Sydney Leroux scored the late game-winner to lift Seattle past the Western New York Flash on Sunday. (Photo copyright Erica McCaulley for The Equalizer)
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Seattle Reign FC made the ultimate comeback in the last 10 minutes of the match on Sunday at Sahlen’s Stadium, scoring two goals to top the WNY Flash, 2-1.
“The team worked hard and we were up one to nothing with less than ten minutes left in the game and you just want to be a team together and close that one out,” said Flash head coach Aaran Lines. “But, Seattle’s a top team and rightfully so at the top of the league and we can compete and we proved that again today.”
It was a slow first half as both teams battled back and forth trying to put together a strong attacking front. Ultimately, both defensive lines held strong, allowing very few opportunities to happen.
In the 24th minute Brittany Taylor knocked in a free kick to Carli Lloyd’s foot in the box, where Lloyd drilled a shot, but Haley Kopmeyer was there for the save.
In the 56th minute, McCall Zerboni nearly found Sam Kerr up front for a breakaway, but Stephanie Cox was there to make a great pass back to Kopmeyer to break up the play.
The Flash netted its first goal in 63rd minute off of a corner kick taken by Vicky Losada. The ball from Losada sailed perfectly into the box, where Kerr finished the play with a beautiful header into the back of the net. That marks Kerr’s second goal within two games.
Seattle Reign FC defender Kate Deines netted the equalizer in the 83rd minute with a header off of a free kick taken by Kim Little. Then Jess Fishlock chipped a ball into Sydney Leroux in the 88th minute as she made her away behind the defense and easily netted the second goal for the game-winner.
Flash defender Teigen Allen subbed in for Kat Williamson in the second half, marking the first appearance for the newly signed Australian national team defender.
Abby Wambach will be out for approximately one month due to her LCL sprain. She will complete two weeks of rehab and another two weeks of training before being considered for game play.
CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS
32’ WNY Flash: Kristen Edmonds – Yellow Card, Reckless Foul
76’ WNY Flash: Angela Sahlen – Yellow Card, Reckless Foul
GOALS
1 – 62’ WNY Flash – Sam Kerr
1 – 83’ Seattle Reign FC – Kate Deines
2 – 88’ Seattle Reign FC – Sydney Leroux
STARTING LINEUPS
WNY Flash: Williams; Reynolds, Taylor, Williamson, Edmonds; Losada, Salem, Zerboni, Lloyd (c); Kerr, Martin
Seattle Reign FC: Kopmeyer; Cox, Barnes, Deines, Fletcher; Fishlock, Little, Kawasumi, Winters (c); Leroux, Goebel
