Ashley Sanchez continues to lead the Golden Boot race, with Orlando's Barbra Banda closing in. Angel City and Denver erupted for five total goals in the second half of their match, while Maiara Niehues and Mel Barcenas delivered spectacular goals for their sides.
Gotham got back to winning ways to lengthen their lead at the top, with San Diego & Utah keeping pace. Seattle's win over Bay puts them solidly in the final playoff spot, while Portland failed to climb by drawing with bottom of the table Chicago. The playoff picture is becoming clearer, and teams out of the race need wins now if they want to see the post-season. NWSL Week 21 helped shape the playoff destinies of several teams.
While still topping the table, Gotham had been sliding of late. Two draws and a loss in their last three matches had shrunk their lead of eight points down to three. An important win against a sliding Racing Louisville gave the defending champs some breathing room.
This match started quickly, with Gotham on the scoresheet just eight minutes in. Following a corner taken short, Jaedyn Shaw fed Guro Reiten a few yards above the box. The Norwegian international sent a long range strike top bins past Jordyn Bloomer for her first goal in the NWSL. The home side answered just 10 minutes later, when they earned a corner of their own. Courtney Petersen sent the ball right to the goal line, and Shaw inadvertently ran into her own keeper. Kayla Fischer was all alone and easily headed in. The two sides went into the half all square, but that would change as soon as the second half started.
Racing started the half by sending the ball to the Gotham box, but the Bats broke up the play and came right back with some crisp passing. The play ended when Sam Kerr sent the ball across the Louisville box to Shaw. She finished with a clinical strike inside the far post, and the visitors had regained the lead. Gotham would not relinquish that lead, surviving a scary moment in front of goal just two minutes later as Ann-Katrin Berger gave up the ball. Unfortunately for the home side, they could not capitalize, and the ball went out past the end line. Louisville would not threaten again, and Gotham took home the three points. They remain atop the table, while Louisville has now lost four straight.
Kansas City is jockeying for playoff position, while Orlando is fighting for their playoff life. On an exciting night at CPKC Stadium, the sides came out even.
The home Current jumped on the Pride early, and had to wonder how they could not get the ball past Cosette Morché in the 17th minute. Both Morché and Kansas City's Lorena were on their game early on, and it would be late in the half before the scoring started. Just two minutes before the halftime whistle, Orlando tallied through their top-scorer and Golden Boot hopeful, Barbra Banda.
Ally Lemos dropped a ball in front of Banda, and she ran under it. Seeing Lorena off her line, the Zambian international hit the ball on the first hop and looped it in. Banda would get her brace and double the lead just five minutes into the second half.
The Pride had the ball at midfield and headed forward. Hailie Mace sent a pass to Banda, who performed an amazing spin move in the blink of an eye. Leaving her defender behind, she slotted home to the far post. The Pride were cruising.
For three minutes. As fast as Banda had turned on her goal, the Current turned the scoresheet upside-down. After clearing an Orlando corner, Michelle Cooper and Temwa Chawinga broke out for Kansas City. Cooper fed it ahead to Chawinga in the box, and some amazing footwork left the defenders and Morché grasping at straws. Just three more minutes after that, the hosts came all the way back.
Vanessa DiBernardo sent in a corner which was played by Debinha . Morche stopped her shot, but no Pride players could control the ball. It eventually came out to Elizabeth Ball, and she very calmly poked home to equalize.
With the draw, Kansas City hold their place in the playoff schedule, while also extending their league-record, regular season home unbeaten streak. Orlando still has hopes for that last playoff spot, but time is growing short to make a move. The side is seven points out with six matches left.
After scoring first, Angel City suffered an onslaught from Denver. The home side clawed back, however, and secured a point in the highest scoring match of the weekend.
A match between these two sides was always going to be fast-paced, and Angel City was all over Denver to start. The home side had two great chances before five minutes had passed, but did not break through until just before the death of the half. Denver had cleared the ball to the midfield stripe, and Angel City's Sarah Gorden fired it right back in. The ball came to Maiara Niehues, who took it off her chest, spun and fired in one smooth movement before the ball hit the ground for the prettiest goal of the week. The sides went into the half tight, and then the floodgates opened.
