In a rescheduled match from Week 14, North Carolina travels to FC Kansas City to play a game that seemed destined to never happen on July 22. After pushing the start time back twice due to excessive heat, a thunderstorm rolled in and stopped play after nearly 40 minutes, during which time neither side had scored. North Carolina FC (10-5-0) at FC Kansas City (3-7-5)Thursday, 8:00 p.m. EDT, Swope Soccer Village Last weekend against Boston, FCKC took an early lead, quickly lost it, and came from behind to steal a point at the last minute, putting an end to their four-match losing streak, although they are on an eight-game winless streak that began on June 3, the last time they played North Carolina. The bright side is that they are scoring, but they still can’t keep the ball out of their own net. Desiree Scott returned to a more active role in the attack, including a 60-yard dribble that led to their first goal, and continued play from her will improve their chances. The team gets Becky Sauerbrunn and Sydney Leroux back from international duty, which is particularly a boon on defense although Sydney Miramontez did well in her first professional match. Sauerbrunn brings organization to a defense that few can match. The left side of their backline was a weak point, with Becca Moros taking the spot after Christina Gibbons moved to midfield, and they need to shore it up lest Makenzy Doniak expose it. The Courage are on a funny streak of their own – five games which have alternated between wins and losses. By that pattern, they’re due to lose, but Lynn Williams may have a few things to say about that, as she returned to her goal-scoring ways against Seattle last week. The duo of Williams and Hatch up top has left Jess McDonald as a weapon off the bench, which may surprise some, but as the Courage have regained the top spot they’ve held for the majority of the season, it seems to be working. Three points tonight could go a long way toward getting a little separation from Chicago and Portland as the race to the Shield heads for the finish line. To do so, they want to maintain their high press and attack from the flanks while making sure Leroux doesn’t slip behind their backline. Head coach Paul Riley may switch up his lineup for this midweek game. PLAYERS TO WATCHChristina Gibbons After spending the first half of the season at left back with mixed results, Gibbons has found a home in central midfield, which has been hurt by injuries and player departures. She’s not a Lauren Holiday, but she does provide a crucial link between Scott and the forward line that has been missing. Ashley Hatch It took a while for Hatch to earn significant playing time, but a few injuries gave her an opportunity that she has yet to relinquish. Hatch is a fast, dynamic forward who has visibly improved since the beginning of the season and is tied with Williams as the Courage’s leading scorer. Keep an eye on: {Read More: NWSL Week in Review: To rest or not to rest?} Related articles Learn how to trade football on Betfair without losing your money Football Expert Makes up to £5867 a Month with Value Odds Tips!!! Learn How To Trade Soccer Like A Professional! from http://www.pigskinpaul.com/latest-news/week-16-preview-fckc-and-north-carolina-make-up-for-lost-time/
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Also in today’s roundup, Steffi Jones’ contract as Germany coach extended, Italy gets a new coach, Chicago activates Yuki Nagasato, FA plans for 2020 Olympic Team BG and EURO 2021 bid, trio of Swedish players are on the move, and the 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy watch list released.Brian rehabbing injury in LA, out for Dash indefinitelyMorgan Brian will be unavailable for the Houston Dash indefinitely, staying in Los Angeles following the conclusion of the Tournament of Nations (ToN) to rehab a lingering groin injury under the supervision of U.S. Soccer’s medical staff. USWNT head coach Jill Ellis selected Brian for the ToN camp roster with full awareness of the injury, but cited a lack of depth in central midfield as the reason for the midfielder’s presence in camp. Brian only took the field once during the tournament, playing 13 minutes of the U.S.’s opening match against Australia, a 1-0 loss. She was unavailable for the remainder of the tournament. Dash interim head coach Omar Morales told the Houston Chronicle’s Corey Roepken that there’s no timetable for Brian’s return. Instead, they’re simply taking it week by week. “I spoke to her last night and she said she is feeling better, feeling stronger,” Morales said. “It is one of those injuries that could be nagging for a long time. She is taking time to really heal it and focus on that specifically. “Here, we’re focused on the next game and trying to get the team better. We felt that her being over there (in LA) with somebody who is making sure she is doing everything the way they want is the best decision for her.” Steffi Jones’ contract extended through 2019 World CupThe German Football Association announced on Wednesday that it had extended the contract of manager Steffi Jones through the 2019 World Cup, with an option to extend it through the 2020 Olympics. Jones only recently took over the German national team, taking over after Silvia Neid retired following Germany’s 2016 Olympic gold medal win. However, her job security was called into question following Germany’s exit during the 2017 European Championship quarterfinals, ending their 22-year long reign as continental champions. “I am very pleased with the confidence of the Presidency, but I see the vote as both a clear mandate and an obligation for me and my team to draw the right conclusions for our work,” Jones said in a statement released by the association. “For me, my first tournament as a Bundestrainerin was an instructive process, so we will make some adjustments. Our goal is to further develop the team and our game system, regain lost trust and be successful again.” Germany begins its road to France 2019 on September 12 when they take on Slovenia in their first World Cup qualifying match. {#ThrowbackThursday: XI memorable moments at EURO 2017} In other EURO-related coaching news, Italy has hired Melina Bertolini to replace Antonio Cabrini, whose Italian side was eliminated from this year’s tournament before the group stage’s conclusion. Bertolini is a three-time national champion as both a player and a coach, bringing a wealth of experience to her new position. “For me to train the National [Team] is to dream a dream,” Bertolini said in an article for Rai Sport, “and from today I put myself to work with the commitment and the passion that have always characterized my career in the field and on the bench. We face a challenge. It is difficult to bring Italy back to World Cup 2019 after 20 years.” Red Stars activate Nagasato, waive LubaThe Chicago Red Stars announced today that Japanese-international forward Yuki Nagasato had been removed from the 45-day disabled list and added to the active roster. To meet