NWSL Week 10 round-up: San Diego passes Utah to go top of table, Washington and Gotham continue to climb | OneFootball

NWSL Week 10 was a week that saw all-star scorers showing their stuff, the league’s best defense cementing their status, and the longest unbeaten streak of the season continue.

Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga just won’t stop scoring, Denver wins again, and Kansas City look to have righted the ship. Take a look at below at how the action unfolded during an exciting NWSL Week 10.

Denver claws out win against Racing Louisville

The week’s first match saw the remarkable season of expansion Denver continue to impress. In a tight match against a sinking Louisville side, the Summit showed resilience to earn the victory. After a first half with few chances, Denver had the best opportunities early in the second. Yuki Yamamoto took a centering pass and fired it dead on, but Maddie Prohaska was equal to the task. Denver kept up the pressure, and would eventually break through.

In the 64th minute, Racing was pressing, but the visitors broke the attack. A wonderful build-up out of the back eventually found Yamamoto running down the left side. She sent a terrific cross into the box, and a diving Ally Brazier got her foot to it. The striker put her shot over Prohaska, and Denver had the lead.

Louisville nearly equalized on 84 minutes through a charging Emma Sears, but Abby Smith’s aggressive defense of her goal sent the ball aside. Sears had another chance just two minutes later, when she found herself face-to-face with Smith. Smith stood strong and denied Louisville’s star yet again. The home side did not get another chance, and will rue points that the players certainly felt they had earned.

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Banda scores two more, Orlando defeats Bay

The fireworks started early in this one, with both sides on the board in the first ten minutes. The home Pride started it off with Golden Boot leader Barbra Banda striking in just the fourth minute. Orlando controlled play, and Luana headed the ball into the middle of the box. Banda outfought Joelle Anderson for the ball, then put it past Emmie Allen for the early lead. That lead would last for all of three minutes. Claire Hutton put a ball into the box that was not cleared by the Pride defense. Caroline Conti stepped onto it, and fired a wonderful shot into the far corner that went by Anna Morehouse’s outstretched arm. Bay put the ball in the net again eight minutes later, but the play was ruled offside. The first half ended all square, with either side having periods of control.

And then came the second. Just five minutes in, Banda was sent on a run by a great through ball from Summer Yates. Allen came out high to try to challenge, but the Zambian international went around the Bay keeper and easily tucked in for her brace. Just five minutes after that, Banda turned play-maker. She received a throw-in at the top of the box, and fed Coriana Dyke on the right side. She unleashed a shot into the top of the nest that Allen could not get to. The visitors only had one more serious chance, a strike from Conti that rang solidly off the crossbar. Orlando takes the three points, and Banda extends her goal scoring lead.

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Second half strike enough for Kansas City over Boston

Boston is still experiencing growing pains in its debut season, as the side keeps playing well every match, but not doing quite enough to get wins. The first half of this match saw the Legacy with several early chances, but Lorena made two saves for the Current. The home Current settled down, and the rest of the half was fairly even, with Boston having a slight edge in play.

The second half was very much the same, with either side sending attacks at the other, but nothing to test the keepers sorely. Kansas City was finally able to get in through a determined effort from Temwa Chawinga, two-time and defending NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner. At 69 minutes in, Croix Bethune ran across the box and fired a blast at goal. Casey Murphy stopped the shot, and the rebound came out to Chawinga right on the doorstep. She took her shot, but defender Jorelyn Carabali blocked the attempt. The ball came right back to Chawinga again, and she made no mistake this time, lifting her shot high. Boston could not break the Current defense the rest of the way, and Kansas City continues to climb the table.

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Portland and Utah draw in battle of table toppers

The match of the week certainly did not disappoint. Tied atop the table with Utah ahead on goal differential, the Thorns hosted the red-hot Royals to try to establish the pecking order in the NWSL. This match provided excitement throughout. Utah tested Mackenzie Arnold early, but it was the Thorns who drew first blood. With Utah tracking back, wonderkid Olivia Moultrie outfought three Royal defenders in front of goal and fired past Mandy McGlynn. With five years experience at just 20 years old, Moultrie is going to be a star in football for a long time. Just ten minutes later, Portland scored again, but was correctly ruled offside. Just before half, the visitors equalized. Nuria Rábano sent a ball over the top, and Kiana Palacios sent a looping header just over Arnold’s hand. The two sides went into half all square.

It took little time for Utah to take the lead in the second. In the 50th minute, a Portland turnover was quickly sent into the box. Mina Tanaka sent a pass across to Cloé Lacasse, and the Canadian international fired back across goal, crossing up Arnold. Lacasse is having a terrific season, and is playing amazing two-way football. She should definitely be mentioned when the MVP balloting begins. Minutes later, Utah a had goal of their own called back on the offside. The Thorns would finally equalize last gasp in the 90th minute. During a Portland corner, Utah’s Allie Spaanstra knocked down Jayden Perry from behind. The ref immediately pointed to the spot, and Sophia Wilson stepped up. She went left while McGlynn went right, and the Thorns salvaged the draw. While they did not take all three points, Utah still boasts a ten game unbeaten streak.

