An action-packed weekend saw three sides clinch playoff berths, and leaves three more fighting for that last spot. Denver absolutely blew up Louisville to help their playoff chances, and Seattle controls their own fate.
The Utah Royals clinched the first postseason berth in franchise history, while Angel City extended their current league-best unbeaten streak. Gotham has put themselves in position to claim the Shield, and Seattle just has to take care of their own business to grab the final playoff spot on Decision Day next weekend.
NWSL Week 26 saw a scoreless draw, matches with goals galore in one half only, and some absolute belters from outside the box.
The penultimate game of the season for both sides sees Houston looking to get players minutes, and Chicago just hoping for the hurting to stop. Spoiler alert — the hurting did not stop.
Just four minutes into the match, visiting Houston opened up through Leah Klenke. Lisa Boattin sent a free kick in from outside the box, and the Stars defense cleared it, but only as far as Klenke. The Houston defender settled the ball and fired low. Her shot hit a leg and went past Alyssa Naeher for Klenke's first professional goal. The rest of the half was quiet, and neither side found the back of the net again.
Houston would score again nine minutes after the restart on a wonderful bit of trickery. After earning a free kick just outside the box, five Dash players gathered around the ball to discuss the play. The whistle went to start play, but the players kept talking. The Chicago defense did not get set, waiting for the Houston players to take their positions. Meanwhile, Maggie Graham had slipped to the open side, and Boattin suddenly put the ball in play to her. Graham had fired it into the back of the net before the Stars' defense or Naeher could react.
Houston would get their third on an excellent build up from goal in the 79th minute. The play came to Kiki Van Zanten on the right side, and she sent an absolutely sublime ball in to the box, weighted perfectly for Clarissa Larisey. The striker merely had to stick her foot out to direct the ball into the back of the net.
Chicago would get one back deep in stoppage time off of a perfectly executed corner. Emma Egizii put her service directly in the center of the box, and Sam Staab came flying across to put a deft header into the far corner.
With both sides already eliminated from playoff contention, this match meant little in the table. Houston has a solid side, with needs to address their backline and opportunities allowed to opposing offenses. Their midfield play has been solid, and they can finish well. Chicago, meanwhile has had one of the worst seasons in NWSL history, allowing the most goals ever with one match yet to play. Their offense has been non-existent. Their leading scorer went out with injury on July 18, and she is still their leading scorer. The organization needs wholesale change to be competitive next season.
A win for Seattle would have clinched the final playoff spot, while a win for Utah would have temporarily moved the side back into the top four. On this night, however, neither side could find the back of the net and that leaves Seattle with work to do next week.
The home Royals started the match on the front foot, pressing the Reign backline and garnering the only attacks of the first half. Seattle keeper Caludia Dickey made a fingertip save on Narumi Miura's offering in the 27th minute to keep the match level. 15 minutes after that, Utah's Ana Tejada cranked one off the crossbar, barely missing the opener. Both defenses kept the opposition to the outside, and Utah did not allow the Reign a single attempt on target in the half.
The defensive stalemate continued in the second, with the sides limiting chances and shots. The Royals sent two at Dickey, with Jameese Joseph having the best chance, but not able to convert. For their part, Seattle's only shot on target for the whole match came in the 88th minute, when Sam Meza sent a long-range attempt at Mandy McGlynn. The Utah netminder knocked it down, then gobbled up the rebound. Neither side had another attempt, and the match ended as it had begun.
The draw, combined with North Carolina's loss, clinched a playoff spot for Utah, the first in franchise history. The side will have to wait until Decision Day passes next week to find out their final seeding and first round opponent. Seattle missed the chance to clinch outright, but still control their own fate with regards to the last spot. If they win next week against Orlando, they are in. With a draw, they have to hope for a Denver win over North Carolina or a draw in that match. If Seattle loses next week, they can only get in with a draw between Denver and North Carolina.