the 20-player roster limit, the team waived midfielder Mary Luba. Nagasota signed with the Red Stars on May 24 but was not cleared to play by the team’s medical staff because of a minor knee injury, for which she returned to Japan to continue rehabilitation. The striker returned to Chicago and has been training with the team over the past month. “We are looking forward to finally having Yuki available for us,” Red Stars Head Coach Rory Dames said in the team’s official statement. “She has looked great in practice and provides a veteran presence in this last half of the season as we aim for a playoff spot.” Luba joined the Red Stars late in the 2016 season after a standout season with the Red Stars Reserves that same year. She made four appearances for the full team, totaling 50 minutes. She did not appear for the team during the current 2017 season. FA plans for 2020 Olympic Team GB, 2021 EURO bidBBC Sport reported today that the English Football Association (FA) have announced plans to form a British women’s soccer team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. This is in addition to reports from yesterday that the FA also plans to enter a bid to host the 2021 European Championship. Because of FIFA rules, in order for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland to compete in the Olympics, they must do so as one team for all of Great Britain. This requires a collective agreement from all of the nations’ ruling bodies, which is not an easy feat. The issue for the other nations in Great Britain lies in their concern with how a Team GB would affect their independent status with FIFA, especially in regards to future World Cups. However, some nations that were previously against a British team have now changed their minds, claiming to realize the benefits of Olympic competition to women’s soccer in all of Great Britain. “We’ve worked really hard with the other home nations to get them behind the idea that a British team would be good for football both in England but also in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland,” FA chief executive Martin Glenn told the BBC. “We were very disappointed that for the Brazil Olympics we couldn’t put in a British team because, for women’s football, Olympic tournaments are disproportionately important compared to men’s football.” Although some attempts were made, Great Britain did not field an Olympic team for the 2016 games, but they did in 2012 when London hosted the summer games. That team was almost solely comprised of members of the England national team with the exception of Scotland’s Kim Little and Ifeoma Dieke (Jane Ross was an alternate). Perhaps the overwhelming majority England players on 2012’s Team GB is another deterrent for other ruling bodies to agree to a British team, but Glenn addressed that issue saying, “We would want to pick from the best of British talent and there’s a number from nations outside of England and we know that would be good for the game.” In addition to wanting to field a 2020 Olympic Team GB, the FA also announced its plans to bid to host the 2021 European Championship. The plans to bid were inspired both by the success of EURO 2017 in the Netherlands, with sold out crowds at every one of the Dutch team’s games and a record-breaking attendance at the final, and by British broadcaster viewership numbers. England’s semifinal loss against France generated a peak four million viewers in the UK. The FA said the bid is another reflection of their ongoing commitment to women’s soccer. The bid process for EURO 2021 begins next month, with a decision being finalized in 2018. Caroline Seger, Kosavare Asllani return to Sweden for club playCaroline Seger has left Olympique Lyonnais after one season and signed with FC Rosengård, the Swedish team announced yesterday. The veteran midfielder will be joining the team immediately, participating in her first training session with the team today. “I’m incredibly pleased to come to a club like FC Rosengård and be able to contribute my experience and routine to an already successful team,” Seger said in the team’s official announcement. “At last I will come home and fight for new titles with the team that I always dreamed of playing in.” Also returning to Sweden is Kosavare Asllani, who has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Linköpings FC after 18 months with Manchester City. “I went to Man City Women with the aim to win everything in England and so we did so thank you to my (former) teammates for all the silverware we won together, I truly gained some friends for life and I wish u all the best in the future!” Asllani wrote in a statement posted on her Instagram account. “The TIMING is right for me to move back to Sweden, use all the experience I gained and help Linköpings FC to continue to win.” During the announcement of Asllani’s signing, the team also announced that defender Jessica Samuelsson had left the club, although no word on her destination has been made at this time. Sullivan, Fleming headline 2017 Hermann Trophy watch listOn Wednesday, the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy watch list was released. The list includes 30 college soccer players who have been picked to be some of the best players during the 2017 NCAA season. The watch list is the first of several precursors to the awarding of the MAC Hermann Trophy, the award given to the best player in all of college soccer. Two of the most notable inclusions on this year’s watch list are Stanford’s Andi Sullivan and UCLA’s Jessie Fleming. Sullivan was predicted by many to leave Stanford early to begin her professional career in the NWSL, but an ACL tear suffered in extra time of the Cardinal’s final 2016 NCAA tournament match derailed any such plans. Just weeks prior, she had made a splash with the senior USWNT, earning four starts in her first four caps with the team. Like Sullivan, Fleming has experienced success with her national team, having won an Olympic bronze medal with Canada before playing a minute for UCLA. In her freshman season, she led the Bruins in scoring with 11 goals and 27 points. Also included are Michaela Abam (West Virginia), Bridgette Andrzejewski (North Carolina), Deyna Castellanos (Florida State), Rachel Corboz (Georgetown), Savannah McCaskill (South Carolina), Casey Murphy (Rutgers), and Gabby Seiler (Florida). The full watch list is available here. Related articles Learn how to trade football on Betfair without losing your money Football Expert Makes up to £5867 a Month with Value Odds Tips!!! Learn How To Trade Soccer Like A Professional! from http://www.pigskinpaul.com/latest-news/thursday-roundup-morgan-brian-rehabbing-injury-with-u-s-soccer-staff/ It took 86 minutes for a goal to be scored in Kansas City as the Blues hosted the North Carolina Courage in a re-scheduled match from Week 14 after a storm rolled in forcing a cancellation of the original game. Lynn Williams, NC’s leader in goals, tallied the lone goal of the match, giving the Courage a 1-0 victory.
