SD Wave on 3 win streak climbing to 3rd in NWSL defeating Bay FC 2-1
Having attended every single Wave match since the club’s inaugural season at Snapdragon Stadium, I can confidently say this was one of the most dominant performances I’ve seen—and that’s saying something in the post-Morgan era.
Fresh off a two-game road-winning streak, the Wave returned home to face their California rivals from the Bay Area. Under new head coach Jonas Eidevall, San Diego has looked formidable all season, and they wasted no time setting the tone. From the opening whistle, the Wave came out with the kind of high-intensity press that has defined their play since the start of the year.
Kenza Dali was at the heart of everything. Orchestrating the midfield, she controlled possession and drove the press, linking up seamlessly with Delphine Cascarino, who was electric on the wing. Although the final scoreline didn’t reflect a blowout, the Wave dominated the match—holding Bay FC to under 35% possession and hitting the woodwork twice in near misses and a missed penalty that could have made the score even more lopsided.
Set pieces, once an area of inconsistency, have become a clear strength. The first goal came from a well-executed corner by María Sánchez, headed home by Kennedy Wesley with authority. The second came in stoppage time, as Dali delivered a clinical corner that Trinity Armstrong buried to seal the win. Both goals were the result of deliberate schemes and precise execution—evidence of the club’s growing tactical maturity in the final third.
Perhaps most impressive was the relentlessness of San Diego’s press. It wasn’t just high-energy; it was smart, cohesive, and effective. Turnovers that once plagued the Wave late last season have been replaced by composed possession and decisive attacking runs.
It’s still early in the 2025 campaign, but this team has already captivated the league with its revamped identity. The new-look Wave, built around a core of international talent and guided by a clear tactical vision, is playing with purpose—and that’s going to be a story worth following all season long.
