NWSL Week 9 round-up: Utah goes top of table with win over Denver, Chicago snaps skid | OneFootball

NWSL Week 9 was full of exciting action, with several last minute goals deciding matches. A star returned for the Stars, Utah continues a terrific run, and an unlikely goalscorer gave us the best moment of the week.

We have a new table-topper, teams desperate for a win earned one, and the Temwa Chawinga Express keeps charging on. A look at the excitement that was NWSL Week 9.

San Diego dominates, Houston holds on for draw

The Wave dominated all phases of this match, with exception of the scoreline. The visitors got the first goal of the match 20 minutes in. Lia Godfrey put the ball out to Dudinha, and her shot beat Jane Campbell to the side netting. A tremendous goal line clearance by Malia Berkley ten minutes later saved the home team from going down by two.

The second half saw the fireworks. San Diego was pressing hard, and were it not for two miraculous saves by Campbell, would have been leading by two. Houston persevered, and got the equalizer midway through the frame. Alyssa Chapman came up the middle and laid off to Kate Faasse.

Faasse’s shot from well outside the box froze Did Haracic, and the low offering knotted the score. A scary moment came later, as Campbell collided heavily with San Diego’s Trinity Byars. The Houston netminder’s forehead was split open, and she was removed from the pitch. She remains in concussion protocol for Houston, and would miss their next match. Byars was initially assessed a red card, but that was downgraded to a yellow after review when it was obvious that she had not initiated the contact.

And then, in the last gasps of the match, the flood gates opened. 89 minutes in, Faasse sent a wonderful flick on to the charging Kat Rader. She wasted no time, and fired past Haracic for the lead. Houston’s efficiency was perfect on this night — two shots on target and two goals. Then, with the match seemingly won, Byars salvaged a point for the Wave. With 13 minutes added on due to the Campbell injury, San Diego stayed calm and continued to press. In the 95th minute, Gia Corley took a shot from outside the box that keeper Caroline DeLisle stopped. The rebound came out front, and no Dash players could get there before Byars. She fired home to salvage the point for San Diego.

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Angel City gets first win in six, tops Kansas City

Angel City scored early and late to take the three points off the Current. Just nine minutes in, Gisele Thompson took a long ball from Nealy Martin at the left side of the box. Thompson got the ball under control, cut back, then snuck a shot inside the near post to put the hosts on top. The half continued with few chances available to either side, until Kansas City broke through in the 45th minute. Issy Rodriguez received the ball at the top of the box and put it through to Ally Sentnor. She turned and fired, and her shot bounced off of Martin. Keeper Angelina Anderson had no chance after the deflection, and the match was tied.

Just minutes into the second half, Anderson starred to keep the Current from taking the lead. Croix Bethune found herself alone in front, but the Angel City netminder was up to the task. Just after that, Anderson made herself the hero of the match. Sentnor got a long ball in the box and was knocked down by Emily Sams. The referee pointed to the spot, and Kansas City captain Lo’eau Labonta stepped up. She put her shot low, and Anderson went right with her to gobble it up with no rebound. Angel City took that momentum and got the winner in the 71st minute. Through their press, they were able to turnover the Current just outside the box. Thompson picked up the ball and delivered to Kennedy Fuller. Her shot ripped the back of the net past Lorena, and the hosts picked up a first win in six matches.

Portland controls match, shuts out Bay FC

The Thorns came into the match on an uncharacteristic two match winless run. The Rose City side showed that they were eager to right the ship, and handled Bay thoroughly. The first half was all Portland, and they broke through in the 30th minute. Jessie Fleming’s corner came in, and Bay could not fully clear. The ball came to the top of the box, where M.A. Vignola was able to really step into one. Her powerful rising shot went top of the goal for a Thorns lead. Bay had a good chance minutes later, but Rachel Kundananji’s shot went off the crossbar. Portland had a crossbar of their own just before half, but had to settle for the 1-0 lead.

Portland came out of the half and continued attacking. Sophia Wilson had several chances, and eventually ended up with the primary assist on Portland’s second tally. In the 77th minute, she spotted right back Mallie McKenzie running open. Wilson passed over, and McKenzie went far post for her first professional goal. Her heart-warming reaction to the goal is exactly what makes women’s football so special. Following that, the Thorns held out and Bay never truly threatened. The Thorns stay top of the table, for now.

