NWSL semi-final recap- WNY Flash defeat Portland Thorns 4 to 3

It was an exciting game with lots of scoring, action, controversies, and overtime. But the Western New York Flash prevailed 4 to 3 over host team Portland Thorns at Providence Park in front of 20,086 fans.

WNY Flash began the scoring  in the 16th minute on a long throw in by Jessica McDonald. The ball bounced to McCall Zerboni who attempted the shot, but the ball was deflected to Samantha Mewis who scored from 17 yards away.

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In the 38th minute, WNY scored again on a play that was also started by another long throw in by McDonald. Abby Erceg and Lindsey Horan collided going for the ball. The ball then bounced to McCall Zerboni, who passed to McDonald. She then crossed the ball to Makenzy Doniak, who headed it past Portland goalkeeper Michelle Betos.

The 2 – 0 lead for WNY was short-lived. On the ensuing kickoff, Portland defender Katherine Reynolds made a long pass to forward Christine Sinclair who beat Alanna Kennedy on a nifty move and scored on goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo to make the game 2 to 1.

The goal enraged WNY Flash coach Paul Riley who thought that there may have been a foul when Sinclair got past Kennedy, and he apparently ran on to the field in protest. He was ejected from the game. Replays showed that there was minimal contact between Sinclair and Kennedy.

The score remained 2 to 1 at half time in favor of the WNY Flash.

Until the 77th minute, neither team had scored again. But both teams had opportunities including  a nice save by goalkeeper Betos in the 54th minute to stop a Doniak header from entering goal. Also, in the 62nd minute, Portland thought that Tobin Heath had earned a penalty kick. She and Abby Dahlkemper were tangled up in the penalty box. However, the referee did not blow the whistle, angering the home team and their fans.

But at the 77th minute, Emily Sonnett scored her first professional goal soon after D’Angelo dropped a free kick by Tobin Heath. The ball bounced around the penalty box until  Sonnett shot and scored.

After 90 minutes, it was tied 2 to 2. Two overtime periods of 15 minutes were played, but the game does not end on a “golden goal”.

In the 98th minute, WNY again scored on a long McDonald throw in to NWSL Golden Boot winner Lynn Williams, who scored her first goal of the match.

Two minutes later, Portland’s Horan nearly equalized, but the ball hit the crossbar.

In the 104th minute, WNY scored again as Sam Mewis made a beautiful pass to Lynn Williams, who beat goalkeeper Betos to make the score 4 to 2.

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But Portland was not done scoring as a minute later Dagny Brynjarsdottir found Horan, who scored. The game was 4 to 3 in favor of WNY at the end of the first overtime period.

The second overtime was frustrating for the Portland Thorns. Tobin Heath earned a yellow card in the 114th minute on her tackle against Taylor Smith. Heath also made a couple free kicks near the goal that went harmlessly to goalkeeper D’Angelo.

Portland threatened with about 1 minute left in extra time. Sonnett launched a ball into the penalty box. D’Angelo and Horan collided going for it, and Dahlkemper made the save with her head, and the Flash were able to clear the ball out-of-bounds.

Portland was unable to score in the second overtime, and the final score was 4 to 3. Next weekend, the Western New York Flash will travel to Houston to meet the Washington Spirit for the 2016 championship. A new NWSL champion will be crowned on October 9, 2016.