SAN JOSE – Bay FC scored the fastest goal in its short history, but it surely wasn't enough to beat a still-struggling defense because the expansion team lost 2-1 to the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday at PayPal Park.
It was the second home loss in five days for Bay FC (2-6-0, 6 points), which lost 3-2 to Portland on Wednesday. Bay FC has allowed 19 goals this season, 4 greater than anyone else within the 14-team league.
Rachael Kundananji, who joined Bay FC for a women's soccer record-breaking transfer fee of $788,000, didn’t play on Sunday after playing all the game against Portland. The offense faltered without Kundananji as Bay FC had just nine shots (4 on track) after recording 15 or more shots in five consecutive games, and its only goal got here in a defensive game.
Bay FC scored within the eighth minute on a surprising mistake by Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who began for the United States because the Americans won the 2019 Women's World Cup by eliminating the Netherlands in the ultimate.
Naeher tried to pass to her full-back but as a substitute hit it straight at onrushing striker Tess Boade, who had turned to stop the ball from hitting her within the face. Instead, the ball deflected off Boade's back and into the online, giving Bay FC an early lead.
Boade, taken within the expansion draft, became the fifth Bay FC player to attain two goals this season – matching the Washington Spirit's most players with multiple goals.
But if Bay FC had shown anything in its first season, one goal wouldn't be enough to win. The team had allowed 17 goals in its previous six games, and a defensive breakdown allowed Chicago (4-3-1, 13 points) to equalize within the thirtieth minute.
Bay FC goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland hesitated to catch a protracted ball from Chicago center back Sam Staab. Instead, the ball went to Red Stars striker Penelope Hocking, who lined up behind Jen Beattie and was held onside by Bay FC's other centre-back, Kayla Sharples.
With Rowland now out of position, Hocking shot the ball into the online from 20 yards out.
The rating remained tied until the 63rd minute when Bay FC striker Princess turned the ball deep into her own goal. Jameese Joseph's initial shot was blocked by Bay FC midfielder Jamie Shepherd, however the deflection went to Ally Schlegel, who scored just outside the box.
Chicago threatened to double their lead when Hocking was brought down within the penalty area by Sharples and a penalty was awarded after a lengthy VAR review. But Rowland made up for her earlier mistake by saving US Women's National Team veteran Mallory Swanson's ensuing penalty within the 81st minute.
Sharples was drafted by the Red Stars in 2019 and began 11 games for them last season.
In the ultimate minutes, Bay FC increased the pressure, but within the ninetieth minute a shot from substitute Deyna Castellanos from 12 meters went just wide, leaving Bay FC in twelfth place within the standings. The best eight teams reach the playoffs.
At least for Bay FC, that is the one time this season that it should play twice in every week, so it won't need to worry about giving its regular players a break in the long run.
Bay FC visits Orlando on Saturday before returning home to face San Diego on May 17.
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