Team
|
##
|
Player
|
Card
|
Reason
|
|
22
|
FC Kansas City
|
14
|
Lauren Sesselmann
|
Red Card
|
Holding
|
|
SHOTS
|
1
|
2
|
F
|
|
Sky Blue FC
|
5
|
5
|
10
|
|
FC Kansas City
|
4
|
9
|
13
|
|
SHOTS ON GOAL
|
1
|
2
|
F
|
|
Sky Blue FC
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
|
FC Kansas City
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
|
SAVES
|
1
|
2
|
F
|
|
Sky Blue FC
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
|
FC Kansas City
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
|
CORNER KICKS
|
1
|
2
|
F
|
|
Sky Blue FC
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
|
FC Kansas City
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
|
OFFSIDES
|
1
|
2
|
F
|
|
Sky Blue FC
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
FC Kansas City
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
FOULS
|
1
|
2
|
F
|
|
Sky Blue FC
|
4
|
5
|
9
|
|
FC Kansas City
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
Officials:
Referee: John McCloskey
Asst.Referee: Ross Kleinstuber; Cory Richardson
FourthOfficial: Kyle Atkins
Attendance: 4186