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Early Seattle lead enough against Traoré, Boston

Visiting Seattle got on the board early following a handball in the box. Just 12 minutes in, Maddie Dahlien took a pass and headed towards middle. The ball hit defender Jorelyn Carabali’s outstretched arm, and it was an easy call for the referee. Sofia Huerta stepped up to the spot. She went right and keeper Casey Murphy went left. Boston had a wonderful chance to equalize, but Claudia Dickey was able to gobble up Nichelle Prince’s goal line attack. The rest of the half saw no further threats, and Seattle went in up by one.

The Reign quickly doubled the lead, the second goal coming from Dahlien in the 51st minute. Madison Curry dropped an excellent ball into the box, and several Reign players made runs. The ball fell perfectly to Dahlien, who volleyed straight in to double the lead. This match looked like a lock for Seattle, but Aïssata Traoré gave Boston late life. After several good looks throughout the half, she did put the ball in the net at 88 minutes, only to be called offside. However, she would not be denied again. In the last minute of extra time, she took a great through ball from Emerson Elgin and quickly fired past Dickey. Unfortunately for the home side, there was no time left, and Seattle took home the three points.

North Carolina goes up early, holds off Racing Louisville

Racing Louisville cannot get on the right side of close matches, and this week was yet another. The side has seven losses this season, all by one goal. The Courage were the latest to claim a close match against the Lavender. The visiting side struck early following a prolonged attack from the home side. Carolina broke the press and started a three-on-two attack. Manaka Matsukubo ran down the middle of the pitch and spotted Evelyn Ijeh to her right. Ijeh took the pass, cut in, and fired beyond the reach of Jordyn Bloomer just 13 minutes in. The rest of the half featured sustained pressure by both sides, but yielded no results.

The second half started slowly, and the then the inevitable happened — Ashley Sanchez. Sanchez is an absolute menace, and just a treat to watch on the pitch. In the 78th minute, following a slow build up by the Courage, Sanchez received a pass from Felcitas Rauch dead center of the box. Sanchez took the pass, turned, and calmly put the ball past substitute keeper Maddie Prohaska. The Courage midfielder is currently second in the Golden Boot race, trailing only Orlando’s Barbra Banda. Louisville refused to fold however, and clawed back a late goal. In the 91st minute, Katie O’Kane took a corner for the home side. Her delivery was perfection, and Arin Wright ran onto it, delivering a terrific header into the corner. Unfortunately for Racing, time was not on its side, and the side fell to yet another one-goal defeat and bottom of the table.

Utah continues to be red hot, goes top of table with win over Denver

The Royals are the hottest team in the league right now, and they continued their winning ways with a hard fought victory against the Summit. The scoring opened with tremendous play from Cloé Lacasse in the Denver box in the 20th minute. Even while laying on the pitch, the Canadian international never stopped fighting for the ball, which eventually came out to Kiana Palacios. She quickly roofed her shot over Abby Smith, and the home side took the lead. Denver applied pressure of their own, and got the equalizer just before the half. In the 45th minute, Delaney Sheehan spotted Yazmeen Ryan making her run on the right side. Sheehan’s pass fell perfectly onto Ryan’s foot and she instantly turned in.

The second half started out more reserved, with neither side showing a definite advantage. That changed in the 68th minute, when after prolonged Utah possession in the box, Ayo Oke took down Lacasse in the box. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Mina Tanaka stepped up for the Royals. The Japanese international went low, Smith went with her and got a hand on it, but not enough to keep it out. Utah’s unbeaten streak is now at nine matches (7W, 2D), and they go top of table.

Graham nabs late winner for Houston over Angel City

Winless in their last six matches, the Dash needed a big effort against a like wise reeling Angel City. The home side got off to a good start in the 17th minute. After an excellent build up from the backline, Kate Faasse had the ball on the right side of the box and fed Kat Rader in the middle. Rader dribbled past her defender, over-extended keeper Angelina Anderson, and fired in to the top corner. The visitors answered in the 27th minute. Kennedy Fuller was knocked down in the box by Leah Klenke, and the referee pointed to the spot directly. Maiara Niehaus stepped up for Angel City, and she put her shot right into the side netting past Caroline DeLisle for the equalizer.

