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FC Kansas City (3-3-1 10pts) @ Seattle Reign FC (0-7-1 1pt)
Sunday, 9 PM CT
Starfire Stadium / Tukwila, Wash.
Injury Report:
SEA - None.
FCKC - Renae Cuellar (doubtful)
FC Kansas City will try to end their first losing streak Sunday evening when they face the Seattle Reign for the third time this season. The first two matches ended with Blues victorious and the Reign shutout.
Coach Andonovski's squad are unhappy with the 4-3 loss in Portland Thursday night and are looking toe rebound in Seattle. FC Kansas City went down two goals early and lost their star forward when Renae Cuellar was taken down with a hard tackle in the box but Andonovski's team kept fighting back and looked the more dangerous team throughout the second half. "Of course we are not happy with not getting a result, not getting points but long term it is a great learning experience for us and great confidence builder, we know the game is never over," Andonovski explained.
The Blues were missing defender Lauren Sesselmann because of a suspension from their previous match. The Canadian National Team star received a red card when she pulled player down in the box against Sky Blue FC. The resulting penalty kick was the only goal given up in the loss.
When Portland's Rachel Buehler was not carded for what was apparently a move violent foul, and a foul that left them with an injured Cuellar, Coach Andonovski was not happy. "Sesselman had a foul in the box and got a red card and they got a penalty kick, and now Rachel Buehler had a two foot tackle in the box on Renae and didn't even get a card. Renae's running right in front of the goal and is about to shoot seven yards out from the keeper, one on one and gets taken out. She (Buehler ) didn't touch the ball and didn't even get a card. If Sesselmann's foul was a red card then Buehler's foul was a red card but if Rachel Buehler's was not a red then Sesselmann's was not a red either. Whichever way they go, I would like to see a little more consistency from the referees."
Lineup juggling
While Kansas City will have Sesselmann back, it is likely that Cuellar will miss at least this match. Coach Andonovski has a few options to replace her. It is possible that Courtney Jones will start up top or that Lauren Cheney will move up top and Erika Tymrak get her second start. Andonovski liked how Tymrak performed in her first start. "She actually really created for us, she made things happen for us, she was really dangerous going forward, she put the defense on their heels. She is a player that can make a difference and that is why we drafted her."
Talented part time player Casey Loyd should be available for the Blues next match in Chicago so it looks like the Blues will go with a short bench again.
Seattle's Hope
The Reign are winless, have only scored four goals and have given up more than any other team but they have rarely looked as bad as the score sheet indicates. Seattle head coach Laura Harvey should have Hope Solo available to play in her second match after returning from surgery. Solo looked good in her debut against Portland, holding the Thorn's to just one goal.