August 26, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Seattle Reign FC News Release
SEATTLE, WA. – In the club’s first match back to NWSL play since July 7, forward Emeri Adames forced a game-winning own goal from North Carolina deep into stoppage time to secure the Reign’s first regular season win since May 3.
The visitors held the vast majority of possession in the first half of the match, but the Reign did well to thwart any offensive threats from the Courage, holding them shotless through the entire half.
On the other side of the ball, the Reign earned double the crosses of North Carolina and registered the only shot on target of the half in the 43rd minute from captain and midfielder Jess Fishlock.
In the second half, the momentum of the match shifted as the Reign began to take more control. From the 52nd minute, the Reign were knocking on the door, looking for the go-ahead goal. The team created chance after chance, with midfielder Ji and forwards Jordyn Huitema and Tziarra King testing Casey Murphy in goal.
The 58th minute brought a stellar passing sequence from the Reign, starting with a clean distribution from goalkeeper Claudia Dickey to forward Ana-Maria Crnogorčević. The forward found the feet of a running Fishlock, who then one touched the ball across the middle of the box to King. King’s shot ended up in the hands of Murphy, denying the Reign the lead.
In the 77th minute, the Reign had another near goal in a play that saw Huitema and substitute Veronica Latsko’s back-to-back shots blocked, followed by a shot from newcomer Jaelin Howell that was saved by the woodwork.
Finally, seven minutes into eight minutes of added time, the Reign found a game winner when forward Latsko served a ball into the box and Adames got her head on the end of it, forcing Murphy to go to ground to save and eventually knock the ball into the back of the net.
Capping off an epic celebration of a club legend, the Reign earned three points and retired the number 15 in an unforgettable match.
KEY TAKEWAYS:
DAY OF CLUB DEBUTS: Tonight’s match featured three Reign FC debuts. Forward Ana-Maria Crnogorčević started the match while midfielder Jaelin Howell and forward Nérilia Mondésir subbed in together in the 75th minute.
RISE FOR RAPINOE: With an attendance of 16,598, tonight’s match marks the second-highest regular season attendance in club history.
UNBEATEN IN FIVE: Seattle Reign FC extended its regular season unbeaten streak to five games (1W, 4D), a streak…