Bay FC rode a magical fifteen-minute stretch of attacking soccer to defeat the North Carolina Courage 3-1 in Cary, North Carolina, and claim their first road win of the season.
“Obviously delighted with the three points today, particularly the manner of the performance in the first half,” said Bay FC head coach Emma Coates after the game.
Looking to rebound from their first loss against Angel City FC last week, Bay FC suffered a setback in the 10th minute when defender Joelle Anderson had to leave the game after suffering an injury. She was replaced by Brooklyn Courtnall.
But despite their misfortune, Bay FC’s offense broke the game open with three goals.
The first goal for the Bay in the 20th minute was created by the individual excellence of forward Alex Pfeiffer. She received the ball out wide right and then attacked the top corner of the box before surprising Courage keeper Kailen Sheridan with a shot that just snuck within the near post.
North Carolina pressed for the equalizer and almost earned a penalty kick five minutes later, which required VAR review. However, referee Shawn Tehini waved off any foul, and soon after, Bay FC doubled its lead.
Italian international forward Cristiana Girelli was instrumental in setting up the second goal for Bay FC. She was able to run in on goal and delivered a perfectly weighted cross on the ground to teammate Keira Barry, who slotted her ball past Sheridan into the corner of the goal.
“I’m really happy to be here and to I’m trying just to adapt to this amazing league,” Girelli explained after the game about her performance.
Bay took a commanding lead four minutes later when Girelli, with her back to goal, passed to an on-rushing Pfeiffer. Finding herself with space, Pfeiffer lofted a ball into the box that an unmarked Dorian Bailey headed over Sheridan for a 3-0 lead.
“The goals are outstanding goals, and I think we’re showing flashes of what we’re capable of,” explained Coates.
North Carolina picked up their attack in the second half, helped by the introduction of Japanese international Manaka Matsukubo in the Courage midfield.
In the 65th minute, Matsukubo gave North Carolina a lifeline when she scored on the team’s first shot on goal to cut the lead to 3-1.
Bay forward Karli Lema had two chances to restore Bay’s 3-goal lead, but two of her shots hit the posts in the 68th and 71st minutes.
Despite the Courage’s pressure, the Bay defense held up to claim the victory.
After the game, Coates was happy with the performance but noted there is still room for improvement.
“The message is clear: that’s one more game boxed off, but there’s still a long road ahead,” she said.
Next up for the Bay is a home game on Sunday, April 5, at 2 pm at PayPal Park against the Washington Spirit.
Notes:
Bay FC forward Onyeka Gamero made her debut for the club in the 56th minute, subbing onto the field for Keira Barry. It was her first time seeing the field after being acquired by the team in the middle of last season, while she was recovering from a knee injury she had suffered while playing in Spain.
