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This Sunday morning at 12:30 a.m. PT, four Seattle Reign players will be playing in the W-League Grand Final in Australia. A Jess Fishlock goal in the 107th minute helped Melbourne City FC advance to its second straight championship match.
Head Coach and player Fishlock will be joined by Reign FC teammates Lauren Barnes, Bev Yanez, and New Zealand international Rebekah Stott for the match, which airs on ESPN3. You can access it on WatchESPN or any ESPN streaming app on your devices.
City forward Larissa Crummer, who just signed with Reign FC, is out with a fractured foot.
Like the Reign in 2016, this season for Melbourne City has been a battle of ups and downs. The one thing that remained consistent, however, was City’s defense. The team conceded 14 goals in 12 games, a league low.
It doesn’t hurt to have Australian goalkeeper Lydia Williams tending the net. Williams had a standout season at Houston Dash last year, and she saved nearly 74% of shots for Melbourne City this season.
Lauren Barnes played as a holding midfielder earlier in the season, and had somewhat mixed results in that role. However, since moving to centerback, she’s helped lead, organize, and stabilize the backline. It’s not a surprise that it happened around the same time City started to gain momentum.
Rebekah Stott played a few matches as a centerback — a role she also fills with New Zealand’s national team — but moved to right back around the same time Barnes was pulled deeper. Stott has been solid on the outside, offering support in the attack for her teammates.
The last match between Melbourne City and Perth Glory was an epic battle — with the Glory ultimately winning 3-2. Let’s see if Coach Fishlock and team can make it out on top this time, and earn a second-straight championship for City.
How to Watch
Date: Sunday, February 12, 2017
Time: 12:30 a.m. PT
Location: Nib Stadium, Perth, Australia
Streaming/Online: ESPN3/ WatchESPN
This is your “MelbReign” City gamethread. Stay up late and watch with us.