“I thought the team responded well at halftime. They put forward a better performance that matched our style and game plan which we obviously didn’t do in the first half, so I was pleased with their response and their effort,” said Wild FC interim head coach Sinead McSharry. “There were a couple of chances that we just need to be more clinical to put them away.” The breakthrough came in the 16th minute when Ottawa’s Keera Melenhorst cut inside to her left foot and fired
a strike from just outside the penalty spot. Johanne Fridlund doubled the lead in the 42nd minute, sending the hosts into the break with a two-goal cushion after a dominant opening half. Calgary responded with greater urgency after the break, showing more grit and determination while battling for loose balls and creating several attacking opportunities. Meggie Dougherty Howard converted a penalty in the 65th minute for the visitors. Jazmine Wilkinson added the final goal two minutes into stoppage time to complete the result for the
first-place Rapid FC Ottawa (7-2-1) finished with a commanding 29-12 advantage in total shots, including 14 shots on target compared to Calgary’s three. Looking for its first win of the season, Wild FC (0-7-2) will now head home to host Vancouver Rise FC (3-6-1) for the Wild West Match at McMahon Stadium on Saturday (5 p.m.).
Wild FC, Rapid FC Ottawa, Sinead McSharry, Keera Melenhorst, Johanne Fridlund, Meggie Dougherty Howard, Jazmine Wilkinson, Vancouver Rise FC, McMahon Stadium, Wild West Match
14 shots on target?? wow that’s rough.
Half time adjustments always sound like coach-speak to me but Wild FC still couldn’t finish. Also Rapid already sounds like they’re cheating with all that “first-place” stuff lol.
Wait the final score is basically Rapid 7-0 or something? I didn’t realize it was that bad. And then they say Calgary had 3 shots on target… like c’mon, how do you miss that many? Maybe Ottawa just got lucky with the penalty too.
McMahon Stadium for the Wild West Match sounds like a branding thing, not a football strategy lol. Wild FC going home to play Vancouver next… I’m not sure that fixes anything if they’re gonna keep giving up that much dominance in the first half. Two goals by the 42nd minute and then a penalty at 65th… feels like it was over before it even started. I swear I’ve seen these same teams play and it’s always the same script.