NWSL Week 19: Ashley Sanchez on song again for Courage, Seattle maintains grip on final playoff spot | OneFootball

There were braces galore, several tight matches, an amazing second half comeback, and a proper thumping in the latest NWSL game-week. The table is getting very crowded at the bottom, with six teams battling for that last spot.

Paige Metayer scored the most cerebral goal of the week, doing what goal-scorers are supposed to do. Washington and Utah made up some ground on table-toppers Gotham thanks to Sophia Wilson’s PK. Kansas City extended their league record home unbeaten streak, while Denver was merciless against Chicago.

North Carolina had little time to rest this week, and their Golden Boot leader is a menace in the best possible way. Several noteworthy individual efforts made up the storylines of this week’s matches as NWSL Week 19 saw a lot of scoring, and we will dive into it.

Ashley Sanchez brace leads North Carolina past Angel City

The Menace is living up to her nickname. North Carolina’s Ashley Sanchez is having the best season of her career terrorizing opposing defenses and goalkeepers. On this night, it was Angel City and Angelina Anderson who were on the receiving end.

This match was evenly played, with both sides maintaining periods of possession and earning scoring chances. Anderson and her Carolina counterpart Kailen Sheridan stopped all that they faced until late in the half. Then, Sanchez struck for the first time in the 41st minute. At midfield, Felicitas Rauch sent a pass ahead to Evelyn Ijeh, and she moved it on with a beautiful flick pass to a streaking Sanchez. She broke in on Anderson, and went near post for the lead. The goal sparked the home side, with Chioma Okafor having two great chances, one of which nailed the crossbar.

Embed from Getty Images

The second half proceeded much as the first, with Angel City controlling a bit more than in the first. The visitors sent many shots toward net, but only one on target, and Sheridan stopped that. And then, Sanchez struck again late in the half. In the 78th minute, Sheridan launched a ball from her goal line that sailed over the last Angel City defenders. Sanchez had read the play expertly and was on her horse. She caught up with the ball at full speed, came in on Anderson, and scored from almost the exact same spot as her first goal.

Her fourth brace of the season gives Sanchez a total of fifteen goals, a new North Carolina team record for a season. She is in perfect form as a striker right now, here’s hoping her eye-popping play catches Emma Hayes’ attention.

The win is the Courage’s fifth in six matches, and has them solidly in a playoff slot. Angel City is currently on the outside looking in, sitting just behind Seattle Reign for the final spot.

Portland and Gotham draw in evenly played match

The Thorns traveled to New York hoping to gain some ground on table-topping Gotham. The Bats were on a league-wide season best nine match unbeaten streak, and have only been beaten once at home all season. This tilt would be a match-up of Portland’s high powered offense against Gotham’s stingy defense.

The first half featured several chances by either side, with the usual suspects making their presence felt. Gotham’s Sam Kerr and Portland’s Sophia Wilson both sent excellent efforts on frame, and both were turned away by the keepers. Ann-Katrin Berger made a wonderful acrobatic save on a Deyna Castellanos header to keep Gotham even with Thorns halfway through. The sides held each other at bay for the rest of the half and went in as they had started.

Embed from Getty Images

The second half started out slowly, as both defenses protected their end. Then, 15 minutes in, a very simple play changed everything. Gotham’s Midge Purce had the ball just over the midfield stripe and sent forward to Jaedyn Shaw. Shaw took one step, looked up and saw Mackenzie Arnold off her line, and sent a looping shot from 30 yards out. The shot was perfect, and Arnold could not get back.

The home side had the lead, and looked as though they might get their league-leading 13th clean sheet. However, in the 70th minute Pietra Tordin had the ball in the Gotham box. As she tried to get free, Gotham’s Jaelin Howell stepped on Tordin’s boot. Play went on, but was called for review. After another refreshingly long VAR check, the Thorns were awarded a penalty. Wilson stepped up, sent Berger the wrong way, and equalized in the 75th minute.

The draw leaves Gotham atop the table, with Portland holding fifth. Gotham’s legendary defense has now allowed but 14 goals all season, and Berger is playing lights out. For Portland, the play of Tordin and Wilson remains superb, and will determine how far they advance.

