Rodriguez, Holiday propel FC Kansas City to 2-1 victory

Amy Rodriguez and Lauren Holiday continued to link up well -- both scoring goals -- as FC Kansas City downed Sky Blue FC 2-1.

With the win, the Blues strengthened their hold on second place in the league and remained undefeated at home.

The first chance for the Blues came early in the first half when Katrina Gorry found some space down the line and sent in a shot from the edge of the box that was barely saved at the far post. The ensuing corner kick would not bring a score for the home side, but they were threatening.

In the 16th minute, Amy Rodriguez received a ball at the top of the box and took a shot that Jillian Loyden was just able to catch above her head.

FC Kansas City continued to pressure on the attack and it nearly paid off in the 25th minute. Erika Tymrak drove the ball through the middle and launched a shot from the top of the box that bounced off the crossbar and was cleared out of bounds for the corner.

The Blues finally put one in the 34th minute. Lauren Holiday sent in a cross on the ground where Amy Rodriguez was waiting to tap it in off the post into the wide open goal. It was Holiday's 6th assist and Rodriguez 11th goal, moving them both into a tie for the league lead in their respective categories.

FCKC continued to make runs as the first half wound down. In the 42nd minute, Amy LePeilbet sent in a hard cross to the center of the six-yard box but Sarah Hagen was just a step behind and could not get her full foot on the shot. It would be saved by Loyden, keeping the Blues' advantage at just one goal. FC Kansas City would hold that lead going into halftime.

Sky Blue would garner a few chances to start the second half. The best one would come in the 57th minute when Kelly O'Hara got her foot on a ball that ricocheted and went off the post before being cleared away. It was the best chance for Sky Blue up to that point.

The Blues would get an insurance goal in the 70th minute when Frances Silva put a through ball into the middle where it was received by Holiday coming in on the overlap. Holiday calmly put it in under the hand of Loyden for her second goal of the game. This goal put her into the league lead for goals.

Sky Blue would pull one back in the 87th minute. A bad clearance by the Blue's defense lead to Nadia Nadim getting the ball alone in the box, where she put the shot past Barnhart for the goal. It was her second goal of the year.

Although the goal made it tense for the last few minutes, FC Kansas City held on for the 2-1 victory. It was their first victory in three matches. They are back in action Wednesday night on the road at Washington before returning home to face the Seattle Reign Saturday night.