The Courage had three major opportunities to score before the goal went in. The first one was in the 28th minute following a corner kick taken by Abby Dahlkemper. Abby Erceg got her head on it, sending it away from the goal and setting up Kristen Hamilton for a shot. However, the ball was going wide, and McCall Zerboni attempted to redirect it but missed. The ball bounced off a Kansas City player and fell in front of Williams, whose shot went just over the bar.
Just two minutes into the second half, Williams had a shot that rolled just wide right after working herself into the penalty area with two defenders on her and a third going in for additional back-up. In the 63rd minute, Sam Mewis took a left-footed shot from just outside the box, and it also went just wide right.
The best chance for Kansas City came from Desiree Scott in the 26th minute from about 25 yards out, forcing NC goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland to make a good-looking diving save on what looked to be a ball heading towards the top of the goal.
FC Kansas City will next travel to Houston to take on the Dash on Sunday, August 13, at 7:30 pm CT. The North Carolina Courage will be on the road as well to take on the Seattle Reign also on Sunday with kick-off at 6:00 pm PT. Related articles Learn how to trade football on Betfair without losing your money Football Expert Makes up to £5867 a Month with Value Odds Tips!!! Learn How To Trade Soccer Like A Professional! from http://www.pigskinpaul.com/latest-news/north-carolina-defeat-kansas-city-1-0/ Opportunity. In terms of soccer, it’s usually used with the words “goal scoring” preceding it. To generate an opportunity, often a lot of elements must align. Just the right pass, the right run, the right read of the defense is needed. But as any soccer observer will tell you, it’s one thing to get an opportunity; it’s another to convert it. As is true about opportunities of the goal-scoring variety, so is true about opportunities more broadly, both in soccer and in life. While the conditions in the nation’s capital so far this season haven’t been conducive to generating many positive results on the field, they have been conducive for two Florida Gator alums to shine. More than halfway through the 2017 season, Havana Solaun, who leads the team in goals and total points, and Meggie Dougherty Howard, a rookie, who has started 12 out of 15 games so far this season, have been two of the biggest bright spots for the Washington Spirit. Although they both previously donned the Gator blue and orange, the Florida natives’ journeys to the Washington Spirit have been markedly different, much like the roles they play on the field. Dougherty Howard took a rather direct route to the Spirit, while her fellow Gator alum Solaun took a more circuitous one. “Looking back on it now, we were fortunate to get Meggie as late as we did because, in all fairness, I can’t believe that she’s not in the talks for rookie of the year,” Washington Spirit head coach Jim Gabarra said last month about his rookie midfielder. “I mean, coming in the middle in the park for a team without Tori (Huster) for many games and she’s just kind of quietly, unassumingly done a tremendous job.” Once thought to be the part of the roster with the most depth for the Spirit, injuries to stalwarts Joanna Lohman and Tori Huster early on thinned the Spirit midfield ranks. Enter Dougherty Howard, who stepped up almost seamlessly, winning balls and helping to set tempo and dictate play. “I just tried to make the most of it,” Dougherty Howard said of the unfortunate circumstances that led to her increased playing time. ”I try and make good decisions on the ball and pick up anything I could from the other players and from Tori and Jo even though they weren’t playing, any type of advice or guidance they have, and just really try to a be performer what this team needed from me and just execute my role.” While Gabarra admits he was lucky to snag Dougherty Howard as late as he did, he’s not surprised at how well she’s performed. Although she’s a newly minted professional, Dougherty Howard had ties to the Spirit well before draft day. Looking to take the next step in her development and become a more well-rounded midfielder, she spent the summers before her junior and senior seasons training with the Spirit professional team while playing with the club’s reserve squad. “I knew what we were getting with Meggie,” Gabarra said. “She had been here for a couple of years and honestly, I could say this is what I expected of her. I fully expected her to have that mentality to step in and fill a starting role for our club.” Dougherty Howard’s contributions on the field aren’t limited to the defensive side of the ball either. Last Friday, the rookie’s offensive efforts got her on the scoresheet for the first time. She tallied against Sky Blue, slotting a ball far post beyond the reach of the keeper. Later in that match, she also drew a penalty that was taken by her former Florida teammate. While her offensive contributions were easily noticeable in the game against Sky Blue, to fully understand the impact she has going forward, it’s necessary to peel back the movements that crescendo into a goal. Becky Burleigh, Dougherty Howard’s head coach at Florida, charts each goal scored by the team, tracking all players who contributed to the tally, not just those credited with the assist or the goal. “Every goal has the gold star chart that goes with it for anyone who was involved,” Burleigh said about the charting system, “so I think when you do that, not just purely an assist, you really see Meggie’s impact because she was super involved in a lot of our goals whether it was the assist or not.” The same is