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Karen Luna set this match on fire with the game’s first yellow card and its first goal
Photo: Club América Femenil Twitter
San Diego Wave 0 : 2 Club América
San Diego Wave used the Olympic break to play a game in the NWSL x Liga Mx Femenil Summer Cup, a somewhat contrived tournament, pitting 14 NWSL clubs against six from Liga MX.
Those six Mexican clubs were placed in five groups of four with four groups having one Mexican club and another having two. All games are to be played in the USA.
The first round of matches produced just one Mexican win, but that came in Tigres’ win over Pachuca in the only group with two Mexican sides. It was otherwise a clean 4-0 sweep for the NWSL.
The Wave had beaten California rivals Bay FC 3-1 in their first game while América had succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Angel City, Sydney Leroux being one of the Bay FC players on target.
Round Two however bucked that American trend.
By kick off in San Diego, Chivas Guadalajara had produced Mexico’s hitherto finest result with a 1-0 win over Chicago Red Stars, the same club who had come to San Diego and so comprehensively beaten the Wave very recently.
[See: Pride off the field warms hearts more than display on the field in San Diego]
It was not to be Mexico’s sole success of the day.
With so many Wave star players away at the Olympics, the first half failed to ignite the home fans and had a feeling somewhere between Second XIs sparring and a friendly, despite the pulling power of visitors, Mexican powerhouse Club América.
The match was goalless at half time and to be brutally honsest, the visiting fans were showing more enthusiasm for the competition than anyone else, on or off the field.
Wave v Club America Gallery by Stacy Smith
So this Group B encounter had seemed to signal all the hallmarks of a Mexican backlash but, while competitive, the first half had lacked a spark. Far from even a yellow card, there was barely a bad tackle.
The second half had more lustre and provided a heroine.
After 68 minutes of remarkably clean soccer with few signs of too great a competitive desire, Karen Luna incurred the wrath of the referee and received a deserved caution. Her colleague Kim Rodriguez was somewhat fortunate not to join her for a scything challenge seconds later.
It was a sign of an increased tempo.
With the DNA of the game changing, teenage sensation Kimmy Ascanio came on shortly after replacing Alex Morgan. No-one would really blame her were her mind to be with the USWNT far away at the Paris Olympics. The defining moment of this match would not have been to her liking.
A 73rd minute Irene Guerrero left wing corner arrived with pin point accuracy into the danger area. It was superbly headed into the net by Luna, whose off the ball run was as incisive as her perfectly angled header giving debutant goalkeeer Morgan Messner no chance.
Neither a second goal or a second yellow card could take the shine off her game-changing contribution.
Kiana Palacios had scored in back-to-back matches including a goal against Angel City in their other game in this tournament.
She continued that run of form by adding a second with a superb finish which, while it did not change the destination of the points, it did enable her side to leapfrog Wave in the Group B table on goal difference.
In the Wave’s defence, they were missing three players through injury. Goalkeeper Hillary Beall had injured her foot in a penalty save celebration in a previous match and striker Kyra Carusa had a thigh problem. Kennedy Wesley’s knee made her unavailable for defensive duties.
They also lost significant star power to the Olympics. Wave were without Naomi Girma (USA), Jaedyn Shaw (USA), Kailen Sheridan (CAN), Delphine Cascarino (FRA), Kaitlyn Torpey (AUS), and Emily van Egmond (AUS) whereas América benefited from Mexico’s absence in Paris.
Karen Luna eclipsed them all.
San Diego travel to face Angel City FC on Thursday, Aug. 1 at Titan Stadium for the final group stage match while América face Bay FC.
The best four records overall will advance to the semi-finals so not only must San Diego Wave beat Angel City, they’d need to do it by at least two goals to overtake the Angelinos in the table and hope many other results go their way, starting with Club América failing to beat Bay FC.
Meanwhile, their search for a new coach continues.
San Diego Wave FC: GK Messner, D Westphal, D Dahlkemper, D Enge, D McNabb, M Doniak (Ali 72’), M Colaprico, M McCaskill, F Bennett (Barcenas 61’), F Morgan (Ascanio 75’), F Sánchez
Subs not used: GK DeLisle, D Vanderhyden, D Cortez, F Jones
Club América Femenil: GK Paños, D Rodriguez, D Granados, D Luna, M Aviléz (Guerrero 61’), M Hernandez (Saldivar 89’), M Enciso, M Palacios, F Camberos (Zuazua 89’), F Mauleon (Luebbert 61’)
Subs not used: GK Velasco, M Antonio, M Cuevas, M Soto
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