María Sánchez’s early goal set the pace for the San Diego Wave FC as they secured a 2-0 victory against Santa Fe FC in a Concacaf W Champions Cup match. Kristen McNabb’s goal in the 63rd minute sealed the win, making it her first goal since June 17, 2023. The match, held at Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City, Panama, does not count towards the NWSL standings. The Wave will now prepare to face Angel City FC in their upcoming league match on Saturday at Snapdragon Stadium.
This victory marked Landon Donovan’s debut as interim coach for the Wave, succeeding Paul Buckle last week. Donovan expressed openness to the role and mentioned the possibility of staying with the club beyond the 2024 season. This match also serves as a homecoming celebration for Olympic gold medalists Naomi Girma and Jaedyn Shaw, with Saturday being Girma bobblehead day. The team looks forward to their first NWSL home match since June 28 and is eager to continue their success under Donovan’s leadership.
The Wave will return to San Diego from Panama City as they prepare to face Angel City FC in a highly anticipated match. With optimism surrounding Donovan’s coaching, the team’s recent victory and upcoming matches have fans excited for what lies ahead in the season.
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