true now that she’s a professional. Rewind the tape a bit and you’ll see her springing a teammate with a well-weighted pass. While it hasn’t been incredibly fruitful this season the idea and the vision are there. As impressive as the rookie has been thus far on both sides of the ball, perhaps the best is yet to come. “I think it’s really just scratching the surface who she can be as a player,” Gabarra said. While Dougherty Howard was a familiar face in D.C. prior to be drafted by the Spirit this season, Solaun spent the last two years with the Seattle Reign. Unfortunately, the crafty midfielder’s time in Seattle was beset with setbacks. A season-ending leg injury in the final warm up game her rookie year derailed what had been a promising preseason campaign. Forced to hit the reset button, Solaun focused on recovery and getting back on the pitch. Hanging it up and walking away was never an option. “You know, it’s funny when I broke my leg the amount of people that said, ‘So what now? What are you going to do?’” Solaun recalled. “The question always caught me off guard because I was like, ‘What do you mean, what are you going to do?’ Playing in my mind was the only–that’s where my heart was at, that’s where my head was at, you know, so I think the question caught me off guard because to me it seemed like such an easy way out to give up at that point.” Last year Solaun returned to the field albeit on a limited basis. On the season, she notched a goal in 272 minutes played. All of those minutes were logged in the first half of the campaign as Solaun fell out of favor with Seattle head coach Laura Harvey. The offseason brought change and with it a new opportunity. The Spirit, amid an oft discussed overhaul, acquired her rights from the Reign. With many of Washington’s more established players finding new homes, a healthy Solaun finally had the chance to showcase her talents. “I think the hardest part with that is staying patient and staying ready because game minutes are the hardest thing to replicate, and that was the one thing I wasn’t getting and the biggest part (of it),” the midfielder said about her return to the pitch. “It was like the last piece of my recovery, and so I think it felt like my recovery prolonged so much from after I broke my leg to finally getting back.” So far this season, the Gainesville native has notched five goals and two assists, providing offense for a team that’s been plagued with seemingly constant injuries to its attacking corps. Her success comes as no surprise to her college coach. “I remember one day I came into the office on Christmas afternoon. I just had grab a few things to go recruiting and there’s Havana out there working out on Christmas afternoon,” Burleigh said. “She’s just one of those kids that knows what it takes, and it was just an opportunity that she needed to stay healthy and an opportunity to play in games. She’s only going to get better.” While the Gators in-state rivals Florida State have long had a substantial influence on the Spirit, Florida alums have undoubtedly played a key role this season. Perhaps if Dougherty Howard and Solaun continue to impress, the Spirit Squadron will consider adding the Gator chomp to their repertoire.
Related articles Learn how to trade football on Betfair without losing your money Football Expert Makes up to £5867 a Month with Value Odds Tips!!! Learn How To Trade Soccer Like A Professional! from http://www.pigskinpaul.com/latest-news/from-the-swamp-to-dc-florida-alums-embrace-starring-roles-with-spirit/ Also in today’s roundup, USWNT to participate in October friendlies following NWSL Championship.Today, Orlando Pride midfielder Maddy Evans announced her retirement from professional soccer after close to five seasons in the NWSL. She will play her final match for the Pride on Saturday, August 12th when they take on Sky Blue FC at Orlando City Stadium. The 26-year-old Penn State alum was drafted to the Boston Breakers with the No. 29 overall pick of the 2013 NWSL College Draft. She played three seasons with Boston (2013-2015) before being selected by the Orlando Pride in November 2015 during the NWSL expansion draft. To date, Evans has appeared in 27 matches for the Pride, making 16 starts. This year specifically, the midfielder has made four starts in 11 games ahead of announcing her immediate retirement. “My decision to walk away happened very fast but I’ve accepted a job back home in Pennsylvania. It wasn’t an easy decision but, for me professionally and big picture, it’s a perfect fit and best option at this time,” said Evan in Orlando’s official release. “I want to thank all of Orlando City, especially my teammates, the fans, and the entire organization for providing me the change to really feel what it means to be a professional soccer player. These two years have been an experience I will always remember.” Orlando Pride head coach Tom Sermanni, although excited for Evans about her new opportunity, feels that she will be missed in many ways within his club. “It’s with very mixed feelings that we see Maddy go. The first is obviously sadness that we are losing a player with such influence on the team, both on and off the field, and with such a great relationship with our supporters. Maddy has been an unbelievable team character, irreplaceable in that sense. So it’s with a lot of sadness that we say goodbye,” he said. “But, at the same time, it’s exciting for her to look at this opportunity that’s cropped up. Having give years as a professional in the league, she feels the time is right to move to the next stage in her life and career and we share her excitement for that. We wish her every success for her future.” Evans’ full statement was posted to her Instgram (below).
