After winning their home opener last weekend, Bay FC took a step back, falling to their intrastate rivals, Angel City FC, 3-1. “There’s parts of the game that we didn’t execute well enough today, said Bay FC head coach Emma Coates after the game. “We turn the ball over easily. We didn’t quite shift quick enough out of possession. But there are glimpses that you start to see what we’re capable of.”
Here is what we learned from the game:
Bay FC’s defense exposed by Angel City’s Pace
From the opening whistle, it was clear that Angel City’s plan of attack when Bay FC pressed forward and turned the ball over was to float a long ball over the top to LA forward Sveindís Jónsdóttir and have her be in isolated 1v1 runs against the Bay center backs, attempting to beat them with her pace.
“When they pressed high, we passed long,” said LA’s Jónsdóttir simiply after the game.
In the third minute after a Bay FC turnover, LA’s Kennedy Fuller gathered a ball deep in their end and lofted a ball that Jónsdóttir was able to run onto and beat centerback Brooklyn Courtnall to the ball and slot her shot past Bay keeper Jordan Silkowitz.
Then, after a sustained amount of pressure from Bay FC, Angel City got their second goal off a throw-in at midfield in the 32nd minute. The ball made it back to LA’s Evelyn Shores, who then slotted a pass to Jónsdóttir. The forward was able to run in on goal and push off Bay defender Joelle Anderson before crossing the ball across the mouth of the goal to an unmarked Gisele Thompson, who’s point blank shot hit the net and put LA up 2-0.
After the game, Coates said that part of the problem was that the defense was falling back too much and giving LA the space to run in on the defense. “We need to be a little bit braver, to stay higher, higher for longer, and feel a bit braver on the ball as well, to be able to play through their press,” she said.
Not every team in the NWSL will have a forward as speedy as Jónsdóttir, but the lack of pace in the back is a concern for Bay FC going forward and could be exploited by other NWSL teams. Many Bay fans couldn’t help but look wistfully on the other side of the field, where LA’s defense was anchored by Bay’s first-ever draft pick, Savy King, whose pace would have made it very difficult to play similar balls over the top.
Cristiana Girelli shows her quality in first Bay FC game
For the first time in Bay FC’s existence, it looks like the club has a forward who can really positively impact the game in numerous ways. Italian international Cristiana Girelli was able to play a target forward role, move into dangerous positions, and do everything you would expect from a forward. However, despite her work rate, it was clear that she had yet to develop chemistry with the rest of her teammates.
“As she gets in around the team more, and we, the girls, learn a little bit more around her style of play, I think this can be really effective,” explained Coates. “But it was great to have her leadership.”
Two moments for Girelli that stood out were in the 50th minute, when Girelli was sprung free in the middle of the defense and looked to have a clean shot on goal but it she sailed over the bar. The play was called back by the referee after Girelli was ruled to be offside.
In the 55th minute, Taylor Huff was able to get loose in the midfield and do a give-and-go with Girelli. The forward bodied off her defender at the top of the box and slotted it to the on-rushing Huff, who placed the ball just inside the near post to score Bay’s first and only goal.
Empty goal-scoring opportunities cost Bay FC
After falling behind in the 3rd minute, Bay had a few golden chances to tie up the game.
In the 22nd minute Bay’s Alex Pfeiffer was fouled just on top of the box, setting up a dangerous free kick opportunity for Bay FC. Taylor Huff’s initial shot was blocked by the wall and rebounded back to her. Her second shot was easily stopped by Angel City keeper Angelina Anderson.
Then, in the 26th minute, Karlie Lema was able to break through the Angel City defense and into the box. However, she was running away from the goal and tried a left-footed shot against her body that floated just over the crossbar.
Just when it looked like Bay FC were about to equalize, Angel City’s second goal in the 32nd minute gave them a comfortable lead. In the 53rd minute, LA expanded their lead to 3-0, effectively putting the game out of reach for the home side.
Card-happy referee gives Taylor Huff an unnecessary red card
As the game entered second-half extra time, referee Jaclyn Metz became card-happy as Bay FC pressed for a goal. In the 92nd minute, she awarded Sydney Collins a yellow on a 50/50 ball. In the 95th minute, she gave a yellow to Taylor Huff on what could be called a professional foul to stop a counterattack. But then the most questionable call was two minutes later when Huff went in for a foul that was hard but hardly deserving of the second yellow that Metz handed out. With the red card, Huff, one of the main offensive creators in the midfield for Bay FC, will miss the next game because of the referee’s decision. Her actions caused the fans to chant “Ref, you suck,” as she blew the final whistle.
Claire Hutton is a focus of the opponent’s defense
Through the first two weeks of the season, Bay FC midfielder Claire Hutton has shown her quality by controlling the midfield, being confident on the ball, and dictating the pace. But with that skill, she is becoming the focus of opponents’ defenders.
“I think she’s a warrior,” Said Coates. “She took a lot of hard hits there, but they marked her really tightly.”
After the game, Hutton noted and accepted the physicality of the match.
“I definitely will be bruised up a bit from it,” she said. “But I mean, again, it’s part of the game.”
Kundananji missed on the pitch
Rachael Kundananji was out of the Angel City game due to a slight strain that she picked up earlier in the week. Coates noted after the game that Kundananji’s injury wasn’t serious, but the team wanted to be careful at this stage of the season.
Despite her not being out there, Coates felt the team was strong enough to get a positive result.
“I feel that we still have players that possess the same sort of speed and power that we think we do in Carly and Kira,” said Coates. “So yes, we missed her, but I still think we’ve got a squad and some good depth up there for a reason.”
Its only one game
After the game, head coach Emma Coates emphasized that in football, you are inevitably going to win and lose some games, and the team has the quality to have a successful season.
“We’re trying to develop a real identity here, and belief and confidence,” said Coates. “Whilst we’re disappointed with the result, we tried to do some of the right things, and there’s lots of lessons to take from the game.”
Bay FC Midfielder Claire Hutton echoed Coates’ sentiments.
“The message is clear on this team, we have players that can play. It’s just now getting on the same page, continuing working day in, day out, of practice, forming those relationships, the connections,” said Hutton. “It doesn’t happen overnight. It happens after losses. It happens after wins. Happens after tough moments where we’re going to be back on the field in two days, working to get better. So I think Emma is just creating a really good environment for us to feel that we are here to grow. We’re here to learn, and I’m excited for it.”
Championship 2001 Bay Area CyberRays honored
At halftime, Bay FC honored the 2001 Bay Area CyberRays team, which included Bay FC founder Brandi Chastain, for their championship during the inaugural WUSA season. The club defeated the Atlanta Beat in a penalty kick shootout after the game ended in a 3-3 draw to raise the Founders Trophy.