Both sides needed this win desperately, Portland to clinch, and North Carolina to improve their chances to grab the last spot. On a chilly night in Providence Park, Marie Müller's second half tally would punch the ticket for the Thorns.
Portland started out strong, coming at Kailen Sheridan in waves. The Canadian international made four saves in the half, and a dynamite defensive play from Ryan Williams prevented a sure goal from Reilyn Turner. Portland could not convert, and the Courage settled themselves toward the end of the half. Williams would have Carolina's best chance in the half, with her long-range strike rattling the crossbar.
The visitors controlled more of the play in the second half, but the Portland defense blocked five Courage shots. Mackenzie Arnold only had to make one save, an important stop on Ashley Sanchez in close. While Carolina had more control, Portland had the better chances, and made good on all they needed in the 60th minute. Turner charged into the Courage box and took her shot, only to have it blocked out by Natalie Jacobs. The ball came to Marie Müller just outside the box, and she unleashed an absolute screamer into the top of the net. Sheridan got a finger to it, but not enough to keep it out.
The action continued at either end, with both sides running hard at the other's defense. Neither team could find the back of the net, and the Thorns had clinched. With Carolina's loss, Angel City, Kansas City, and Utah all officially clinched as well. The Courage have it all to play for next week against Denver. Any result other than a win ends their season, and they also have to hope that Orlando can upend Seattle.
Denver has to win their last two matches and get some help to grab the last playoff spot. The side took care of the first step, absolutely trouncing Racing Louisville at home. This match was domination by the Summit from the opening whistle, and showcased their league-leading offense.
Two minutes into the match, Louisville's Kayla Fischer sent a shot in that went wide of the net. Louisville would not have another attempt at goal until the second half. Denver meanwhile, was taking shot after shot, and heroic defense kept them at bay for a only short while. 18 minutes in, Janine Sonis (my pick for League MVP) had the ball on the end line and sent back across goal to Tash Flint. She fired in past Maddie Prohaska for the opener. Just before half, Denver doubled the lead. Sonis took a free kick from outside the box, and dropped it perfectly in front. Kayleigh Kurtz rose up and gave the ball a neat flick into the far post.
The second half came, and 15 minutes in, the floodgates opened. On 59 minutes, Kurtz sent a long ball ahead to Yazmeen Ryan. She tracked it down, brought it into the box, and centered for Melissa Kössler. The German international hit it first time into the far side netting. Seven minutes later, Racing could not clear their zone, and the ball came to Natalie Means on the right side. She sent a cross in, and Lindsey Heaps rose highest to send a header home. Before Louisville could catch their breath, the Summit struck again. Less than two minutes after, Kössler came charging at the Racing defense and sent a perfect through ball ahead to Flint. Flint struck it first time for her brace and the lead was five.
Louisville got a consolation goal 10 minutes later off of a perfect delivery. Lauren Milliet had the ball on the right and sent a cross directly into the run of Taylor White. She hit it in stride past Abby Smith for her first professional goal. Denver answered back immediately to restore the five-goal difference. Olivia Thomas sent forward to Ryan, who moved toward goal. When no defenders challenged her, Ryan moved into a preferred shooting position and let a low shot go that Prohaska had no chance at.
The shellacking keeps Denver alive for the last playoff spot with all to play for next week. In what will be the most important match of the year, they will travel to North Carolina. If Seattle stumbles against Orlando, whichever side takes the Denver/Carolina tilt will go to the playoffs. Racing's loss runs their winless streak to nine matches. The team will face the offseason with a troubling and unsolved future, with the Lavender Legion nervously hoping their team stays in town.
Angel City is the hottest team in the NWSL right now, riding an eight match unbeaten streak and climbing the table. A win against already eliminated Bay FC would move them just one point from an opening round home match, so the Los Angeles side went and got that win.
Angel City absolutely dominated the first half, as Bay only once left their own half of the pitch with the ball. Visiting Bay had zero attempts toward goal, leaving Angel City keeper Angelina Anderson time to consider her stock portfolio. At the other end, Jordan Silkowitz was raising her stock value to the USWNT with two big saves, including a highlight reel stop on Evelyn Shores. The half ended with the pitch tilted completely toward the Bay net, but no goals scored.
