Last-minute goals from Lynn Biyendolo and Jordyn Bugg helped Seattle Reign come from two goals behind and earn a point on the road against the Chicago Stars last weekend. Biyendolo scored in the 87th minute, and Bugg added a second two minutes later.
Seattle became the first visiting team in NWSL history to avoid defeat after trailing by two or more goals in the 85th minute or later. Let's not do that again, though.
Here are three stats from the Reign's comeback draw.
15
After a truly disappointing first half that saw the team produce very little offense and concede two goals in transition, the two halftime substitutes, Sam Meza and Ji So-yun, had a significant impact. Fifteen of the Reign's 17 shots came in the second half.
Ji, in particular, helped the Reign maintain possession and utilize their width more effectively. In just 45 minutes, she led the team with 23 completed passes into the final third. She was credited with just one key pass, but that's because she was often the pass that led to the key pass. Most importantly, she was putting herself in positions to get the ball. And she helped the Reign keep the ball and progress it.
The Reign had 50% possession in the first half. That jumped to 62% in the second half. Ji and Meza both played significant roles in this turnaround.
"I felt like in the first half we played like mannequins. I think we forced passes into people. We didn't move for the person on the ball, and I just felt like Ji could really help us – and Sam Meza too, to be fair," Reign head coach Laura Harvey said after the game. "I thought both of them, they're just active, they move, they want the ball all the time."
With Chicago sitting in a low block, the Reign needed someone who could make runs into pockets of space and then get the ball out wide. Ji did just that — connecting with Maddie Dahlien five times, the most of any teammate, and Lynn Biyendolo six times, tied for the most among her teammates. She was also an option for Madison Curry on the right wing, receiving the ball a team-high seven times from Curry.
A few examples of how Ji combined with teammates to keep the ball and progress it up the field
"[Ji] showed in that second half the reason why we brought her here and the reason why she is the superstar that she is," Harvey added. "I thought every time Ji got the ball today, she controlled the game for us in the second half, and I don't think they really knew how to solve her. If they did solve Ji, it ended up opening up space for Sam and Sally [Menti] or whoever it was."
As a result of all of this, the Reign generated 1.01 of their 1.1 expected goals (xG) total in the second half. And they finally found their two goals late in the half.
77
As a result of Ji and Meza's influence in the midfield, the Reign were able to get Madison Curry much more involved in the attack. She was second on the team with 77 touches, behind Bugg, and 48% of her touches came in the Reign's attacking third.
Curry, who has been consistently strong on the defensive end, was finally able to get more involved in the Reign's attack. She achieved her highest pass completion total (37) and recorded four key passes — her previous high was one key pass. According to FBref, Curry also had seven shot-creating actions (the two actions before a shot). She completed two crosses into the penalty area, another high.
Some of Madison Curry's offensive involvement
In addition to the data, look at Curry's two heat maps against the Stars and the Spirit. She was able to get much higher up the field in Chicago and get more touches in those advanced positions. Now, the level of competition could be playing a role here. Chicago only has one win. At the same time, if the Reign can figure out how to keep Curry higher and get her the ball in dangerous spots, they could unlock a lot more offensively.
38
According to FBref, the Reign had 38 touches in their attacking penalty box. That's the most the Reign have had this year. They also took the most shots (17) and completed the most key passes (11) and passes into the final third (40).
The Reign showed more of the team they want to be in the second half against Chicago. It still took until the 87th minute to get on the scoresheet, however. If they truly want to demonstrate they are a contender for the playoffs — and to go far in the playoffs — they need to do more with their more attacking chances across 90 minutes.
The Reign have a chance to do that this weekend against Utah, a team that has conceded the most goals in the NWSL. That game kicks off at 2 p.m. PT on Saturday, June 21, and will air on FOX 13+, NWSL+ and Paramount+.