San Diego roars back for victory with three in second half against Racing Louisville

Racing Louisville came into San Diego and played the perfect road match in the first half. The held their lines, made excellent counter-attacks, and converted chances. Unfortunately for the side, San Diego came out in the second half and took the match right away from them.

The match started out terrifically for Racing. Just 12 minutes in, Kayla Fischer broke in on Sandra Paños down the right side. Fischer drew the keeper and defender Kennedy Wesley to her, leaving Lauren Milliet all alone in the middle. Fischer passed back to her, and Milliet calmly tapped home for the early lead.

Just 11 minutes after that, Racing doubled their lead. On a beautifully played set piece, Katie O’Kane sent a free-kick into the box. Arin Wright knocked it down, and it came to an unmarked Taylor Flint in front of goal. With just a quick flick, she put the ball in and Louisville was looking good. Following that though, San Diego started to take over.

The home side had several good chances, and Jordyn Bloomer had to make some strong saves to preserve the lead. Unfortunately, she was only prolonging the inevitable.

Embed from Getty Images

While only able to score in the first half, the Wave wasted no time in the second. Just two minutes in, their top scorer made her presence felt. Trinity Byars showed some spectacular footwork following a lead pass from Mimi Van Zanten. With the ball at the top of the box, Byars worked herself into an advantageous shooting situation and let fly. Her shot beat Bloomer to the corner, and the home side had one back.

After half an hour of strong pressing play from San Diego, Byars earned her brace. Kenza Dali sent a corner into the box where Ludmila’s first attempt was blocked. The ball came to the middle where Byars was waiting to pounce. She fired the ball directly into the back of the net, and the sides were equal. Just four minutes later, the Wave would come all the way back.

Racing’s Rachel Hill cleared the ball from the box and it came out to Dali about five years outside the area. The French international took one quick look, then sent a long range effort past Bloomer into the far corner. Racing will be sore to loss this match, as it puts a serious hole in their playoff push. The Wave move ahead of Portland into fourth spot, and are peaking at the right time.

Kansas City holds off North Carolina comeback attempt

Unlike the Wave, the Courage couldn’t quite make it all the way back after falling into a deep hole against the Current. The home side got off to a quick start, then held on enough for the win.

Kansas City got on the board early, in the 12th minute. After Kayla Sharples’ header bounced off the crossbar, Izzy Rodriguez sent the ball right back into the box. It fell past Sharples, then bounced off of defender Natalia Staude into the net for an own goal. Then, 20 minutes later, a rare mistake from Kailen Sheridan ended up with the ball in her net again. As the Carolina keeper tried to start the attack, she held the ball too long and lost it to Haley Hopkins. She passed back to Croix Bethune, who came across the box and put a shot top bins.

The Current would get their third in the 41st minute, again through the work of Hopkins. She spotted Michelle Cooper on the right side and dropped a ball right into her path. Cooper came in on Sheridan, and put a blast up top for the 3-0 lead. It could easily have been 4-0 when Debinha was alone in front in stoppage time, but Sheridan made a tremendous save.

Embed from Getty Images

Sheridan took advantage of the Current players in the box and immediately sent it out. The ball came to Ashley Sanchez, and she fed Evelyn Ijeh in front. The Swedish international calmly slid it past Lorena, and the visitors were on the board.

Both sides had great chances in the second half, with Sheridan’s save on Cooper in the 61st minute being the best of the night. Fifteen minutes after that, Carolina got a second one back. Sanchez took a free kick from just outside the box and tried to go around the wall. As the ball came by, Kansas City’s Ryan Williams stuck out her elbow to deflect it away. A penalty was called for the handball, and Riley Jackson stepped up to the spot for North Carolina. Her try struck the inside of the post and bounced in, and the Courage were only down one.

Unfortunately for the visitors, that was as close as they would get. Three huge saves from Lorena late preserved the win, and Kansas City runs their home unbeaten streak in the regular season to 28 matches. North Carolina and Kansas City remain sixth and seventh in the table respectively, and now the Courage get a little rest after playing three matches in eight days.