Following the restart, Angel City kept up the pressure, but Bay did manage it a little better. The visitors did foray into Angel City territory several times and had five shot attempts. Unfortunately for Bay, none of those attempts were on target, while the home side was quite efficient in theirs. The hosts broke the deadlock just four minutes into the half. Maiara Niehues broke through the first Bay line at midfield and fed the ball through to an onrushing Giselle Thompson. She went top bins over Silkowitz for the opener.
Bay held off Angel City for a while, with Silkowitz making a terrific double-save at 65 minutes. The hosts' constant pressure came through late as Thompson came down the right wing with the ball. She passed in to Nealy Martin, who sent the perfect centering pass to the charging Rielly Tiernan. She fought through two defenders and tapped in for the insurance goal.
Angel City is now just behind Kansas City with one match left in the regular season. Their unbeaten streak is the second-longest in the league this season, and they are looking to ride that momentum throughout the playoffs. For Bay, this match allowed them to put in some players who have not seen a lot of time this season. It also showed their coaching staff some needs, as the midfield was over-matched and spent most of the night chasing.
Gotham has been top of the table since midway through the season, and the Shield is within their grasp. Three points at Orlando would all but clinch the number one seed in the playoffs, and put the Bats so close to their first ever NWSL Shield.
Orlando came to play, and this match was fast-paced throughout. Gotham's legendary defense had it all to do to keep up with the Pride attack, and the match should have been 2-0 to the home side early on. Unfortunately for the Orlando faithful, glorious chances for Solai Washington and Kerry Abello went wide, and then Gotham turned the tables.
22 minutes in, Guro Reiten had the ball on the left wing for Gotham. She sent a long cross to the other side of goal, and Midge Purce sent a perfect header back across and over the reach of Cosette Morché. This goal was a thing of beauty. Both sides kept coming, and Morché made an incredible save on Sam Kerr in the 35th minute off of another cross from Reiten. Cori Dyke cleared the ball off the line to keep it 1-0, and that was how the sides would go into the half.
The action continued in the second half, with great chances on both sides. Morché and Gotham's Ann-Katrin Berger came up big several times early in the half. Berger and Orlando's Marta had some amazing battles, with Berger stopping the legend on three separate occasions. Gotham would get their second, and eventual winner, halfway through the frame. Reiten took a corner for the Bats, and sent it long to the back post. Jaelin Howell's strong header rattled the crossbar and bounced down to Tierna Davidson. The US international quickly punched it home, and Gotham was up two.
Orlando was not going to go down easily, however. Just three minutes after Davidson's tally, the Pride pulled one back. Following a turnover at the midfield stripe, the ball came to Washington. She turned on the jets and outraced two Gotham defenders, got into the box, and sent it far side past Berger. Orlando had a few chances to get the equalizer, but none came to fruition.
With the win, Gotham is sitting pretty. A win or draw next week against Utah and the Bats claim their first ever Shield. They can also take it with a loss if San Diego does not beat Bay outright. Orlando, while eliminated from playoff contention, played a terrific match against the league's top side. The big question on everyone's mind – Was this the last match in Orlando for Marta? Her contract ends at the end of this season, and she has not yet put pen to paper on an extension. Here's hoping the G.O.A.T. stays for one more run.
Perhaps the most anticipated and intriguing match of the week saw the league's best home team, Kansas City, host the league's best road team, Washington. The two sides are jockeying for position in the top four, and the Current were looking to extend their league record home unbeaten streak to 32 matches.
The scoring came early in this one. Just 12 minutes in, Washington's Clara Luvanga took advantage of a Current miscue. Laney Rouse passed back to her keeper, but Lorena's touch was too heavy and the ball came right to a pursuing Luvanga. She took the offering and easily slotted home. The Spirit lead lasted all of 80 seconds.