Four minutes after the restart, Yuzuki equalized for Denver. After a turnover in the Angel City end, Denver's Melissa Kössler quickly fed the Japanese international just inside the box. She quickly fired past Angelina Anderson, and the sides were square. Less than a minute after that, the Summit doubled when Yazmeen Ryan's crossbar shaker came right to Lindsey Heaps to finish. Denver kept pressing, and got their third in the 61st minute. Delaney Sheehan came forward with the ball and laid off to Janine Sonis , who was in her office at the top left corner of the box. As she has done so many times this season, the Canadian international quickly surveyed the scene and realized that her own number was the right call. She went far post, and things looked bleak for the home side.
All was not lost. Angel City answered just two minutes later. After clearing their zone, Angel City sent forward to the scary fast Sveindís Jónsdóttir, who was breaking ahead with Prisca Chilufya . They passed the Denver defenders and were two on zero against Abby Smith , who had no chance at Chilufya's finish. Angel City completed the comeback 10 minutes later. The side had a corner that came to Ally Sentnor. The ball bounced high, and Denver defender Ayo Oke's clearance attempt ended with an inadvertent high knee to Sentnor's face. The referee pointed to the spot, and Sentnor stepped up. The US international went bottom left corner beyond Smith's reach for the equalizer.
The result saw neither side improve their playoff standing, as they still sit in ninth and tenth place, just outside the cutoff. With seven matches left each, they will have to get maximum points in situations like this.
Hoping to climb higher up the table, the Wave tallied the first two goals of the match, and then did enough to hold off the Courage in a battle by the Bay.
The two sides exchanged attacking runs for the first 20 minutes, with San Diego's Kailen Sheridan and Carolina's Sandra Paños handling the attacks. Then, in the 23rd minute, the Wave's Brooklyn Courtnall came down the right side and sent a ball back across the box. Trinity Byars faked an attempt and let the ball go through to Gia Corley. With Sheridan coming across, she went back for the Wave lead. The Courage had a great chance to equalize five minutes later, but a great double save from Paños kept them out.
The half ended, and the sides were better defensively in the second. Business-like saves from each keeper kept the score, until the 72nd minute, when a terrifying sight came at the Carolina defense — Mel Barcenas in space. The youngster ran at the Courage backline, displayed her trademark fancy footwork, and sent the ball far side for a 2-0 lead. Mel Barcenas may very well be this generation's Lia Wälti.
Ten minutes after that, the Wave faced their own scary movie — The Menace. Golden Boot leader Ashley Sanchez had already had two chances on the night, and she was not going to miss the third. Shinomi Koyama brought the ball into the box and dished to Sanchez on the left. She took two touches, picked her spot, and placed it far side top bins, leaving no chance for Paños. Her 19th of the season halved the lead, and places her just one shy of tying the single season record held by Chawinga. Unfortunately for the Courage, they would not get another.
The win moves San Diego to fourth in the table, and drops the Courage to fifth. Both sides are playing great football right now, Carolina using that vaunted offense and San Diego with a disciplined defense and timely scoring. Both will be fun to watch come playoff time.
In a very evenly played match, this one came down to making the most of your chances. Seattle did just that while keeping Bay from the same, and the Reign earned an important three points.
The first half was cautious, with neither side giving way to the attack of the other. Each managed just one shot on target, with the best chance coming 10 minutes in. Unfortunately for the home side, Seattle's Maddie Mercado sent her shot inches wide of the post, and the sides went into half scoreless. That would change quickly in the second.
Five minutes into the half, the Reign's Nérilia Mondésir dribbled across the back line in the Bay box. Defender Jenna Nighswonger pulled her down from behind, and a penalty was awarded. Sofia Huerta stepped to the spot for the hosts, and put it low left. Jordan Silkowitz went the right way, but the shot had too much heat and Seattle led. Claire Hutton nearly equalized 10 minutes later, but Cassie Miller was able to push her offering off of the crossbar.
Seattle would get the insurance goal in added time through sub Brittany Ratcliffe . She outran the Bay defender to a loose ball, closed in on Silkowitz, and put the ball near post to seal the deal. Seattle maintains a solid grip on the last playoff spot, while Bay drops their eighth match in their last ten.
There's an old saying — if your defense is good enough, you only have to score once to win. Utah proved that against Houston, shutting down the Dash completely for a strong road win.
Utah controlled possession and chances throughout, and seldom did Houston leave their half of the field. Jane Campbell did her part between the sticks to give Houston a chance, but the Utah defense was stifling. The Dash managed only two shots in the half, neither of which were on frame. On the other side of the field, the Royals sent eight shots Campbell's way, four of which she had to turn away. Her best save came just before half, when she stopped Mina Tanaka from in close. The sides went into the half scoreless, with Utah dominating the stat sheet but nothing to show for it.
