Christie Rampone and Alex Morgan battle it out as Caitlin Foord looks on. (Photo: Colin Keaveney)
By MC Bousquette
Photography by Colin Keaveney
Sky Blue FC defeated the Portland Thorns FC 1-0 in front of a historic sold-out home crowd on Saturday night, but were still mathematically eliminated from NWSL playoff contention.
Despite the ultimate disappointment at missing the playoffs, the match was a hard-fought one, filled with incredible moments.
Photographer Colin Keaveney joined Empire of Soccer for the match, and captured some of the most poignant moments.
The teams warm up as the sold-out crowd filters in before the match.
Sky Blue takes the field as the Thorns huddle before kickoff.
Tobin Heath makes her way into the final third early in the match as Allie Long trails behind.
Nadia Nadim beats Nadine Angerer to net the only goal of the night in the 19th minute.
Jodie Taylor, building minutes as she eases back from injury, with a shot of her own.
Clare Polkinghorne chases fellow Aussie Sam Kerr as she attempts a breakaway.
An airborne battle for control as the high-paced footrace of a match continues.
Alex Morgan enters the game, relieving Jodie Taylor in the 60th minute. Overheard from the crowd in response to the volume level when Morgan entered the game, "it's like the Beatles!"
Brittany Cameron snags the ball mid-air on a corner from Allie Long.
Tobin Heath, in a moment of frustration.
Christie Rampone challenges Alex Morgan.
Legends of the game: Christie Rampone pursues Christine Sinclair as Sinclair makes her way to goal.
Cameron and Sinclair collide as Sinclair enters the box and Lindsi Cutshall avoids the collision.
Cameron is given a yellow card, and Portland is awarded a penalty.
Teammates and medical staff gather around Sinclair.
Sinclair is helped off the field as her teammates look on. After the match, Coach Paul Riley shared he feared a bad injury, saying Sinclair "heard a pop." Sunday night, Portland's owner Merritt Paulson tweeted, "initial scans show no fracture. Need more tests. Fingers crossed for her. She is a warrior."
Alex Morgan takes the penalty shot, which Cameron saves.
Morgan looks back at Cameron after the sequence of shots.
O'Hara goes in for the hug to celebrate with Cameron.
McCall Zerboni hugs Angerer after the match as Heath leaves the field.
Sky Blue FC's Nikki Stanton and Kim DeCesare sign autographs for young fans.
See more photos from the match below:
