rankprev.teampointsgameswinslossesdrawsgoals forgoals againstgoals diff. 11Seattle Reign FC42171313341420 22FC Kansas City3318105331247 34Washington Spirit26178722733-6 46Portland Thorns FC251776529236 55Chicago Red Stars251776422184 63Western New York Flash231879230237 77Houston Dash161651011929-10 88Skyblue FC16173771630-14 99Boston Breakers111731222337-14 The 4 way fight for the last 2 play off spots is still ongoing with only 3 points separating all 4 teams. Should be a fight to the wire to see who gets the last 2 play off spots. FC Kansas City projected roster: Goalkeepers: Nicole Barnhart, Sara Keane Defenders: Becky Saurbrunn, Nikki Phillips, Leigh Ann Robinson, Amy LePeilbet Midfielders: Lauren Holiday, Jen Buczkowski, Jenna Richmond, Frances Silva, Erika Tymrak, Katrina Gorry, Mandy Laddish Forwards: Liz Bogus, Amy Rodriguez, Morgan Marlborough, Sarah Hagen NWSL Injury report: No update yet. Western New York Projected roster: Goalkeepers: Kelsey Wys, DiDi Haricic Defenders: Katherine Reynolds, Brittany Taylor, Kat Williamson, Haley Palmer, Amy Barczuk, Kristen Edmonds Midfielders: Angela Salem, McCall Zerboni, Courtney Wetzel, Vicky Losada, Samantha Kerr, Carli Lloyd Forwards: Sonia Bermudez, Emma Kete, Adrianna Martin, Jasmine Spencer Adrianna Franch out for the season with an ACL tear, Lydia Williams is out with an ACL injury. Abby Wambach is probably out. Projected Starting XI for FC Kansas City (4-4-2, Box Midfield - 2 Holding midfielders) I don't think have Amy LePeilbet at back was a good idea, hopefully Andonovski will go back to Phillips, and Gorry was a turn over machine in the middle of the pitch, at least Mattias doesn't turn the ball over, not creative, but at least she is reliable. I'd like to see Frances Silva start, not sure if Lauren Holiday will play until I get an update on her situation. Projected Starting XI for the Western New York Flash: I don't believe Abby Wambach will be ready yet to start so its Martin in her place or maybe they will start Jazmine Spencer instead. Match Overview: I don't think we need to rehash how badly the Blues played defensively last match against Portland. Hopefully the Blues will look over the tape and take a good hard long look at what they did wrong and make the necessary adjustments so this doesn't happen again. Western New York Flash are in a dog fight to get into the play offs with their starting goal keeper Lydia Williams suffering a season ending ACL injury which will put Kelsy Wys in the hot seat to try to help her club get some crucial points to get them back into the play off race. Currently 6th in the league standings 2 points back from Portland and Chicago, they are not out of this, but have played the most matches out of the 4 clubs fighting for the last 2 play off spots. These points are becoming more and more critical for the Flash. Kansas City on the other hand are in good position in second place but will be thinking on how to be much better after their last performance against Portland. For them its about getting back to basics, possession, keep the ball away from the other team and prevent turn overs in your own end. All these leads to less chances on goal and less pressure put on the Blue's back line. Whether or not Andonovski will make some changes to the formation, whether he stays with the 4-4-2, or moves Phillips back with Sauerbrunn will be interesting since it will tell what he is thinking. The 4-4-2 will put Hagen and Rodriguez on the field together but at the cost of better control of the midfield. What do you trade off, do you want the limit attacks up the middle? But that leaves a forward out of the line up. Questions that have to be asked. Will we be seeing the 4-4-2 again after that thrashing? This should be a match that will pose some questions whether the Blues have recovered from that defeat and have moved on. What or how they respond against a club that is fighting for their lives in the play off race will be a good test to see.
What I think the Flash lineup will be: Kelsey Wys Teigen Allen- Brittany Taylor- Kat Williamson- Kristen Edmonds McCall Zerboni- Angela Salem Vicky Losada- Carli Lloyd- Jasmyne Spencer Samantha Kerr I'd put Katherine Reynolds in, but she's out on a red card suspension for this match, so Teigen Allen will most likely slot in at RB.
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/fc-kansas-city/article755925.html Holiday will play. Should be a good game bc WNY has a lot to play for but hopefully KC will respond to the embarrassment the Thorns handed them last week. Anxious to try the 4-4-2 with Holiday against a more formidable opponent.
Wow 17' Holiday sends a switched ball to the other side of the field to a running Hagen who is wide open, Hagen gets just outside the box and chips Wys who is off her line and scores the first goal. Beautiful vision by Holiday and great goal by Hagen.
23' On a cross from Salem, Lloyd would flick the ball in with a header and then Kerr would flick it in with another header beating Barnhart. Not much the defense could do about that sadly. Some great headers into goal, double header.
28' Holiday sends a through ball to Rodriguez into the box and Rodriguez would shank the ball from about 6 yards out. Rodriguez should of scored there.
40' Hagen dribbles at 2 Flash defenders and pushes them back and inside the box, takes a good shot that Wys would make a good save on
43' Richmond with a good step in to steal the ball away to prevent a very dangerous counter by the Flash.
Halftime -Blues had most of the possession, built in the attack and had some good chances to score. -Rodriguez must of had 2 maybe 3 chances that she should of scored. Point blank shots that she either missed wide or shot right at Wys when she could of taken a better shot. -Holiday and Tymrak are having a good game controlling the tempo of the offense. - Phillips is so much better back there then LePeilbet. Much more stable back line.
KC has got to do a better job of winning these games that are must wins for other teams in preparation for the playoffs. We are keeping WNY (who looks quite good btw) in the game with silly turn-overs and missed opportunities. Arod should have scored this half.
54' Buczkowski needs to pay attention when she has the ball. she had the ball poked out from her as she was holding onto the ball and wasn't ready to be pressured. The counter that the Flash got almost cost the Blues on an almost break away.
I think Phillips is just better, LePeilbet looked very bad defending 1v1, Phillips so far has been good in her 1v1's
68' Kerr would get a great feed by Zerboni and beat her mark Robinson and then turn Phillips and then get a great shot off that Barnhart would have to make a second tip save.
The one thing LePeilbet has had a reputation for is being a top level 1v1 defender. It started off well last week but then failed her as the game went on. You seem to want to only base an opinion on her performance last week and forget/ignore her performances in other matches this season.
Yes that is the point, she isn't the same person like her past play. What counts is what she does now and she isn't the same person you know anymore.
85' sooo Buczkowski would free Rodriguez on a clear 1v1 on Wys and from 10 yards out, she could of chipped or shot to either wing but flubs the shot directly at Wys. So many chances to score this match by Rodriguez.
87' Saurbrunn would steal the ball in the middle of the pitch and launch a counter and would pass to an open Rodriguez who would force a good save from Wys. 4-5 good chances to score this match now for Rodriguez.