Gleeful screams from the field and the stands filled Gillette Stadium following the final whistle of Boston Legacy FC's game Sunday.
The expansion team match up resulted in a narrow 3-2 victory over Denver Summit FC, marking the Legacy’s first-ever win. Though the result was not enough to boost its standing from the bottom of the table, BLFC earned its first three points of the season. Boston is now tied in points (4) with Racing Louisville, but has a -7 goal differential as opposed to Racing’s -4.
Head coach Filipa Patão still seems to be experimenting with lineups. Boston started in a 3-4-3 diamond formation with Casey Murphy in goal. Laís Araújo returned as the central defender and Emerson Elgin played left back while Bianca St-Georges played on the right. Josefine Hasbo, Annie Karich, Alba Caño, and Bárbara Olivieri made up the midfield. Amanda Gutierres took the striker role, flanked by Sammy Smith on the left and Nichelle Prince on the right.
Here are three thoughts from the game:
Goals x3
The Legacy continues to get its numbers up: Boston took 19 shots, eight of which were on target, and held 62% possession throughout the game.
Denver opened the scoring in the 18th minute, but Prince equalized at the end of the half, scoring her first goal for the club. Denver’s defense attempted a clearance in the box after a Boston corner kick, instead sending it straight to Prince, who headed the ball into the net.
Denver took the lead again in the 77th minute, but Boston maintained its attack through the end of the match. Aïssata Traoré received the ball from Laurel Ansbrow, kept it perfectly controlled, then slightly turned to slingshot it into the back of the net in the 90th minute. Minutes later, St-Georges was left wide open and was able to slip the ball past the keeper to add a third goal to the scoresheet.
Just a week before, the Legacy recorded 27 shots in Chicago and left with nothing to show for it. The following two games produced five goals for the Swans. Are you trusting the process yet?
The Second Half (Revisited)
Patão admitted Wednesday that her team has consistently struggled in the opening minutes of every second half. There was slight improvement on Sunday, according to the coach.
Patão and her technical staff had spent the previous days brainstorming ways to remedy the issue.
“What we did as a group [was] try to understand how we can help the players to where the body is more alert and ready to re-enter in the second half,” she said postgame. “What we can do, tactical, physical, mental to help the players to … accelerate these restarts that they need to have in the games.”
Whether the better performance was a result of those slight changes is unclear, but the coaches and players will reflect on what best serves them.
“Inside the chaos, we need to work well and better and be more comfortable,” she said. “You [can’t try] to control the chaos. Never in football, but you can work well inside the chaos, and I think this can [be] the difference.”
The First Win
It took seven games for the team to secure its first victory, and the relief once the game ended was apparent. Players on the field embraced each other, those on the bench sprinted onto the field to do the same. After rejoicing among themselves, the group took a moment to celebrate with the supporters’ section.
Controlling owner Jennifer Epstein yelled in delight as she ran down the tunnel, eventually meeting General Manager Domè Guasch and Director of Recruitment Edward Gallagher. The three stationed themselves by the field entrance and congratulated Coach Patão and any players who came their way.
Smiles were abound.
St-Georges described the feelings as “immaculate” after the game.
“It's almost like we had this pent up energy inside of us that we could not wait to let go. We knew we deserved this win,” she said. “The fact that [the win] finally followed through, it just is the best feeling in the world. It makes us want more and makes us want to keep going and trusting what we're doing.”
Traoré, who scored her second Legacy goal, was happy to equalize for her teammates.
“In my mind I [said], ‘Aïssata, it is time for you to help the team,’” said Traoré. “I just shoot and it was a goal.”
Patão expressed how proud she is of her players for being able to defy the initial negative results and for the resilience they’ve shown. And yet, she is eternally dissatisfied, she joked. Their tenacity consistently has her raising her standards.
“After I make history, I want to keep making more history,” she said. “That’s my problem.”
The Legacy will now focus on the next challenge ahead: an inaugural game rematch against Gotham FC on Saturday, May 9 in New Jersey. The Swans will be looking for redemption after losing 1-0 in the previous meeting.
