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Defending NWSL champion Gotham FC has opened a seven-point lead over the Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns for the league lead. From there, it’s a dogfight, however, with two teams following just one point behind the Sprit and Thorns and another three points back.
Four points separate five teams in the standings from second through sixth place. Make that six teams separated by six points in the standings.
It’s becoming a crowded field in the race for home field advantage for the upcoming playoffs. The San Diego Wave is right in the middle of it.
The Wave defeated the visiting Utah Royals, 4-2, last Friday in front of 11,210 fans on a warm evening at Snapdragon Stadium. The result moved the Wave (11-7-3) even with the Royals (11-7-3) with 36 points. Both teams now sit one point behind the Spirit (11-6-4) and Thorns (11-6-4) in the standings.
Tiffany Byars led the San Diego assault with two goals — her seventh and eighth of the season — while Melanie Barcenas and Ludmila each chipped in with one goal. The goal was the fifth of the season for Barcenas, who also recorded an assist for her first multi-point contribution match of her career. Meanwhile, Ludmila scored her second goal of the season.
Byars tops the Wave in season scoring with eight goals and two assists.
Friday’s match was back and forth before the hosts eventually put it away for three points in the standings.
The Wave struck first in the fourth minute when Barcenas found Trinity Byars with a curling pass behind Utah’s back line. Byars raced onto the ball and calmly finished past the onrushing goalkeeper for the early lead.
Utah equalized in the 29th minute through Mina Tanaka, who received a pass from Cece Delzer on the edge of the box and curled a first-time effort into the top-left corner.
San Diego responded in the 40th minute. Byars beat her defender, rounded the goalkeeper, and cut the ball back for Barcenas, who finished first time to restore the lead and score in back-to-back games at Snapdragon Stadium. The Wave took a 2-1 advantage into halftime.
Utah answered two minutes into the second half when Cloé Lacasse slipped a ball across the six-yard box for Tanaka, who finished into the top-right corner for her second goal of the night.
The Wave went back in front, 3-2, in the 64th minute when Jordan Fusco played Byars a through ball. Byars outpaced her defender and calmly finished her second career brace, while Fusco recorded her first career assist.
San Diego added a fourth six minutes later as Byars beat her defender on the right wing and sent a ball across the box for Ludmila, who finished first time to seal the 4-2 win.
Despite the two-goal separation between the teams, the shots were close with the Wave holding a narrow 13-12 edge.
The four goals were the most by the Wave in a single match this season.
Byars moved into second place in club history for most goals scored in a single season. She joined Alex Morgan as the second player in Wave FC history to record multiple multi-goal games.
The Wave continue its home stretch at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Aug. 28, when it hosts Racing Louisville FC at 7 p.m.
Photos by Karla Martinez
