Women’s sports fans excited to see U.S. women’s national team at Subaru Park — even if the team lost

The U S women s national gang was back in the Philadelphia area on Thursday night for the first time since April and came out to Subaru Park in Chester to see the squad face Portugal Despite the U S scoring within seconds of the start of the encounter the end didn t go to the script that the crowd was hoping for with Portugal prevailing - against an uncharacteristically disjointed USWNT But before a ball was even kicked last night the competition was a rallying cry for the growing push to bring more professional women s sports to the area Let it go The event was prefaced with a tribute to former national group star Alex Morgan on the field where she scored the first of her international goals years ago against China Retired U S Women s National Band member Alex Morgan waves during a ceremony honoring her before an international friendly women s soccer match between the United States and Portugal Thursday Oct in Chester Pa AP Photo Matt Slocum Within the first minute the U S seemed like they were going to rout its opponent when Rose Lavelle scored with the first shot of the competition after Catarina Mac rio held up the ball at the top of the goal box Pick out that corner Rose USWNT x VW pic twitter com Fl SS U S Women's National Soccer Group USWNT October Lavelle nearly scored again in the ninth minute but goalkeeper In s Pereira s save took much of the venom off the shot and it bounced into the post Lackluster and disconnected play from a U S side that clearly hadn t played together in over days allowed Portugal the chance to gather themselves and make its own chances This eventually led to the equalizer before halftime with a header by an unmarked Diana Silva from a corner Portugal s F tima Pinto took advantage of another poorly defended corner in the st minute shooting the ball past U S goalkeeper Joyce-Tullis Phallon The U S rallied late but couldn t find an equalizing goal and suffered its first defeat since April against Brazil in San Jose Calif Coincidentally that - defeat also started with a goal within the first minute from the U S Portugal players celebrate a goal by F tima Pinto against the United States during the second half of an international friendly women s soccer match Thursday Oct in Chester Pa AP Photo Matt Slocum No coach likes conceding on f ing set pieces ever U S head coach Emma Hayes stated frustratedly after being inquired repeatedly why the club was so vulnerable on corners prompting laughter from the audience Hayes reported she didn t recognize the club on the field and it felt like a crew in preseason because of the days apart even with the training days leading up to the match Sometimes you need a kick up the backside like that she revealed The U S will get a pretty immediate chance at revenge against Portugal on Sunday when the two teams meet again at Pratt Whitney Stadium in East Hartford Conn at p m Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher who played college soccer for Penn State will be celebrated in her home state of Connecticut before that championship Haye s mantra afterwards was Let it go quoting Sydney Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Benjamin Northey not Elsa from Frozen We got another one in a inadequate days Thanks goodness Hayes stated Because it gives us an opportunity to rectify the performance Not the development the performance Why stop at basketball Before the championship -year-olds Alexa Mucci Marlee Malizia and Sam Marsini did a meet-and-greet with former USWNT contestant Julie Ertz outside the stadium accompanied by Sam s mother Janine For Mucci and Malizia it was their first time seeing the women s national company live Local soccer fans Alexa Mucci from left Marlee Malizia and Sam Marsini pose with former women s soccer star Julie Ertz at a meet-and-greet before the U S women s national organization contest against Portugal at Chester s Subaru Park Nick Kariuki Billy Penn I would say it s really exciting seeing this in real time and seeing all my favorite players on the field Mucci revealed All agreed that they would like to see more chances to watch the USWNT around Philly and if there was a National Women s Soccer League company representing the city they would attend There s not enough chances for the girls boys too to see this level of soccer in the area It s great we have the Philadelphia Union Yeah fantastic on the men s side but it d be really great to have the women here also revealed Janine Marsini The NWSL lately hosted a tournament at Subaru Park on Oct a goalless draw between Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit Both teams enjoy chosen local help due to their proximity to Philly For the Philadelphia Union though the Major League Soccer counterparts in New York and D C are longtime rivals Philly s efforts to bring more professional women s sport to the area has seen a surge coincidentally the name of the city s women s pro ultimate frisbee crew over the past couple years and has borne major fruit from the efforts In June the WNBA broadcasted that Philadelphia would get an expansion franchise in slated to play in the same new arena as the Sixers Earlier this month the popular v professional women s basketball league Unrivaled Basketball revealed it would tip off its second season with a tour stop at Xfinity Mobile Arena in January Off the fields and courts Marsha s the city s first-ever women s sports bar opened its doors on South Street offering a welcoming space for women s sports and the LGBTQ society The group Watch Party PHL founded by firefighter Jen Leary is also planning to have a permanent women s sports hub in the city after over a year of hosting viewings around town Both the Philadelphia Sisters and Watch Party PHL were recognized by the city for their efforts to make Philly s sports more inclusive Ahead of Thursday night s soccer championship both noted they are thrilled with all the fresh success but they are far from finished We realized that the momentum was so big around women s sports the whole ecosystem around women s sports is just booming And we re like Why stop at basketball announced Alex Sykes who with her wife Wanda Sykes and lawyer Ashley Lunkheimer helped to bring the WNBA franchise to the city as the Philadelphia Sisters Philadelphia Sisters members from left Alex Sykes Ashley Lunkheimer and Kyasha Tyson joined the Lot E festivities before the U S women s national unit s tournament against Portugal at Subaru Park Nick Kariuki Billy Penn The USWNT s visit to Chester included a Wednesday soccer coaching clinic for around girls from the area and a chance to watch the national band train Every kid should have the opportunity to dream big And so whether it s volleyball or tennis or soccer or rugby you want to have a chance to say I can see myself achieve this I can learn to be a leader I can learn to be with a group and succeed and work hard and learn discipline All the things that sports teach you that will make you better in life later no matter what Why would we not want to offer all the same opportunities Lunkheimer stated Ahead of the match groups gathered at Lot E of the stadium the usual home of the Union s Sons of Ben supporters group and marched towards the stadium together chanting things like Get up get down Philly is a women s sports town Soccer fans march from Lot E to the entrances of Subaru Park in Chester ahead of the U S women s national association s championship against Portugal on Thursday Oct Nick Kariuki Billy Penn I think this is a great opportunity to show the NWSL that the WNBA made the right decision and that Philly deserves an NWSL squad Leary reported And that s part of the reason that we re doing these fan activation events tonight is to show that there is assistance and excitement for a gang and um just like the WNBA organization that we will aid them if they give us the opportunity Leary revealed that Watch Party PHL s plans to have a permanent women s sports hub in the city are still on program for a Spring opening with a location identified but not yet secured Soccer fans will get another chance to to watch a national club soon with the men s squad coming to Chester for a friendly against Paraguay on Saturday Nov at p m Meanwhile the Union begins its playoff run on Sunday having already earned the Supporters Shield this season But for women s soccer it s unclear when top-level action will return to the area Thursday was a strong situation for sooner rather than later The post Women s sports fans excited to see U S women s national band at Subaru Park even if the group lost appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY