WNY Flash play to scoreless tie in Friendly with Thailand
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Western New York Flash entered Saturday night trying to re-find their winning ways and stay fresh before their regular season finale next Saturday. They were also looking to pick up a victory against an international foe, as the Thailand National Team traveled to Buffalo for a friendly match at Canisius College. However, both sides left the field wishing for one more chance, as the Flash would only earn a 0-0 draw versus Thailand.
The game started like so many other recent matches, as the Flash were able to dominate possession early and create scoring chances throughout the first half. In just the 4’, Lianne Sanderson was able to get off a shot on goal that Yada Sengyong had to make a point-blank save on. Lynn Williams and Jessica McDonald continued to lead the Flash attack as usual, with McDonald sending a shot high off of a Makenzy Doniak pass in the 8’ and Williams hitting the side of the net off a long pass from Doniak in the 10’. Elizabeth Eddy also got into the offense, as she had a shot go high right after Williams’ shot.
The game did have its lowlights however, as Sanderson went down with an injury in the 13’ and would stay down before leaving the game in the 19’. Even without Sanderson, the Flash continued to create chances, as Doniak let a shot rip high in the 23’, and Williams put a header on net that was stopped by Sengyong in the 24’. McCall Zerboni contributed as well offensively, sending a shot wide in the 29’. Thailand got their first shot off in the 30’ when they were able to send a ball wide off a cross. WNY was able to get 2 chances back-to-back in the 36’, as Taylor Smith beat her defender and had her cross blocked, but Michaela Hahn was able to pick up the ball and send a shot wide of the left post.
Williams generated several more chances towards the end of the half, as she had a header blocked in the 38’, sent a shot wide in the 42’, and then launched another shot that just barely went high of the top right corner of the net in the 44’. Then, during the seven minutes of stoppage time, Hahn was able to find Williams, who passed the ball to Zerboni, who proceeded to send a shot wide.
Although going into the half tied 0-0 with Thailand, the Flash did lead in shot margin, 8-1. Western New York also seemed to have the momentum heading into the locker rooms by the end of the lengthy stoppage time period.
The final 45 minutes started out similar to the first 45 minutes, as the Flash generated chances to open the half with Courtney Niemiec having a header go wide off a Zerboni free-kick in the 48’, while Zerboni was able to get a shot off in the 51’ that was saved at point-blank range.
At about the 60’, Thailand started to create opportunities of their own, as they had one cross intercepted, then had another cross headed out of danger by the Flash. Kristen Hamilton then had her shot blocked by Thailand in the 62’. In the 72’, Abby Dahlkemper launched a corner kick that went through Sengyong’s hands before being cleared away. Doniak then was able to beat her defender in the 79’, but had her shot blocked away by Sengyong. Hamilton then sent a shot wide a minute later.
After a quiet few minutes, Hahn was able to find room to shoot, sending the ball over the net in the 88’. Thailand then got an opportunity when Kanjana Sung-ngoen had a shot hit off goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom, with Kanjana then picking the ball up again and sending a shot that hit the side of the net in the 89’. Dahlkemper then got another corner kick in the 90’ that reached Abby Erceg, who headed it on net but somehow did not make it in.
With 4 minutes of extra time, Thailand saw a chance to swing the momentum their way as they had a breakaway snuffed out thanks to a Flash defender slide tackling the ball out of play. Thailand then had another chance, as they sent a ball wide looking for the far post. That would be the last scoring chance of the game, as the final whistle would blow with WNY and Thailand tied at 0-0.
The Flash will return to NWSL action on Saturday, Sept. 24, when they travel to Boston to face the last-place Breakers for the regular season finale at 7 p.m. EST. The Flash can clinch a playoff spot with a win or draw in Boston.