Kenza Dali stood ready to take a free kick from a difficult angle. She noticed something before curling a masterful pass that hit off Kennedy Wesley’s head and into the right corner of the net.
Wesley’s deflected goal put the finishing touch on the Wave’s 2-0 win and secured their fourth straight victory at Snapdragon Stadium.
Wave forward Gabi Portilho earned the free kick after racing down the left side before being taken down by a Kansas City defender in the 87th minute. The referee initially awarded a penalty, but after reviewing the play, determined the foul occurred outside the box.
That is when Dali’s foot — and Wesley’s head — provided the signature finishing touch to the game.
The win moves the Wave (14-8-3) into second place in the NWSL standings and shifts the pressure onto the Washington Spirit and first-place Gotham FC. Gotham sits three points ahead of San Diego with 48 points.
Wave coach Jonas Eidevall said earlier in the week that the team’s goal is to play more games at Snapdragon Stadium beyond its one remaining regular-season home match.
Playing at Snapdragon was difficult for the Wave at one point this season, but they have since turned things around, winning their last four matches there. The Wave’s offense also seems to be making the most of the chances it creates.
Both teams went into halftime scoreless, with San Diego’s best opportunity coming in the 37th minute.
Lia Godfrey stole the ball from Kansas City and sent a deep pass to a wide-open Gia Corley, who began racing down the left side. Eidevall jumped up and down on the sideline while screaming instructions. Corley sent a well-placed pass into the box for Trinity Byars, but her attempt went wide to the right.
Five minutes into the second half, San Diego found the back of the net for the first time.
Recently extended forward Melanie Barcenas sent a dangerous ball toward the back post looking for Corley, but it instead came off Kansas City defender Laney Rouse and into the net for an own goal, giving the Wave a 1-0 lead.
Eidevall’s defense and goalkeeper Sandra Paños were at their best Friday night, limiting dangerous opportunities from a Kansas City side that features one of the NWSL’s top offenses.
The victory moved San Diego closer to the top spot in the NWSL standings with five games remaining in the regular season and only one left at Snapdragon Stadium.
The Wave will now begin a three-game road trip, starting next Friday against Racing Louisville FC.