The second half was the Tanaka show, with the Japanese international firing a total of three shots toward goal. It was only a matter of time before she cashed in, and that time cam in the 69th minute. After her first service had been bounced back out to her, Utah's Nuria Rábano sent the ball back into the middle. A diving Tanaka got her foot on and put it past Campbell. That would be all Utah would need, as their shut-down defense did not allow a single shot on target all night.
The win keeps the Royals in third, continuing the amazing run they have had all year. Houston's fourth straight loss likely ended their playoff hopes, but a glimmer still remains.
Boston has become feared due to their penchant for scoring late goals, but no one could have predicted this finish. The two sides went into the last ten minutes of the match in a scoreless draw, and then suddenly, the visitors had put in three for the win.
As in the Houston/Utah match, the two sides held each other at bay for the first half. A grand total of zero shots on target were registered for the first half of the match. Each side hit the side netting, with Boston's Deja Davis coming agonizingly close to putting home. Late in the half, Washington keeper Sandy MacIver came way out to try to break up an attack. Boston's Barbara Olivieri controlled it, but could not get around to put a shot on net.
The second half saw the offense pick up, with MacIver and Boston's Casey Murphy called into action several times. They both held firm, with MacIver making two outstanding saves, and then Boston went on a tear late. The first goal of the match came in minute 81 through the Legacy's top-scorer, Aissata Traoré. She and Nichelle Prince dueled with the Spirit defense at the top of the box. Prince eventually came up with the ball and sent it ahead to Aissata. The Malavian international took a touch, brought it back, and went through the defender's legs far side for the opener.
And then, Boston made the sub that made all the difference. Amanda Gutierres came on for Aissata, and instantly sparked the Legacy. After being denied by MacIver on her first attempt, she took advantage of the Washington press four minutes into injury time. With the Spirit up looking for the equalizer, the Brazilian international stole the ball at midfield and put a thirty-five yarder over MacIver and in. She would finish the scoring just two minutes later, working a wonderful two-on-one with Lily Reale. Reale came down the left wing and spotted Gutierres in front. The pass was perfect, and the Boston striker tapped in for her brace.
Washington falls five points behind Gotham at the top, while Boston's tremendous inaugural season continues. Their slow start may have hampered their playoff aspirations, but they have shown they are capable of playing with any team in the league.
Both teams very much needed a win, for very different reasons. Portland is trying to grab one of the coveted top four spots for home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Chicago is trying to salvage respectability in a dismal season. Neither side was able to come away with the three points, as a very late Chicago goal ended this match in a draw.
The Thorns came out with a high press, trying to exploit the notoriously porous Stars defense. After several attacks, the home side cashed in. Jessie Fleming took a corner for Portland that was cleared out, but came right back to her. The Canadian international sent it right back in, where Chicago's Maitane López tried to clear. Unfortunately for her, she put it right into her own net past Alyssa Naeher . Portland kept pressing and had more chances, but could not solve Naeher. They went into the half just one goal up, and that would come back to haunt them.
The Thorns came out firing in the second, and the Stars matched them. Naeher and Portland's Mackenzie Arnold each made two huge saves to keep the score at 1-0, and Portland looked to have the victory secured. The clock ticked down, and five minutes were added on. In the second minute of stoppage time, the Stars earned a corner. Emma Egizii sent in a good one, and Taylor Wood rose up to meet it. Her header found the corner, Naeher made one last save, and the match ended in a draw.
Portland remains in sixth place, failing to take advantage of Carolina's loss. The Stars are happy with a point against a top side, and also that they were able to allow only one goal.
Racing Louisville 1-2 Gotham FC
Kansas City Current 2-2 Orlando Pride
Angel City FC 3-3 Denver Summit
San Diego Wave 2-1 North Carolina Courage
Seattle Reign 2-0 Bay FC
Houston Dash 0-1 Utah Royals
Washington Spirit 0-3 Boston Legacy
Portland Thorns 1-1 Chicago Stars
Barclays WSL2 results: Leicester, Sunderland and Newcastle stay perfect, Nottingham Forest grab a point
Manchester City continue perfect league start against Aston Villa
NSL Week 20 results: No teams giving an inch as Montréal survive five-goal thriller
