The Vancouver Rise came out on the losing end of a frustrating 1-0 match against Halifax Tides at Swangard Stadium.
Julia Benati had the lone goal, an audacious lob from the halfway line in the dying seconds of the match.
RIse head coach Heiner-Møller called the match “a huge disappointment.”
“Of course, that [match] can’t happen,” Heiner-Møller added.
The first half was a frustrating affair for both sides. Neither side could seize control of the match, with much of the action happening between the boxes.
The visitors tested the Rise, particularly through Stella Downing and Jordyn Rhodes, but no attempts were on target.
Passing also let both teams down. The Tides only connected 73 per cent of their passes in the half, with the Rise marginally better at 75 per cent.
The Rise had just one attempt, which came late in the half. Mia Pante’s run down the left opened space for the cross to the far post for Latifah Abdu.
But Abdu’s header could not beat the crossbar, and the score remained nil-nil as both teams left for the break.
The difficulty continued in front of the net for both sides. Ann Bout had a crack midway through the half, a long shot from outside the 18-yard box, but it went safely into the hands of Anika Toth.
Abdu had a great opportunity in stoppage time. Her run down the right was timed well with a cut inside and a low cross in the 6-yard box. But no Rise player was there to get on the end of it, much to the striker’s frustration.
And that turned into calamity for the Rise as the Tides quickly transitioned, got the ball up to Bonita, who lobbed Wulf for the winning goal right at the end of the match.
“Getting up there and getting the numbers up there, but of course, they can’t have that transition after that. And we need to close the game,” Heiner-Møller said.
Final third woes for the Rise
Many of the Rise’s balls through their opposition’s midfield and behind the backline were left unconnected.
Passes were left wanting, either too fast on the pitch and out to touch or too far ahead of the desired recipient and easily picked off.
“In the first half, we had a lot of through balls,” Heiner-Møller said. “It’s the right decision. The run is there, but we kick it out the back line. So, we’re finding those through passes; it’s just the last touch that needs to be better.”
The Rise head coach was not willing to blame the pitch or any other environmental factor. She reiterated they want to play on a fast pitch, and it is on them to be better.
The battle of the midfield
Much of the match was played between the boxes in the middle of the pitch. It was a physical affair, with 50 tackles (20 for the Rise, 30 for the Tides) and 26 fouls (15-11 split) given.
At times, tempers flared, leading to numerous discussions with the referee and a few yellow cards.
Rise defender Mia Pante pointed to the importance of the match for both sides. The Rise and the Tides are in a battle for fourth in the NSL and the final playoff spot for the postseason.
“We’re competing for the playoffs. Only six games left in the season. We’re both battling for fourth and fifth place at the moment. They had the same goal as us coming into the game, to get the three points, and I think that’s what you saw today, was fight and hunger,” Pante said.
This battle is not new. On Aug. 15, these two met in a match that saw the Rise win 2-1 and moved them within a couple of points of that fourth spot. Since that match, the Rise gained four more points out of a possible six, whereas the Tides lost their next two matches.
The two clubs have leaped over one another a few times in their fight for the final playoff spot. Both clubs have just six matches left in the NSL regular season.
“The worst thing we could try is [to] do too much, play like another team,” Pante said. “We need to come back to our identity and our strengths and rely on each other. And I think when we do that, we play our best.”
Up next
The Rise play on Sunday, Sept. 13, at Swangard against Ottawa Rapid. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
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