Kansas City's Michelle Cooper came down the wing, and sent a shot toward goal that was blocked out by Washington's Esme Morgan. The ball came to Lo'eau LaBonta and she fired on goal. The ball struck Morgan's hand and deflected by Sandy MacIver for the equalizer. Just three minutes after that, the Current would take the lead on a Washington goalkeeping miscue. Tara Rudd passed back to MacIver, and she misplayed the ball. Haley Hopkins stole it and passed to Croix Bethune in the box. Bethune looked up to see Vanessa DiBernardo coming in, and served the ball on a plate to her. DiBernardo blasted home, and the Current had erased the early deficit. Bethune's 11th assist of the campaign sets a new league single season record.
After such a start, Washington decided to lock down and play smothering defense. The visitors sniffed out and stifled every Kansas City attack, allowing just one more shot in the half, and blocking that away before it got to MacIver. The Spirit spent the rest of the half in the Current end, a harbinger of what was to come.
The second half was played almost entirely on the Kansas City side of midfield. The hosts had one shot all half, a miss from Cooper halfway through. Washington, meanwhile, came at the Current in waves. Lorena was called into service, and she responded with two important saves to preserve the lead. Her best moment came in the 77th minute, when Trinity Rodman's shot took a deflection that the Brazilian international had to be wise to. She then stopped Rosemonde Kouassi's follow-up shot to seal the win.
Kansas City now closes to within two points of Washington for 3rd in the table. They can supplant the Spirit with a win next week at Racing Louisville and a Washington loss at Chicago.
San Diego still holds hope to claim the Shield, sitting just behind Gotham. A win against expansion Boston would make that much easier. However, Boston took their role as spoiler seriously, and played a terrific road match to claim a draw.
Following one shaky moment to start the match, San Diego settled down and played their ball-control offense throughout the first half. The home side looked to have taken the lead in the 35th minute after a sustained attack. Boston's Laurel Ivory stopped the first shot and the second shot, but just could not get back for Lia Godfrey's third attempt. However, a good old VAR check of only four minutes determined that the play was offside in the buildup. Neither side could get the opener, and went into half at zeroes.
The two sides must have watched the Kansas City/Washington match highlights at half and saw that they could score three goals in the first few minutes of the half. Three minutes in, Boston earned a corner. The Legacy went short to Sarah Schupansky just outside the box. She sent a service in, and Aissata touched it toward goal. Sandra Paños punched it out, but only as far as Annie Karich on the line. She tapped home for the Boston lead. San Diego responded quickly, drawing even just three minutes later.
Mel Barcenas came down the middle of the field with the ball and laid off to Gia Corley on her left. She took one touch, then kissed the ball just on the inside of the far post to equalize. The Wave would take the lead only three minutes after that on a tough own goal. Mimi Van Zanten sent the ball in to Kenza Dali in the box, and she passed to the middle. It looked as though San Diego's Trinity Byars directed it in, but it was ruled that Boston defender Laís Araújo had touched it last. Either way, the home side had the lead.
The lead would last for 20 minutes, when Boston called for a cannon and it was delivered. Following a free kick, the Legacy had the ball in midfield. Aleigh Gambone sent the ball forward to Alba Caño. She unleashed a rocket from 25 yards out that went top bins and that no one could have stopped. San Diego had opportunities to get the winner, but three late chances were all sent wide.
The result leaves San Diego three points behind Gotham for top spot with one match to go. They can still claim the Shield if Gotham loses to Utah and the Wave defeat Bay. Boston, while eliminated from the playoffs, have had an excellent debut season, and look to be a real threat next year.
Chicago Stars 1-3 Houston Dash
Utah Royals 0-0 Seattle Reign
Portland Thorns 1-0 North Carolina Courage
Denver Summit 6-1 Racing Louisville
Angel City 2-0 Bay FC
Orlando Pride 1-2 Gotham FC
Kansa City Current 2-1 Washington Spirit
San Diego Wave 2-2 Boston Legacy
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