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Washington returns from international duty, scores victory over Seattle

Following the trip to the CONCACAF Champions Cup, Washington returned home with games to make up and spots to climb. They did both against an as of late reeling Seattle side, winners of just one in their past six matches. The Spirit got on the board first through a sublime free kick. In the 17th minute, Seattle was called for a foul just outside the left top corner of the box. Leicy Santos stood over the ball and sent a perfect curling ball into the far side netting. The ball passed by three defenders and kept curving for a highlight reel goal. Washington controlled the half, but just before the whistle, in the 45th minute, the Reign got a break. An over the top ball went too deep for Maddie Mercado, but she pressured Spirit defender Lucia Di Guglielmo. Her clearing attempt unfortunately went straight up and over keeper Sandy MacIver, and the match was tied.

The second half featured more box-to-box play, with few chances created. Hal Hershfelt had a great chance in the 73rd minute when Claudia Dickey’s clear came right to her, but the Spirit midfielder put the ball over the bar. However, Hershfelt’s moment was not denied, merely delayed. In the 81st minute, Trinity Rodman brought the ball down the right wing. She laid off to Hershfelt coming down the middle. Just above the box, she let go a low hard shot that hit Reign defender Jordyn Bugg’s foot. The ball changed direction to the left, but Dickey had been tracking right. Washington has now won six of the last seven, and could go top if they win their games in-hand.

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San Diego scores early and late, blanks Chicago

On paper, this one was a mismatch. And on the field, this one was a mismatch. The Wave were near the top of the table, the Stars were near the bottom. The Wave is now second in the league in scoring, the Stars are last. And Chicago’s defense is also dead last in goals allowed this season.

San Diego showed no mercy to their hosts. Just three minutes into the match, The Wave had a throw-in on the right side. The play came to Lia Godfrey, who laid off a perfect ball on the left side of the box. Dudinha was able to run right in to the ball and fired past Katie Atkinson. Chicago did have two quality shots in the next twenty minutes, but Didi Haracic turned both aside. From there, the visitors dominated the pitch, but were unable to net a second.

The second half was slower, with San Diego again controlling play, but not garnering great chances. The match went into extra time, where 14 minutes were added. And eight minutes into that, Stars’ Jenna Bike lofted a ball into the box that fell right to Jordyn Huitema. The Canadian international quickly roofed a shot for the equalizer — temporarily. After an extended review, Huitema was ruled offside, and the goal wiped out. Then, in the last minute of extra time, San Diego drove a stake into the heart. Gia Corley stole the ball in the Chicago box and fed Trinity Byars to the right. She fired past Atkinson, and San Diego goes top of table. Chicago has now been shut out in nine of their 12 matches this season.

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Rock-solid Gotham defense strikes again, holds off Houston

Gotham also returned from the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and they picked up right where they had left off. Coming into this match, the side had allowed but five goals in ten matches. Houston was hoping the return of keeper Jane Campbell from injury would buoy their chances in a low-scoring affair. This match started off as the Jordynn Dudley show. The Gotham striker was all over the Houston box, unleashing shot after shot. She was rewarded for her efforts in the 18th minute. Tierna Davidson dropped a ball to Dudley on the right side. She got control of the ball, switched to her left foot, and put it top bin past Campbell. Gotham tested Campbell twice more in the half, while the Dash could only manage one long-range shot on Shelby Hogan.

The second half was much like the first, with Gotham holding comfortable control. Six minutes into the half, Esther tried a bicycle kick from right in front of the Houston goal, but Campbell calmly grabbed the shot. Houston had two excellent chances in the 72nd and 73rd minute. Kat Rader took a free kick for the visitors from just outside the box. Her curving shot headed for the corner, and Hogan was there to smother it. Just after that, a turnover in the box gave Maggie Graham a glorious opportunity, and Hogan made her best save of the day. The Gotham defense earned its seventh clean sheet of the season, and the side moves up to fifth in the table.

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North Carolina extends Angel City’s slide

The first half of this tilt saw a lot of pace, but few chances. Ally Schlegel had an excellent chance for the Courage 30 minutes in, but her header sailed over the bar. The sides did not challenge each other for the rest of the half, but the second half would bring an entirely new story.

Just three minutes after the restart, Ashley Sanchez stole the ball on the left side and stormed toward the Angel City end. It will be stated frequently throughout this season – Ashley Sanchez is an absolute menace, and it is a treat to watch. Sanchez fed Manaka Matsukubo in the middle, and the Japanese international immediately sent a through pass to a streaking Evelyn Ijeh. She sent her shot into the far corner for the lead. Angel City waited but three minutes to equalize. Evelyn Shores sent a looper into the box, and Maiara Niehaus rose highest to put the ball near post to put the home side level. The sides traded chances, and then the Courage got the winner in the 79th minute. Sanchez started the play, sending a long pass ahead to Riley Jackson. Her one-touch pass caught Matsukubo perfectly in stride, and she quickly buried it. Carolina is steadily moving up the table, while Angel City has lost six of eight.

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NWSL Week 10 results in full

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