Late goal by Seattle’s Jess Fishlock sends Bay FC to another frustrating loss at home

SAN JOSE – Bay FC erased a two-goal deficit behind a breakout performance from Hannah Bebar, but veteran Jess Fishlock delivered the decisive blow for Seattle Reign.

Fishlock, Wales’s all-time leading scorer, scored the winner in the 85th minute as the Reign defeated Bay FC 3-2 Saturday night at PayPal Park, handing Bay another frustrating home loss.

The late goal spoiled the best match of Bebar’s young professional career. The second-year midfielder scored her first NWSL goal and added her second career assist as Bay FC (5-9-3, 18 points) rallied from an early 2-0 hole.

Despite the comeback effort, Bay FC fell to 2-5-2 at home and remains the only team in the NWSL averaging fewer than one point per home match this season.

For the second time in four days, Bay FC found itself chasing the game almost immediately.

After conceding a goal in the second minute of Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Gotham FC, Bay was stunned again Saturday as Seattle (7-7-2, 23 points) scored twice in the opening 10 minutes.

Seattle winger Maddie Dahlien sparked both goals down the left flank. In the fifth minute, she drove a cross into the box that Mia Fishel redirected into the net. Five minutes later, Dahlien doubled the lead herself.

After Bay was shut out in each of its previous two matches, Bebar breathed life into the offense in the 13th minute, finding the upper corner from outside of the penalty area for her first professional goal.

Bebar, who was signed out of Duke, entered the match with 33 career appearances for Bay FC.

Dorian Bailey appeared to level the match in the 23rd minute, but her goal was waved off after review when she was ruled to be offsides.

Bay FC finally found its equalizer in the 75th minute. On a free kick, Bebar delivered a perfectly placed pass to Keira Barry, who finished past goalkeeper Claudia Dickey at the far post for her second goal of the season.

The momentum, however, lasted only 10 minutes.

Fishlock slipped behind Bay’s back line in the 85th minute and beat goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz 1-on-1 to restore Seattle’s lead for good.

The defeat capped a stretch of three matches in eight days for Bay FC, which remains 14th in the 16-team league and sits five points outside the final playoff position.

The club returns to action Aug. 9 with a road match against last-place Chicago.