NW - Football - United States - NWSL

Seattle Reign FC
Seattle Reign FC has two games without losing, as they beat 3-1 Orlando Pride at Cheney Stadium and then draw at away against Washington Spirit 2-2, thanks to a late goal from Ifeoma Onumonu. The race to be on the final series is getting to its final moments, four matches to go and Seattle Reign is looking to get into one of the qualification positions.

This match is key fo the Reign as they are tied with Utah Royals with 31 points and just the goal average to separated them and it favours the Royals, therefore the midweek encounter against the Royals could be determinant for both teams Finals Series aspirations. But first Seattle Reign FC has to get a good result in this match, for which playing at home where they have only lost two matches this season is a favourable aspect. Only Chicago Red Stars and Utah Royals where able to beat them here, in contrast they beat top of league North Carolina Courage in May and third placed Portland Thorns at the beginning of August.

Scoring at least a goal in five of the last six games, the Reign is improving their results, and key to that improvement is Jessica Fishlock that in just five games with the Reign has scored three goals, all of them in the recent three matches. Jessica Fishlock has since 2014 alternate playing in leagues outside of the NWSL, and with the Reign. And always come back bering goals.

Sky Blue FC
Without the possibility to qualified to the Finals Series, as they have just three games pending and are 15 points behind the last qualification spot. Yet the team has not given up despite losing the last two games at home against North Carolina Courage and Chicago Red Stars. and now hits the road to encounter Seattle Reign.

In the last five games they have been able to score in four of them, with two being victories. Yet at away they have three defeats, one draw and one victory in the last five games, therefore a difficult encounter for the Sky Blue this time around. Still having win 1-2 against Houston Dash should be an impulse for them.

Having US Women's National Team member Carli Lloyd on their team, the attacker is on fire as she has scored in four of the last five games played, two with United States, and two of the least three for Sky Blue, only in the last match against Chicago Red Stars she was unable to make a goal, but she should be back on the scoring sheet soon.

Match
In last five games at the Cheney Stadium between them, Sky Blue has one victory back in 2016, with the rest being a draw and currently three consecutive victories for Seattle Reign, with the particular aspect that in those five games both teams have been able to score at least a goal.

Prediction
Sky Blue is already looking for next season, and only pride is at play in this match for them. Yet for Seattle Reign it is all on if they are expecting to qualify to Finals Series. Therefore a match where Sky Blue might be getting to spoil the match for Seattle Reign and in that aspect I sense the tendency of goals in this match is going to be present and at least a goal from each team.

21/09/2019 21:40, read 856 times