Asisat Oshoala’s 75th-minute goal delivered Bay FC a critical 1-0 victory against a determined defensive effort by Racing Louisville at PayPal Park Saturday night.
The win, which moved Bay to seventh in the NWSL standings, was their second impressive result in a row. Last week, Bay defeated the Portland Thorns on the road 3-1.
Here is what we learned from the game:
Determined team effort broke down Louisville’s attempt for a point
Bay FC would probably not have won this game earlier this season. Several times this year, Bay FC played a solid first half of attacking soccer but did not score. They often conceded a goal in the second half to lose the game.
Saturday night’s game started out with the same script.
Louisville has been a difficult team to defeat all season. They have secured seven draws, the most in the NWSL this year (compared to zero draws for Bay). They arrived in San Jose just two points behind Bay FC for the final playoff spot and looked content to play defensively and leave town with at least a tie.
Bay FC consistently pressed Racing’s defense, controlling the game in the first half. Louisville resisted their pressure and reached halftime scoreless.
During halftime, Montoya reminded his team not to get discouraged and to continue playing the same way. As long as they did not panic and continued pressing, they would eventually win.
“That’s how it goes in football, it really does,” explained Montoya. “It’s just a matter of time, especially a team that’s as organized as Louisville. Fortunately, we got that goal, but we never panicked, and that’s the key.”
Oshoala’s goal in the 75th minute was a result of their determined play and team growth. It was perhaps Bay FC’s most complete team victory of the season.
“We’re becoming a very difficult team to play against. Not only playing against, we can take it to teams, and we’re going to continue doing that,” said Bay FC head coach Albertin Montoya after the game. “Our performance today was outstanding from start to finish, and credit to the players because they’re the ones that deserve it.”
Hocking to the Rescue
Last week, Bay FC added another potent attacking player, signing Chicago Red Stars forward Penelope Hocking for $350,000, one of the highest transfer fees ever in women’s pro soccer.
Despite only training with the club for a few days this week, Hocking came on as a substitute in the 60th minute. Shortly after, her dogged determination on the field helped Bay FC finally secure the goal they sought.
In the 75th minute, after a nice interplay between several Bay FC players, Hocking found herself in the box with the ball and attempted to slot it to Tess Boade. However, Louisville defender Abby Erceg intercepted the pass. To her credit, Hocking did not let up on the ball and kept herself involved in the play.
“I saw [Erceg] kind of trip, and then that was my time to get the ball,” Hocking explained. “Then just land it to Z [Oshoala], and Z just put it away, like she does.”
Hocking’s addition to the attack paid instant dividends, and her contributions should only provide Bay FC with more goal scoring opportunities.
“She’s got this kind of tenacity, and she’s a winner,” said Montoya after the game. “That’s one of the things that we’re getting much better at that, but we’re also bringing players that are champions, that are winners.”
Bay FC attack jelling at the right time
Entering the season, Bay FC amassed a potent, powerful attack and was determined to succeed in the NWSL while playing beautiful possession-based attacking soccer.
However, when the team did not immediately deliver victories out of the gate and conceded some poor results that ended in losses, some fans and observers wondered if the club’s attack would ever deliver on its pre-season promise.
“I thought early on maybe we were counting on Kundananji a little too often,” noted Montoya. “But now it’s a total team effort.”
Oshoala noted it was frustrating that Bay FC’s mistakes caused them to lose games earlier this season. But now agrees the club’s attack is coming together.
“I look at the bigger picture, and the bigger picture is what is happening right now,” noted Oshoala after the game. “We’re six steps ahead from where we started.”
Oshoala noted how difficult it is for an expansion side to defeat the best teams in the NWSL while playing beautiful, attacking soccer. But after battling through a season filled with highs and lows, she feels like Bay FC is ready for a prolonged run of success.
“I’m excited about what the future holds for us,” she noted.
Dahlkamper, Menges solidify the defense
In only their second game together, the center-back pairing of Emily Menges and Abby Dahlkemper has made a massive difference in Bay FC’s defense. Menges has often been the club’s stout defender for most of the season. With the pairing of Dahlkemper, it’s clear that Menges is more comfortable pressing forward when the opportunity arises, knowing that Dahlkemper will stamp out any fires that might occur behind her.
On the wings, Alyssa Malonson and Caprice Dydasco have also settled into their defense roles, pressing up wide but also tracking back as needed.
“Abby Dahlkemper adds quite a bit to us there. But I thought our entire back line, it was just phenomenal, phenomenal today,” said Montoya. “And in the way they defend, the way they got forward, and everyone played a role and a part to our win today.”
Even after Bay FC went up by a goal with twenty minutes left, the club never seemed to panic despite the added pressure from Louisville and calmly saw the game out.
“She’s a big player, a top one, experienced defender as well,” explained Oshoala about the importance of Dahlkemper to the team. “She’s a great addition to our team, no doubt about that. And like I said, coming into the second round of the season, this is going to be a different Bay FC.”
Win helps Bay FC in playoff race
After starting the second half of the season with a loss to the Utah Royals, it became gut-check time for Bay FC in their quest to qualify for the NWSL playoffs in its first season.
The team responded with a dominating result on the road against the Portland Thorns, earning them a valuable three points and keeping them in the final playoff spot.
Bay’s players seemed determined to build on their victory over the Thorns by defeating Louisville. With the 1-0 win Saturday night, Bay vaulted over the Chicago Red Stars into seventh place. They now have a three-point cushion over ninth-place Angel City FC. Bay also sit only four points behind fifth-place North Carolina Courage, who they face next week on the road.
It’s a night-and-day scenario for Bay FC compared to two weeks ago.
Montoya believes his team will only get better from here.
“I think we’re going to have a very good second half of the season,” he said.
And after a pause, Montoya added: “Actually, I know we are.”