Utah scores two in second to topple Orlando

Barbara Banda scored her first goal Orlando since returning from WAFCON, but the visiting Royals answered twice in the second to take the three points.

Utah came out on the front foot, with several good attacks early on. The visitors maintained the lion’s share of possession, and were working their offense well. The best chances for the Royals came late in the half, with two quality chances. First, Ana Tejada sent a strong, low shot that Cosette Morché got down to meet.

Immediately after that, Cece Delzer tested Morché again, and again she was up to it. Then, just two minutes after that, Orlando got their only on-target shot of the half and made good on it. Summer Yates had the ball just on the Pride side of midfield and sent a through ball to the sprinting Banda. She outraced the Utah defenders, dribbled around a challenge from keeper Mandy McGlynn, and coolly deposited the ball into the empty net.

Embed from Getty Images

The Royals wasted little time equalizing in the second half. Just five minutes in, an excellent build-up from the back came to the foot of Kiana Palacios. She sent the ball across the box, and Cloé Lacasse made an incredible sliding play to direct it in.

The Canadian international is having a superb season, and should garner attention when end of season awards are determined. 20 minutes after that sublime goal, the visitors got the winner. Lacasse was again the sparkplug, controlling the ball in the Orlando box. With time and space, she saw Paige Cronin running the middle and fed her the ball. Cronin’s one time strike hit the back of the net before Morché could react, and Utah had the victory.

The Royals are in third, just one point behind Washington. The loss really hurts Orlando’s playoff aspirations, as they are now five points out of the last spot.

Denver trounces Chicago to bolster playoff hopes

Denver is making a strong playoff push, and their dismantling of hapless Chicago helped immensely. This match was the most lop-sided match in the league this season, as the Summit outclassed the Stars all over the pitch.

Denver’s Janine Sonis continued her amazing season with an early goal to start this one off. 13 minutes in, Yuzuki Yamamoto had the ball at the right corner of the box and sent all the way across to Sonis on the left. The Canadian international struck it first time and it was in the back of the net. Six minutes later, Melissa Kössler doubled the lead with a wonderful falling header. The home side dominated play, and headed to half full of confidence.

And in the second half, the flood gates opened. As soon as the half started, Yamamoto ran a give-and-go with Tash Flint and slotted home for Denver’s third. Chicago’s one bright spot came five minutes later, when Julia Grosso scored on the Stars’ only shot on target all night. Micayla Johnson’s original shot bounced off the post, but came right to Grosso. She went far side past Kat Asman to spoil the clean sheet.

Embed from Getty Images

That would be the only good for the visitors. Denver answered back with a vengeance, scoring twice in three minutes. First, Flint scored a screamer just outside the box after a broken play. Second, Kóssler nabbed her brace on a deft little deflection of Ayo Oke’s cross. The Summit finished the scoring late, when rookie Olivia Thomas put on an amazing display of speed. She broke up a Stars attack just outside of her own box, then outran the Chicago defense the length of the pitch. Alone against Katie Atkinson, Thomas went far side for the final goal.

Denver moves tenth in the table, four points out of last slot. The side is enjoying a tremendous debut season, and is hoping to become just the second side to make the playoffs in their first year. Chicago’s woes have been thoroughly documented this season, as they have scored the fewest and allowed the most goals. They are well on their way to having the worst goal differential in league history. They are also likely to eclipse the mark for most goals allowed in a season, a record the Stars set just last year. Chicago needs major change.

Metayer’s tally gives Washington the win over Bay

Washington had been in a slump as of late, going 0-1-3 in their last four matches. A win against a Bay side near the bottom of the table kept the Spirit second in the table, but it was a hard fought effort.

The two sides matched each other throughout the match, with the opening half featuring excellent chances by both sides. Bay’s Alex Pfeiffer had a glorious chance in the first minute, but her strong shot was turned aside by Sandy MacIver. The Spirit responded in kind, and Jordan Silkowitz made two quality saves to keep it scoreless. Silkowitz has been playing very well between the sticks lately, allowing just nine goals in her last nine matches.

