San Diego Wave FC were highly efficient and quick on the field last Saturday as they defeated Utah Royals 2-1 in a match defined by lightning-fast goals and finally broke a significant winless streak. This away victory, the first for the team this season, marked a turning point in the campaign of San Diego, especially under interim coach Landon Donovan.
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A match held at America First Field had all the makings of a true barnburner: frantic pace, high pressure, and a finish that will live in club lore. But the real story was how Wave seized the early moments of the match and how Utah's late push came up short.
San Diego Wave's lightning start
Thirty seconds into the match and Utah Royals were behind the eight ball. That is all the time San Diego Wave took to find the back of the net with the help of one very historic goal from the forward Amirah Ali. Inside just 27 seconds, Ali found himself inside the box, and following a precise cross into the box by midfielder Delphine Cascarino, she redirected the ball with her body into the net. Not only was Ali's goal the fastest in club history, but also the fourth-fastest goal in NWSL history.
That early strike left Utah in a tough spot. The defense, already under pressure to contain the Wave attack, never got any breathing room. San Diego knew it had the better of the game, as it continued pressing the home side and allowed Utah to never settle in.
By the sixth minute, the right wing was the theatre of another lethal play. It was Emily van Egmond with the ball in midfield playing through captain Makenzy Doniak, free behind Utah's defensive line. With ice in her veins, Doniak crossed the ball over to Cascarino at the far post. The French international did not err as she fired it in for her first league goal to double the Wave's lead. It was a well-crafted play that again exposed the weakness in Utah's defense.
Utah tries to come back as the Wave holds tight to lead
After the second goal, San Diego Wave did some readjusting with the game on their terms, waiting for the slip-up of Utah Royals. It wasn't all about attacking anymore; Wave showed tactical maturity by dominating transitions and pressing Utah into long-range attempts and crosses. The first half ended with a lead in safety, but everyone knew the second half would see a different Utah.
They did. Immediately after the restart, Utah pressed hard to pin San Diego in their half. On 59 minutes, Utah's newest signing Cloé Lacasse almost turned the match on its head when her shot rattled the side post. Lacasse had been dangerous all game, and this effort showed a sign of what was to come.
It was just before the hour mark that Lacasse finally found her target. D. Foederer had stolen the ball in the attacking third, setting up a play, and Lacasse played it inside on her right foot, cutting inside and hitting a left-footed shot that hit the right post and nestled into the net. The goal injected some much-needed energy in Utah, but it wasn't enough to overcome San Diego's early lead.
Cascarino and Ali's crucial performances
But the star of the night had to be Delphine Cascarino. Alongside scoring her first NWSL goal, the French star showed why she is considered one of the most skilled players in the league. She had an instrumental part to play in both the San Diego goals, not only with a perfect finish but also with the needed vision to assist Ali for the opener. Cascarino was at the heart of the team's functioning engine, interlinking plays and stretching out space with her pace and technical ability.
The pressure was well-placed on Amirah Ali to score the fastest goal in club history. Pure opportunism and tactical awareness, that was a goal born from positioning oneself perfectly to take advantage. That is just the kind of smart plays San Diego Wave needs as they progress further into the competition and try to climb better spots on the standings.
The weight of the result for both teams
This was San Diego Wave's first away win this season, but that meant a lot more than three points. Finally, for the first time since interim coach Landon Donovan took over, the team put together a solid road performance. That has really been one of the huge problems so far this season. Earning the win against Houston showed that despite ups and downs, the Wave can fight for much more in the league.
On the other hand, Utah Royals will also stay in the relegation zone. The team showed moments of fight, but the defensive lapses early on proved costly. Even with Lacasse's goal and the pressure applied in the second half, Utah couldn't hold back that initial surge by San Diego, which shows adjustments, especially on the backline, need to be made moving forward.