This past Wednesday, the Portland Thorns defeated the Washington Spirit 2-1. This means that the weekend is NWSL was one match short of a full weekend. That doesn’t mean however that it was not packed full of five diverse and entertaining battles. Let’s get this NWSL weekend recap started.
NWSL Weekend Recap Rapinoe Brace and a Range of Outcomes
Friday
Houston Dash 0 – Racing Louisville FC 0
The third place Houston Dash came into Friday’s match on a three game winning streak. They hosted a struggling Louisville side that although they were towards the bottom of the table, were able to get results including back to back draws. The Dash would end up dominating most of the scoreless draw with 10 shots on goal. Louisville couldn’t even manage to get a shot on goal out of the three they took all night. That being said, Louisville is lucky to have made it out with a point. Especially considering that Satara Murry saw two yellow cards in the first half, leading Louisville to play close to 50 minutes down a player.
Saturday
North Carolina Courage 3 – Kansas City Current 4
Saturday night kicked off with a goal fest in North Carolina. Both teams combined for 30 shots in the match. Half of which were on target. North Carolina’s Diana Rosario Ordonez open the scoring in the 17 minute. things were then quickly evened up by Kristen Hamilton of the Current three minutes later. Both teams traded scoring again starting with Brazilian international Debinha scoring in the 36 minute. Then Kansas City’s L0’eau LaBonta equalized just before halftime. In the 2nd half, the goals continued. Just like in the 1st half, the Courage were on top first in the 56 minute. Then, Kansas City answered quickly 4 minutes later. Tied 3-3 with just over 10 minutes left, Kansas City got their first lead of the Match. Claire Marie Anne Lavogez scored what would end up being the match winning goal in the 79 minute.
.@ClaireLavogez with a 𝙎𝙏𝙐𝙉𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂 run and strike to put @TheKCCurrent ahead late on! 🚀#NCvKC | #TealRising pic.twitter.com/0w8JjGVUDu
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 14, 2022
San Diego Wave FC 0 – Orlando Pride 1
A red hot Orlando Pride went to San Diego on Saturday with a five game unbeaten streak. However the last three results were settled with draws in each match. In the 22 minute, an early opportunity for Orlando came in the form of a penalty against the Wave. A cross from Julie Doyle hit the outstretched arm of San Diego defender Kaleigh Riehl. Meggie Dougherty Howard would step up to the spot and place the ball in the bottom left corner to give Orlando the lead. The closest the Wave came to equalizing were two attempts of the post from star striker Alex Morgan. With a 1-0 win, Orlando Pride extend their unbeaten streak to six and get their first win since July 8th.
A Pride PK to start the scoring!@ORLPride | #PrideOfOrlando pic.twitter.com/C4nq2tlixh
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 14, 2022
Sunday
OL Reign 4 – NJ/NY Gotham FC 1
It was announced on Thursday that Gotham FC had parted ways with head coach Scott Parkinson. Former Jamaican national team coach Hue Menzies will be the interim manager for the remainder of the season. The struggling Gotham FC squad went up to Seattle to face OL Reign. Early on in the 15 minute, Rose Lavelle was able to pounce on a poor throw in from Gotham to get the reign their first goal of the game. This was then followed by a Meghan Rapinoe brace with goals in the 42 and 69 minute made it a 3-0 Reign lead. Gotham was able to answer three minutes later with a goal to decrease the deficit courtesy of Taylor Smith. However, only one minute later any chance of a comeback was eliminated after an own goal off of the head of Gotham defender Mandy Freeman. With a win and two of their star players in Rapinoe and Lavelle back and scoring. OL Reign will look to make a playoff push as the season winds down.
She's BACK and she's DANGEROUS! 🌹@roselavelle | @OLReign pic.twitter.com/y8qVv0ZQhb
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 14, 2022
Angel City 1 – Chicago Red Stars 0
Entering the final match of the weekend, Angel City and Chicago were in both 6th and 7th place respectively in the standings. The match’s first half was relatively uneventful. Three minutes into the second half however was when things got interesting. Angel City’s Savanah McCaskill was able to tap in a goal from a cross that fell in the box. Despite a late push from the Red Stars, Angel City held on to win 1-0. This was a vital three points which makes the gap between Chicago is now just two points for Angel City. Especially considering that Chicago holds the last spot above the playoff line in the table.
.@smccaskill_7 puts @weareangelcity in front! pic.twitter.com/dWzyQ0JePL
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 15, 2022
Next Weeks Matches
Next week once again will start midweek on Wednesday, August 17th Houston Dash will host NJ/NY Gotham FC at 8:30 PM ET on CBS Sports Network. Then on Friday, August 19th, Kansas City Current plays Angel City FC at 8:00 PM ET on CBS Sports Network. Finally the week concludes on Saturday, August 20th with three matches. North Carolina Courage vs Chicago Red Stars at 7:00 PM ET on the NWSL Twitch channel. NJ/NY Gotham FC vs Orlando Pride also at 7:00 PM ET on Paramount+. And San Diego Wave vs Houston Dash at 10:00 PM ET on Twitch.