Embed from Getty Images

The Spirit finally broke through late in stoppage time, when Trinity Rodman made another one of her trademark charges at goal. She roofed a shot that hit the crossbar, came down, and bounced directly on, but not over the line. Paige Metayer was doing what an attacker should and following the play, and she chested the ball into the back of the net. The Spirit took the lead into the half.

The second half was also evenly matched, and Pfeiffer came agonizingly close to knotting the score ten minutes in. Claire Hutton took a long range shot that MacIver stopped, but let the rebound come out. Pfeiffer was right there, but her follow-up sailed over the bar. 15 minutes after that, MacIver made an acrobatic save to deny Cristina Girelli’s looping header. That was the last serious challenge Bay would offer, and Washington took all three points.

They remain second in the table, five points off of Gotham. Bay remains toward the bottom, ahead of only expansion Boston and Chicago.

Seattle controls match to nip Houston

In a match where the Reign controlled the pitch, the Dash hung in the entire way and nearly stole a point. In the end, Maddie Dahlien’s early second half tally was the difference for Seattle in their playoff quest.

The first half of this match was played entirely in the visitor’s end. Seattle came with a strong press, and Houston had no answer for it. The best chance of the half came halfway through the frame, when the ball came to Seattle’s Mia Fishel in front of goal. However, the striker’s shot went over the goal and the match remained scoreless. Houston’s only foray into the Seattle side came just before half, but Kate Faasse’s offering also went over the bar.

Embed from Getty Images

Houston came out of the half and got their first, and only shot on target early on through Kat Rader. It was straight at Claudia Dickey, and she easily made the save. Just after that, Seattle got the first, and only goal of the match seven minutes after the restart. Following a prolonged attack, Maddie Mercado had the ball on the right wing. She sent it across the face of goal, and Houston keeper Jane Campbell tried to punch it away. The ball eluded her attempt and fell right to Maddie Dahlien. She quickly and calmly chipped into the open net for what would be the winner.

After that goal, Dahlien was a complete terror, garnering five total shots on net. Only Campbell’s amazing save in the 80th minute kept her from a brace. Houston did not mount another attack for the rest of the match, and fell further down the table. They sit 11th, five points behind Seattle, who holds the last slot.

Chilufya brace paces Angel City over Boston

A Monday night match provided plenty of offense and excitement. Boston welcomed Angel City, and the sides started the match off firing.

Just five minutes in, Angel City’s Ally Sentnor continued her tremendous season with an early tally. Evelyn Shores took a corner and sent it directly to Sentnor just outside of the top of the box. Sentnor took one touch, then launched a rocket past Laurel Ivory. Boston answered almost immediately through Sammy Smith. A well-worked attack that started from Ivory ended up with Nichelle Prince in the box. She dropped back to Smith, and her shot eluded Angelina Anderson far post.

Angel City obviously took that as a challenge, as they exploded right back. After 14 minutes, another Shores corner dropped into the box. Boston could not clear, and Prisca Chilufya sent a deep shot that deflected and beat Ivory. Four minutes after that, Savy King sent a long ball ahead to speedster Sveindís Jónsdöttir. The Iceland international came all the way to the goal line and beat Ivory on the tightest of angles. The half ended mercifully for the home side, but the second promised no respite.

Embed from Getty Images

Then, 13 minutes in to the second half, Chilufya got her brace. After a turnover in the midfield, she found herself alone just inside the box. Ivory stopped the Zambian international’s first shot, but the rebound came right back to Chilufya. With the keeper down, she put the ball into the far side netting. Angel City got their last in the 66th minute, when Sentnor sent a pass to Maiara Niehaus just outside the box. Her long range shot found the top half of the net, and the visitors had the match locked up. Boston got a late goal when Sarah Schupansky sent a corner into the box. Aissata Traoré rose highest and headed it in, but the match had been long decided.

The three points are huge for Angel City, who now sit in ninth place, just two points off of Seattle. Boston, while lagging in the standings, is still enjoying an excellent inaugural season. As the players continue to grow as a team, the side will only get stronger.

NWSL Week 19 results in full

Related articles from Her Football Hub: