SAN JOSE — With every magical strike, as with every aggressive tactical decision that leads to a late-game mistake, Bay FC continues to tell the soccer world exactly what kind of team it plans to be.
This is a hugely entertaining – but also breathtaking and sometimes infuriating – expansion franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League.
In front or behind, sooner or later, Bay FC goes for it.
And on Sunday in San Jose, the club put in another performance that lived up to its brand with a 3-2 victory over Seattle Reign FC in front of 16,719 fans at PayPal Park.
Bay FC held a 2-1 lead late in the match and never stopped moving forward, but their attacking mindset cost them dearly. And for the third time in as many matches, they conceded a goal late in the match.
Center back Kayla Sharples, having a wild and eventful night, whiffed on a clearance attempt and the ball fell straight to Seattle’s Bethany Balcer in the penalty area. Balcer slipped it into the right corner to tie the game, 2-2, and give Bay FC some deja vu.
Twice in their last two games they have allowed a late goal, although the previous two ended in losses to the Washington Spirit and the Houston Dash.
This time they recovered.
Four minutes later, substitute Joelle Anderson fired a shot from the left side of the 18-yard box that was deflected by a Seattle defender and tricked into the net for the eventual game-winning goal.
The action didn’t stop there as both teams saw goals ruled out in stoppage time, Seattle’s for offside and Bay FC’s due to a handball.
But the end result ultimately went in Bay FC’s favor, as the club picked up their second win to move to 2-2 on the season.
They have now scored seven goals in four matches and continue to display a fascinating style of play in which three strikers and two central attacking midfielders are constantly pushed up the pitch.
It’s fun, chaotic and creates crazy results.
Sunday’s game was the first in which Bay FC did not score first. Seattle struck in the 27th minute with a cross into the box that defender Alyssa Molonson cut away, but her attempted clearance was failed by Sharples, who accidentally sent it into her own goal.
Otherwise, Bay FC dominated the first half, outshooting Seattle 9-1, while controlling the pace of the game for most of the half.
They didn’t score until early in the second when a corner landed outside the box at the feet of center back Emily Menges, who returned it to the middle. Sharples got some redemption, as she leapt into the air and firmly headed the ball into the bottom corner to level the score.
About 10 minutes later, Bay FC converted on another corner, this time on a magical strike from Alex Loera. The ball landed at her feet at the top of the box and she struck a unique beauty with her left foot. The line drive went straight into the right corner to give Bay FC a 2-1 lead.
Once again they conceded late, but this time they managed to come back.
California Daily Newspapers