U.S. Soccer teases pair of USWNT October friendliesWith the end of 2017 approaching, the United States women’s national team (USWNT) is set to play six more games in the upcoming fall before closing out the year. After two friendlies against New Zealand in September, U.S. Soccer revealed that there will be another pair of soon-to-be announced friendlies scheduled for October before their final two games against Canada in November. The October FIFA window will take place between October 16-24, kicking off only two days after the NWSL Final, slated for October 14th in Orlando. In September, the USWNT will face New Zealand in a two-game series set to take place at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Colorado on September 15 and at Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio four days later on September 19. In November, the USWNT will travel to Vancouver to take on Canada at BC Place on November 9. The second leg of that two-game series will take place on November 12 at a to be determined location in the United States. In 2017, the USWNT has recorded seven wins and three losses, with all three of those losses coming on home soil. After a disappointing fourth place finish this past March in the SheBelieves Cup, where the team fell to England (1-0) and France (3-0) in back to back games, the team headed to Texas a month later for a pair of friendlies against Russia. With strong showings in both Houston and Frisco, the USWNT was back to its winning ways with a 4-0 and 5-1 victories there. Their Scandinavian tour added two more wins under Jill Ellis’ belt with two hard-fought 1-0 wins over Norway and Sweden. Most recently, the USWNT hosted Australia, Brazil and Japan in the Tournament of Nations on the West Coast. After a shocking first loss to Australia to kick off the tournament, the USWNT rebounded with a thrilling come from behind 4-3 victory of Brazil before capping off the tournament with a 3-0 win over Japan. Related articles Learn how to trade football on Betfair without losing your money Football Expert Makes up to £5867 a Month with Value Odds Tips!!! Learn How To Trade Soccer Like A Professional! from http://www.pigskinpaul.com/latest-news/friday-roundup-maddy-evans-announces-retirement-from-professional-soccer/ The Seattle Reign announced today that star forward Megan Rapinoe had undergone arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in her left knee and is expected to be out five weeks for recovery. “Megan first reported knee soreness after the U.S. Women’s National Team match against Japan on August 3,” Reign FC director of high performance Nick Leman said in an official team statement. “After investigation and consultation, it was determined that arthroscopic surgery was the best course of action.” Rapinoe’s absence will sorely be missed by the Reign as they continue fighting for a playoff spot. She has started in all 15 matches for the club this season and currently leads the NWSL in scoring with 12 goals, including a hat trick she scored in a last-minute, 5-4 win to prevent a Sky Blue comeback. For her performance with Seattle, she was named July Player of the Month and won Player of the Week honors for Weeks 11 and 14. Her stellar 2017 campaign is even more impressive considering Rapinoe was left off the SheBelieves Cup roster earlier this year, reportedly because USWNT head coach Jill Ellis did not feel she was back up to international match fitness following her right ACL tear in December 2015. The timing of her injury and recovery means she may also be unavailable for the USWNT’s pair of friendlies against New Zealand, scheduled for September 15 and 19. She was arguably the most important player for the USWNT during the Tournament of Nations, scoring multiple goals and creating numerous opportunities on goal for her teammates. She was the US’s best player on the field against Australia and was instrumental in their 4-3 comeback win over Brazil. Related articles Learn how to trade football on Betfair without losing your money Football Expert Makes up to £5867 a Month with Value Odds Tips!!! Learn How To Trade Soccer Like A Professional! from http://www.pigskinpaul.com/latest-news/megan-rapinoe-undergoes-knee-surgery-out-five-weeks/ GAME OF THE WEEKSky Blue FC (7-8-2) at Orlando Pride (6-6-5)Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT, Orlando City Stadium When all is said and done in September, if either Sky Blue or Orlando makes the playoffs, they’ll likely trace their fortunes back to this game. Sky Blue has been in and out of the mix, while Orlando has slowly risen through the ranks. If they want to continue to rise, they need more performances like the second half against Washington earlier this week, and they need to be able to do it for ninety minutes. The Pride were completely dominant, beating the Spirit’s backline twice and punishing Stephanie Labbé with another goal. They have the pace and skill up top to tear Sky Blue’s tenuous defense apart, just as Washington did last weekend, but it’s their own defense they should be concerned about. Sam Kerr will be back, while the Pride had a midweek game. They love to play a high line and have gotten burned more than once. While they held Washington to zero shots on goal last week, which is a good sign, Kerr has rarely been contained by anyone this year and plays creator almost as much as scorer. She will need to be marked very closely, and Alanna Kennedy needs a big game to break up plays before Kerr can get on the end of it. This match will be the last of Maddy Evans’ professional career. I’ve questioned before what Sky Blue would be without Kerr to carry them, and the answer we got last weekend wasn’t pretty, as they scored first with a very early goal only to completely fall apart in the second half and give up four unanswered goals to Washington. Fortunately, Kerr is back and, despite Kelley O’Hara’s absence once again, can help turn things around. Sky Blue will look to take advantage of their pace in transition, and if Daphne Corboz and Raquel Rodriguez are on top of their games, they can win the midfield battle. This has every potential to be an end-to-end game, and as with the Pride, it’s Sky Blue’s defense that will determine the victor. Christie Pearce will face familiar foe Marta once more, and although neither are in their prime any longer, it could still make for a fierce matchup. However, if Pearce has her hands full, Alex Morgan and Chioma Ubogagu are fully capable of exploiting weaknesses elsewhere. PLAYERS TO WATCHAli Krieger As the only member of Orlando’s backline (and team) to play every minute so far, Krieger is a stabilizing force on the Pride defense, her speed allowing her to cover large swathes of ground while her teammates push up. She will responsible for limiting Kerr’s effectiveness and will have her hands full for ninety minutes. Sarah Killion Sky Blue’s ironwoman is one of the more underrated players in the league, but she is quietly efficient