San Diego Wave extend winless streak to five in 1-1 draw against the Portland Thorns
San Diego Wave celebrate scoring their first goal in over 400 minutes with a strike by Savannah McCaskill. (Photo Credit: San Diego Wave FC)
The Wave score again, but at what cost?
San Diego Wave FC broke their longest scoring drought in club history with their 1-1 draw against the Portland Thorns, however they extended their winless streak to five.
“There were a lot of positives to draw on. I thought we played positive offensive football, we pressed aggressively as a team. I think we moved the ball really well at times in attacks and created good goal-scoring opportunities,” said head coach Jonas Eidevall. A lot of the period was a really good representation of San Diego Wave Football Club.”
The Wave were pressing high and bound to get a chance, but no player could get a clear shot as the ball moved away from the goal, It was not until the 56th minute after a cross by Kenza Dali was headed away by Hanna Lundkvist by the near post then touched away by Kimmi Ascanio. The ball bounced off a Portland defender right to the feet of Savannah McCaskill.
McCaskill planted her feet then sent in a solid strike with her left foot toward the opposite post to make it 1-0.
“It was amazing, because we kind of felt like we were in a drought a little bit, because we’ve created so many chances across the games, we just haven’t been able to bury it,” said defender Trinity Armstrong who had the best view of the goal from just behind McCaskill. “To see that go in the back of the net was just an amazing feeling and just boosted us even more.”
The goal was McCaskill’s second with the Wave and her first of the season. She also wore the captain’s armband for the first time this season in place of Kailen Sheridan who was listed out for an excused absence following the birth of her child on Friday.
McCaskill did get substituted off after an apparent non-contact leg injury in the 83rd minute. The Wave medical staff appeared to treat her foot before she was helped off the pitch on the shoulders of the trainers.
The pause in play seemingly reinvigorated Portland’s offense who began to press higher in the immediate aftermath.
The Wave made a defensive error in the 85th minute during a promising attack for Portland. In a similar manner to their last meeting, Sam Coffey had a great chance in the attacking third, but a Wave defender fouled Coffey in an obvious manner in a very dangerous position. This time it was Trinity Armstrong who earned the yellow card that gave the Thorns a set piece opportunity just outside the 18-yard box.
Olivia Moultrie took the free kick for Portland and sent it over the Wave wall, but off the cross bar. It bounced down and off DiDi Haračić’s body rebounding just in front of the line right in front of Reyna Reyes who crashed in from the outside to make it 1-1.
Both teams were searching for three points for the rest of the match, but neither had a strong finish in the final third.
The Wave will play their next match Friday, Sept. 26 against the Orlando Pride. The Pride are in the midst of a winless streak as well, but have not won an NWSL match since June 13.
