San Diego Wave FC went on the road — and to Central America — and defeated Santa Fe FC 2-0 in their Concacaf Women's Champions Cup debut on Tuesday night.
The Wave traveled to Panama City to face the Panamanian Women's Football League champions at Estadio Rommel Fernández, leaving with three points and a crucial away victory in the competition.
The Wave got off to a great start with an early creation by a Alex Morgan cross that saw goalkeeper of Santa Fe FC Yenith Bailey bobble the ball in the penalty box with María Sánchez finding and placing the ball in the back of the net giving the Wave a 1-0 lead within the first 90 seconds.
bombi said thank you very much 🫶 pic.twitter.com/5bkvSqxxW5
— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) August 21, 2024
Historic moment for Wave FC as María Sánchez marks the club's first goal in the new Concacaf W Champions Cup competition.
With increased pressure and chances created by the Wave, they would add to their advantage as in the 63-minute a right-footed back post cross from Wave’s Hanna Lundkvist would find Kristen McNabb to header it in goal giving no chance for the opposing keeper to make a save.
hanna put it on a platter for mcnabb 🍽️ pic.twitter.com/Y3gva5TFYC
— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) August 21, 2024
The game completed at that 2-0 scoreline as the Wave left with a victory despite the goal difference not representing the attacking chances the Wave created throughout the match. This was due to Santa Fe FC keeper Yenith Bailey making goal-saving plays to maintain the match within reach for her squad.
The most memorable saves came in the 18-minute with a one-on-one chance from Wave’s Emily van Egmond kept her squad away from a two-goal deficit at the time. The other chances for the Wave came in the remaining minutes of the match with another one-on-one opportunity and an outside-the-box strike in the 87 and 89-minute being saved by Bailey keeping the scoreline at 2-0.
The group consists of five clubs with all of them having to play four matches, two home and two away, as the top two teams of the group advance to the knockout rounds.
This is a crucial win for the Wave as they start their Concacaf W Champions Cup campaign with an away victory. Starting with an away win puts them at an advantage as they take the three points, build team confidence and take the top spot of Group B. They only have to play one more match away from home with two of the three remaining group matches being played at Snapdragon.
Wave FC returns to the pitch at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, August 24th to face Angel City FC at Snapdragon Stadium. The last time the two clubs faced each other was in their third group stage match in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup in a scoreless game ending with Angel City FC defeating San Diego Wave FC 5-3 in penalties to move on to the knockout rounds.
The Wave resumes their Concacaf W Champions Cup campaign with a 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at Snapdragon Stadium against NWSL side Portland Thorns, who took a 1-0 home victory when they last met on July 5.