In a landmark moment for the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Asisat Oshoala, the Nigerian forward, scored the first-ever goal for Bay FC, marking a victorious start to their inaugural season with a 1-0 win over Angel City, MySportDab Reports.
The historic match took place on Sunday, with Oshoala finding the back of the net in the 17th minute. She received a well-placed pass from Tess Boade, Bay FC’s midfielder, inside the box.
With a swift and precise first touch, Oshoala sent the ball soaring into the upper right corner, etching her name into the club’s history.
Reflecting on her achievement, Oshoala expressed her joy and pride. “My career has always been about making history, and I am very happy to be a part of the history at this club,” she stated, underscoring her commitment to the team and the sport.
Bay FC, which had acquired Oshoala from Barcelona during the offseason, has much to celebrate. Oshoala, a six-time African Player of the Year, has been a trailblazer in women’s soccer.
She was the first African to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 2022 and is also the first Nigerian to score in three Women’s World Cups.
Despite Angel City’s spirited attempts to equalize in front of their home crowd at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Bay FC’s defense remained unyielding.
Goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx, making her NWSL debut, pulled off eight saves to secure a shutout. In a nail-biting moment in the 91st minute, defender Caprice Dydasco cleared a shot off the line that had managed to beat Proulx.
Bay FC, co-founded by former national team players Brandi Chastain, Aly Wagner, Danielle Slaton, and Leslie Osborne, was named the NWSL’s 14th team last year. Alongside Bay FC, the Utah Royals also joined the league this season.
In other NWSL news, the Seattle Reign secured a 1-0 victory against the Washington Spirit on Sunday. Bethany Balcer scored the lone goal in the third minute.
Despite a spirited effort from the Spirit, the Reign maintained their lead, with goalkeeper Claudia Dickey making key saves throughout the match.
The Spirit faced additional challenges toward the end of the game, as they were reduced to 10 players following a red card shown to goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury after a video review determined she had handled the ball outside the box. This incident added another layer of drama to an already intense matchday in the NWSL.