at her job, relieving pressure and restarting attacks. It’s the former that will occupy her this game as she faces one of the more creative front lines in the league. Keep an eye on: Boston Breakers (3-7-6) at Washington Spirit (4-9-3)Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EDT, Maryland SoccerPlex Washington may be the most mercurial team in the league, which isn’t surprising given they’re one of if not the youngest. After a 4-1 thrashing of Sky Blue, they didn’t manage a single shot on goal in an 0-3 loss at Orlando. They return home this week to host Boston in a game which will determine who holds last place for the week. Expect this game to be battled in the center of the pitch. If Estefania Banini gets more minutes as she returns from injury, she could turn the tide. They’ll want a busier game from Mallory Pugh, who was kept rather quiet by Orlando, and head coach Jim Gabarra may want to give Cheyna Williams a rest, as she was visibly gassed on Tuesday, perhaps returning Kristie Mewis to the pitch. Boston isn’t as fast up top as some teams but can do damage from distance, so Stephanie Labbé wants to watch her line. Boston appears to be stuck in a perpetual cycle of one step forward, one step back. It looked like they were on their way to fixing their scoring issues last week when Rosie White notched an impressive brace, but the two goals they gave up canceled that out, ending Sammy Jo Prudhomme’s record shutout streak. Having Emilie Haavi back is likely to be a boon in the attack, especially if she can form a partnership with White and Morgan Andrews. Head coach Matt Beard is trying a few things out up top and for the moment appears to have settled on Katie Stengel’s hold-up play as the answer, relegating Natasha Dowie to the bench. Defensively, they don’t really have the depth to handle multiple injuries, so having two defenders out and another one doubtful for this weekend could be a problem. They will look to maintain possession and avoid dangerous midfield turnovers. Look for Abby Smith to return between the posts. Keep an eye on: {Related: Florida alums embrace starring roles with the Spirit} Portland Thorns FC (8-4-4) at Chicago Red Stars (8-3-5)Saturday, 8:00 p.m. EDT, Toyota Park As the top three teams begin to separate themselves from the rest of the pack, this game could be crucial for the victor when it comes to securing a home semifinal (although neither has had luck with that in the past). These two teams have scored the same amount of goals, and Chicago has only given up one more than Portland, so they’re also well matched. Helped by the woodwork more than once, Chicago showed off their depth in a win over Orlando. Their starters will be back in what is likely to be one of the more tactical battles we see this season. Chicago finds much of their success when they go long to Christen Press, allowing her to sit on a center back’s shoulder until she can turn and break free. Emily Sonnett and Emily Menges are fairly effective in not allowing that to happen, and Adrianna Franch is quick off her line when it does. Look for Sofia Huerta to provide width and take advantage of the space Meghan Klingenberg leaves in behind. Portland has only won once on the road so far this season, and Chicago hasn’t lost at home. In fact, Chicago hasn’t lost at all since June 28. In order for the Thorns to keep their three-game winning streak alive, they need to replicate their dominant game against Houston last week. They won both possession and second balls, and let Christine Sinclair pull the strings all over the pitch in what was not only one of her best performances of the year, but one of the best performances of the week of all games. Tyler Lussi was also dynamic, and Lindsey Horan was particularly aggressive, getting the best of Carli Lloyd in both halves. If Horan can provide the same presence, hounding Vanessa DiBernardo and Danielle Colaprico into giving up the ball and quickly switching attack, she will give the Thorns a big advantage. Keep an eye on: FC Kansas City (3-8-5) at Houston Dash (6-8-2)Sunday, 8:30 p.m., BBVA Compass Stadium In a strange twist, this is a series in which the away team generally plays better, with FCKC having a surprisingly strong record at BBVA Compass Stadium. However, the Dash have never been more primed to begin to change that narrative. They played a good first half in Portland last week but were simply unable to keep the ball, and they showed that when Carli Lloyd is cut out of the equation, the attack suffers noticeably. They will also want more from Rachel Daly, who is usually a workhorse but had one of her least effective performances ever. They’ll be glad to return Andressinha to the starting lineup, although her substitute, Caity Heap, was one of the best players on the field for Houston at times and might have earned herself another chance in place of someone like Janine Beckie. FCKC is likely to attempt to play out of the back, so a high press will serve Houston well. FCKC looked headed for another draw yesterday and is likely disappointed to have given up such a late goal. They had a few good looks against North Carolina, especially when they tried a long ball, but they seem committed to playing out of the back. Returning Becky Sauerbrunn made an obvious improvement, as she did well to cut out many attacks, and she was the hero in Houston last year when she scored a game-winning header. FCKC needs to get their outside backs into the attack more frequently and try to stretch Houston’s backline. Too often the attack is forced up the spine with no width, making it easy for multiple opponents to close in. North Carolina Courage (11-5-0) at Seattle Reign FC (6-4-6)Sunday, 9:00 p.m., Memorial Stadium North Carolina has three more wins than any other team this season, but they travel to face a Seattle side which is 27-2-12 at Memorial Stadium. They’re going to have to be more efficient than they have in recent weeks, as Seattle is less likely to give up quality chances than Washington or FCKC. North Carolina creates so many strong attacks but can be incredibly wasteful, such as at Kansas City yesterday, which until Lynn Williams’ late goal looked like nearly all shots were going wide. However, what separates them from Seattle is defense, leading to a classic matchup of the league’s best offense versus the league’s best defense. Rapinoe’s absence made all the difference last week against North Carolina, and the Reign will be without her once again after the forward underwent knee surgery earlier this week. Both Sky Blue and Orlando are only one point behind Seattle, so they need all three to avoid giving up that vital fourth place spot. {Read More: XI memorable moments from EURO 2017} Related articles Learn how to trade football on Betfair without losing your money Football Expert Makes up to £5867 a Month with Value Odds Tips!!! Learn How To Trade Soccer Like A Professional! from http://www.pigskinpaul.com/latest-news/week-16-preview-into-the-final-third/ It came down to the very last seconds of the match as the Washington Spirit (4-9-4, 16 points) and Boston Breakers (3-7-7, 16 points) alternated goals to finish in a 2-2 draw. Although both teams are lucky to walk away with a point as neither team was able to finish last second game-winning chances, neither team is likely to be pleased with the results. As the NWSL is now in its final third of its 2017 season, both teams needed a full three points if they want any hope of finishing anywhere other than the bottom of the table. As is, the teams remained tied for points with 16, preventing either from gaining much ground on seventh-ranked Houston. The Washington Spirit arguably has more reason to be disappointed with only one point, as they were the better side for the majority of the game and put 11 shots on goal to the Breaker’s three. Abby Smith, in another player of the match-worthy performance by the goalkeeper, made nine saves to prevent the Spirit from earning another victory. Washington also struggled with finishing, as they had three shots deflect off the crossbar—including a potential game winner in the final minute of second-half stoppage time—and several more that were off target. The Spirit came out in clear control of the game, controlling possession and dictating the speed of play in the game’s opening 25 minutes. During that time they took an early lead, with Estelle Johnson capitalizing on a nearly nonexistent Breakers defense to first move into scoring position, only to see Smith block her first shot, and then to have the time and space to knock the rebound in to score in just the seventh minute. The Spirit nearly doubled their lead minutes later, but Arielle Ship sent her shot just wide of goal. The first half began to even out about midway through, with Boston making multiple trips into their attacking half and testing Haracic with attempts to set up goal-scoring plays. Rosie White did test DiDi Haracic, starting in net in place of Steph Labbé, with one low shot, but Haracic jumped on the ball to deny her. Other than that, the Breakers looked relatively harmless until the final minute of first-half regulation when Katie Stengel, ball at her feet, was sandwiched by a pair of Spirit players, sending the ball over to Adriana Leon, who fired off a close-range shot to level the score at the half. Neither team relinquished much control in the second half, resulting in end-to-end action for the entire final 45 minutes. Neither team did much of note in the opening minutes of the half, but then a Spirit free kick unleashed an onslaught of shots on goal for the home side. A free kick by Mallory Pugh in the 58th minute nearly resulted in a goal, but the resulting shot from Shelina Zadorsky deflected off the chest of teammate Tori Huster and fell to where Smith pounced on it. Moments later Smith looked to have prevented another Spirit goal when she tipped a shot from Estefania Banini back into play, only to have Cheyna Williams in the right place at the right time to head Smith’s rebound in to retake the lead for the Spirit. Substitute Kristie Mewis nearly made it 3-1 for the Spirit in the 76th minute when she blasted a rocket from the top of the 18, but Smith dove to parry the shot away in what may likely be a Save of the Week contender. Thanks to Smith’s impressive goalkeeping, the Spirit were not the next to score, but her Breakers were, as Margaret Purce, playing right back in the wake of multiple injuries to Boston defenders, connected with Ifeoma Onumonu, who then sent in a perfect ball for Leon. Leon timed her run to just stay onside before breaking into space right in front of the goal, where she took a couple of touches before slotting the ball past Haracic to equalize for Boston once more. From the 90th minute on, there were four total shots, two a side, as both teams fought to be the sole owner of the game’s points. Huster fired a long-range shot on target, only to have Smith get enough of a touch on it to make the save. Onumonu countered with a shot of her own, but she put too much power into it and sent it high of the crossbar. The Spirit then hit the crossbar for the final time, followed by Rosie White sending a shot inches just wide seconds before the final whistle blew. At the end of the match, both teams looked defeated, clearly unhappy with the day’s result. The Breakers will look to make a quick turnaround, next hosting the Houston Dash in a midweek matchup on Wednesday, August 16. The Spirit are one of four teams to not play on Wednesday, instead traveling to North Carolina to take on the Courage on Saturday, August 19 in next weekend’s Lifetime Game of the Week. Related articles Learn how to trade football on Betfair without losing your money Football Expert Makes up to £5867 a Month with Value Odds Tips!!! Learn How To Trade Soccer Like A Professional! from http://www.pigskinpaul.com/latest-news/spirit-breakers-back-and-forth-ends-in-2-2-draw/ It felt like a match weighted with post-season repercussions, and the Chicago Red Stars (8-4-5) and Portland Thorns (9-4-4) did not disappoint in a high-scoring affair that was ultimately won by Portland 3-2. The Thorns were able to put Chicago in a 2-0 hole in the first 9 minutes of the game, and while Chicago occasionally looked the better side, a header by defender Emily Sonnett off a dead ball play in the 55th minute put the game away for the visitors. After a game last week against the Orlando Pride that showcased their depth, the Red Stars were back at full strength on Saturday, with USWNT players Christen Press, Julie Ertz, and Casey Short back in the starting lineup. Portland was also bolstered by international returns, with Nadia Nadim available on the bench after her starring turn for Denmark in the 2017 Euro’s, leading them to the final of that tournament. The scoring in this match started early and often, when in the 3rd minute Hayley Raso was able to get behind the Chicago defense and fight off Sam Johnson enough to stay on her feet and poke the ball past Chicago keeper Alyssa Naeher (who has had an interesting couple of weeks in goal for both club and country). Portland then pounced on the ensuing confusion from the Chicago back line to score a great team goal in the 9th minute, with a passing sequence that went through 3 Portland players to land at the feet of Christine Sinclair, who sent the shot home at close range.
However, after a very touchy start, Chicago started to show their class and work themselves back into the match. The Red Stars aren’t a team that necessarily strategizes to possess and poke holes in defenses, usually preferring to utilize their speed on counter-attacks, but they settled well and were able to keep the ball away from the dangerous Portland midfield for much of the rest of the half. And only 7 minutes after the Thorns put themselves up 2-0, Christen Press got Chicago back on the board, sending in a rebound from a shot from distance from Alyssa Mautz.
