Playoff bound! Kundananji’s spectacular brace sends Bay FC to NWSL postseason

With a determined Racheal Kundananji blasting forward on the left wing and seeking the goal that would all but guarantee a playoff berth for Bay FC in its first year of existence, two Houston defenders were but mere pests for the attacker. 

She split the duo before reaching the second line of the host team’s defense with 54 minutes gone in the game. 

A quick stutter-step took care of that obstacle, and then a powerful shot with her left foot provided the final goal in Bay FC’s 3-2 victory. 

“The coaches always tell me to have patience inside the box, and that’s what I did today,” Kundananji said. “I did what I’ve been taught, which is to keep the ball, take on the defender, and try to shoot on the goal.”

Eighth-seeded Bay FC improved its record to 11-14-1, and needed just a draw to guarantee postseason play. But with the victory, new possibilities became available for the eighth-seeded team in the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs. 

Should Chicago lose on Sunday, the San Jose-based team will be the seventh seed. 

“I’m just happy and proud of the players and happy for the fans that have been supporting us all season long,” coach Albertin Montoya said, before wryly adding, “We like to make it exciting every single game. Maybe that’s why the fans enjoy watching us play.”

Those expecting a dull, defense-first match to unfold – begun after a 50-minute delay because of inclement weather in the Houston Area – left pleasantly surprised. 

Bay FC scored more than one goal in the game for the first time since a 5-2 loss to FC Barcelona Femeni in an Aug. 27 friendly. 

Bay FC was the benefactors of last-place Houston’s trademark incompetence in the fifth minute. Paige Nielsen wore the orange Houston kit, but looked like a Bay FC striker as she kicked the ball into the net on what was supposed to be a clearance on a routine set piece. 

That lead did not last long.

Barbara Olivieri got past the entire defense on a well-timed run in the 10th minute, took the pass, and calmly slotted the ball in. 

Montoya, defenders Caprice Dydasco and Abby Dahlkemper and the rest of the team vehemently protested. A replay appeared to show that Olivieri was offsides, but the officials did not agree. 

The goal stood.

The skillful Kundananji put Bay FC back in front about 10 minutes later. She calmly collected the ball after a corner kick and blasted a shot into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead.

Montoya decided to mix things up in the second half. He took out leading scorer Asisat Oshoala and put in Penelope Hocking.

But it wasn’t the offense that let Bay FC down 45 seconds into the second half. Houston’s rookie winger Avery Patterson used a couple of tricky moves to create space on the right wing. She then fired one past Katelyn Rowland to equalize. 

But after Kundananji put Bay FC back in the lead, the visiting team took control. Houston was fortunate that it did not concede at least two more goals, with the the attack carving out shot after shot.

Bay FC will play its first postseason match on either Nov. 9 or 10.

“If you are around people who support you even if you make a mistake, and they keep on lifting you up, then it is very easy to do wonders,” Kundananji said. “I’m so proud of my team, and all I want to say is thank you to everyone who believed in us.”