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Alex Morgan has inspired a generation of girls to play soccer
Photo: Steve Clare
San Diego Wave 1 : 4 North Carolina Courage
The stage was set. The build-up was over. Pre-match ceremonies organized. San Diego, on behalf of American soccer, was set to bid farewell to to the legendary Alex Morgan.
And so it did.
Haley Hopkins, Feli Rauch, Bianca St-Georges and Meredith Speck scored for the visitors, the first two from unchallenged headers which badly exposed Kailen Sheridan’s lack of control of her six yard box.
“The North Carolina Courage were gracious visitors but relentless opponents.”
The Canadian goalkeeper was later sent off by referee Brad Jensen for denying a goal scoring opportunity after needlessly clattering into St-Georges who had an all round excellent game.
But the Wave keeper will not be the only player with moments to forget on a memorable afternoon.
Wave had planned to remove Alex Morgan after 13 minutes (give or take), her iconic shirt number. Had there not been a very emotional farewell ceremony but 15 minutes earlier, this would have been understandable.
Sadly for the legend, she had by then missed a penalty which was well saved by Casey Murphy.
But absent the need for a narrative on which the superstar deserved to bid her farewell, the penalty should have never been awarded.
Had Jensen allowed just a split second longer for an advantage after Courage’s Irish international Denise O’Sullivan had handled the ball, he would have seen Maria Sanchez fire the ball into the Courage net for what would have been a well deserved equaliser at the time.
Instead Murphy saved the penalty and Morgan’s evening ended on a less than stellar note.
Between Hopkins outjumping the Wave defence from a right wing corner and the eventual Courage onslaught, Wave’s best player Kennedy Wesley equalised.
But Sheridan’s first moment of angst on an unhappy evening was to follow as she came for a cross, only to see Rauch outjump her and take the ball from right next to her knuckles.
Thereafter, the league table told its own story. As well as the two further goals, Tyler Lussi hit the post. Courage were gracious visitors but relentless opponents.
Other results didn’t help Wave.
Bay FC beat Racing Louisville 1-0 and occupy seventh slot. Chicago Red Stars drop to eighth, the final place that will qualify for the post season.
They have 23 points, seven more than the Wave. Wave are twelve NWSL ganes without a win, with six draws in that time.
Since Landon Donovan arrived, three home games have gleaned just one point.
He will be glad to have Jaedyn Shaw back but he is now without Morgan and the leaked goals to headers suggest a dominant centre half to replace Abby Dahlkemper is urgently needed. Elsewhere on the field Sofia Jakobsson at 5′ 9″ seems bound for London City Lionesses.
The arriving French international Perle Morroni is a full back and at 5′ 2″ cannot be expected to head away crosses.
Sheridan’s woes may just be a lack of form but she looked deeply unhappy throughout the game and there may now also be a confidence issue. Certainly, her replacement Hillary Beall was not at fault for the final goal, being left hopelessly exposed.
Donovan may now be glad of a road game away from the pressures of expectancy from a home crowd.
His club will face off against the Utah Royals FC on Sept. 14 at America First Field, while the North Carolina Courage will host California side Bay FC on Sept. 13 at WakeMed Soccer Park.