Chicago continued to press forward for much of the first half, and were rewarded for their efforts in the 37th minute when Julie Ertz battled to get the ball in front of Portland’s goal, dropping the ball off for Sofia Huerta, who was able to even the score at 2-2 with a rocket from close range. Despite this momentum shift, and Chicago trying to ride the wave into a third goal, the half would end all tied up.
After the acrobatics of the first half, the second half of this match was a remarkably even affair. Chicago looked the more calm in possession for much of the run of play, but Portland’s defense never looked fully pulled out of shape, and they kept the Red Stars from getting many good looks in front of goal. One could feel that Chicago’s inability to put the Thorns away would come back to haunt them, and Portland did ultimately make them pay in the 55th minute, when a free kick from outside the box was bent in beautifully by Meghan Klingenberg, and headed home by Emily Sonnett. Portland has been deadly on dead ball plays for most of the season, and they were able to convert once again.
As Chicago pushed for an equalizer late in the game, play began to get a bit chippy – Portland substitute Tyler Lussi had a particularly egregious foul against Danny Colaprico that deserves a review for the upcoming weeks – but Portland’s defense held firm. One bright spot for Chicago within a frustrating second half was the NWSL debut of Yuki Nagasoto, who will certainly bolster the Red Stars play for the rest of the season, but Portland ultimately took this one 3-2, and leapfrogged Chicago to take the 2nd place spot in the NWSL table. Both teams have quick turnarounds, playing midweek fixtures, Chicago trying to bounce back against the Seattle Reign and Portland taking on FC Kansas City, on Wednesday. Related articles Learn how to trade football on Betfair without losing your money Football Expert Makes up to £5867 a Month with Value Odds Tips!!! Learn How To Trade Soccer Like A Professional! from http://www.pigskinpaul.com/latest-news/portland-thorns-defeat-the-chicago-red-stars-3-2-in-a-potential-playoff-preview/ The Orlando Pride (7-6-5, 26 points) won their 2017 season series against Sky Blue FC (7-9-2, 23 points) with a 5-0 shutout at Orlando City Stadium. Both Marta and Alex Morgan scored braces in the match, while Dani Weatherholt scored her first professional goal to round out the night’s scoring. The shutout matches the largest in NWSL history and (at least temporarily) sees the Pride overtake the Seattle Reign in the final playoff contention spot. The match was also the last in Maddy Evans’ professional career, as the midfielder announced on Friday that she was retiring to take a job in her home state of Pennsylvania. In the 18th minute, the Crown, the Pride’s supporters group, began clapping and cheering for Evans as she warmed up on the nearby sideline. She then entered the match in the 62nd minute and, just minutes later, stepped to the spot to take a penalty kick for the Pride. Although Evan’s shot was on target, Sheridan made the diving save to deny her a goal in her farewell match. That is most likely because, at the time, Sheridan had already given up five goals. The first of those goals came in the opening minutes as Marta played a ball up to Alex Morgan, who juked left to shake off Christie Pearce before firing a left-footed shot to give Orlando the lead. The Pride wouldn’t score again until just before the half, as Sky Blue gained momentum and began testing Ashlyn Harris, returning to goal after being sidelined for several weeks with a quadriceps injury, but despite Sky Blue’s best efforts, it would be Dani Weatherholt getting on the score sheet next, scoring on a cross from Camila to give the Pride a 2-0 lead at the half. Just as she did in the first half, Alex Morgan came out and immediately tested Sheridan with multiple shots on target. The first one Sheridan tracked the entire way and easily collected. The second attempt had a different ending as Morgan made a run as Spencer split the Sky Blue defense with a perfectly-weighted through ball, which Morgan put into the side of the goal to extend the Pride lead. Marta then scored a brace inside of five minutes to close out the scoring for the night. In the 54th minute, Jasmyne Spencer, in one of her best performances for the Pride yet, sent in a cross from wide right, which Sheridan got a touch on but not enough to prevent Marta from heading it in. Four minutes later, Marta makes it 5-0 after getting on the end of a long pass from Alex Morgan. That Morgan-Marta connection was one of the biggest takeaways for the Pride after tonight, as the two seemed to find each other all over the field to continuously create dangerous opportunities on goal for the home side. That combination will likely come in very handy as, for the first time all season, the Pride look like a serious playoff contender. As for Sky Blue, it appears they’ve reached the part of the season where they begin dropping off, unable to keep up the momentum created early in the season. Kailen Sheridan has played through injuries to play every minute of the season, and it was never more evident than tonight. What the rookie goalkeeper needs is some rest, which she’s unlikely to get with the multitude of injuries and lack of defensive depth that is currently plaguing Sky Blue. A number of other players, including Sam Kerr, are also having to play through minor injuries, and the playing at less than 100 percent is catching up to the collaborative team performance, just as it did last year for the same reason. Christy Holly’s going to have to find a way to get his squad healthy and rested if he wants to finish in the top half of the table come September. The Pride, riding high off tonight’s win, will next travel to Boston, where they will take on the Breakers on Saturday, August 19 at 4 p.m. ET. Sky Blue returns home to Yurcak Field, where they will attempt to earn three points from the Reign, a slightly easier task without Megan Rapinoe, who is currently out recovering from knee surgery. That match will also take place on Saturday, August 19, but at 7 p.m. ET. Related articles Learn how to trade football on Betfair without losing your money Football Expert Makes up to £5867 a Month with Value Odds Tips!!! 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