The second half had several good chances, none better than Clarissa Larisey’s attempt in the 74th minute that was stopped by Anderson with an amazing effort. The match looked destined for a draw as regular time expired and just three minutes were added on. However, Houston’s Maggie Graham had other ideas. Larisey took a pass at midfield and sent a perfect little flick on to a streaking Graham. She ran in on Anderson and put the ball far post for the winner. Houston ends their winless streak, while Angel City is floundering, with just one win in their last seven.

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Chawinga scores again, Current knocks Thorns from top spot

As they have often times this season the Thorns took an early lead, just 14 minutes in. Yet again, it was Sophia Wilson off of a feed from Pietra Tordin. Wilson charged Lorena in net and put the ball near post for the visitors. Following that, Kansas City started to gain more control of the match, and were rewarded in the 41st minute. Ally Sentnor got the ball at the top of the box and spotted Lo’eau Labonta open. She took the pass and quickly fired past Mackenzie Arnold for the equalizer.

The second half was evenly played, and it was eventually the Current that broke the deadlock. In the 63rd minute, Croix Bethune ran up the middle and spotted an inexplicably wide open Temwa Chawinga on the left side. She easily tapped in past a helpless Arnold for the lead. Portland put the ball in the Current net just six minutes later, but Reyna Reyes was rightly ruled offside. The home side then put the nail in the coffin during extra time. Chawinga streaked down the left wing and turned playmaker, spotting Haley Hopkins in the box. Hopkins fired past Arnold, and Kansas City continues to impressively move up the table.

Chicago earns desperately needed win, stops Bay FC

The Stars came out firing early in this one, as Ryan Gareis nearly opened the scoring inside the first ten minutes. Only Jordan Silkowitz’s diving save forced Gareis’ shot into the woodwork to keep the visitors from taking the early lead. Bay had several chances before a pivotal moment came in the 12th minute. Chicago’s Jordyn Huitema was one-v-one with Aldana Cometti just outside the Bay box. Cometti took the Canadian international down heavily, and the referee immediately went to his pocket for red. Silkowitz stopped the ensuing free-kick, but the host side was down to 10. Bay kept fighting, and did put the ball in the net through Taylor Huff. The play was called for review, and after an excruciatingly long time, was ruled offside.

The second half brought more misfortune for the Bay. In the 62nd minute, Silkowitz handled the ball outside of the box, and was shown a red card of her own. Emmie Allen came in to replace her, and shortly thereafter, Chicago got the only goal of the match. In a dream sequence for Chicago fans, the returning Mal Swanson opened up her account for the season. At 70′, the striker took a pass from Maitane Lopéz, walked the ball across the top of the box, then fired back across her body. The shot crossed up Allen, and the Stars held on for the victory. Chicago moves up from the bottom of the table and hopes to continue with Swanson’s return.

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Payne’s strike in the first half is winner for Orlando over San Diego

San Diego welcomed the Pride to Snapdragon Stadium and found the visiting side to be less than hospitable. Orlando came out with a strong physical presence that put the Wave off their traditional speed game. Both sides had chances in the first half, and only Anna Moorhouse’s heroics in the Pride net kept the clean sheet early for the visitors. Indeed, it was a Moorhouse save that lead to the only goal of the match.

Late in injury time of the first half, Gia Corley uncorked a rocket toward the Orlando goal. Moorhouse gathered in the shot, then sent it out to her backline. Orlando moved up the pitch, and Luana delivered an over the top ball to the top of the San Diego box. The Wave defense cleared the attempt, but the ball came right to Nicole Payne. She went wide, then fired back across goal. The ball was perfectly placed, and Didi Haracic’s diving save was short. The goal was especially sweet for Payne, as she missed the entirety of last season with an ACL tear. San Diego had a wonderful chance in the second to equalize, but Moorhouse tipped aside Gabi Portilho’s late offering. San Diego falls from the top of the table, and Orlando’s up and down season is on an up right now.

NWSL Week 9 results in full

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