NWSL Week 13: Rivalry week finishes with a familiar tune, Denver keeps rising | OneFootball

NWSL Week 13 saw an old storyline play out again, and the two sides involved end up top of table. Both expansion sides earned well-won victories, and Seattle will be wondering how they let a match get away from them. Racing Louisville were eyeing their first victory in a spell, only to see it vanish late.

The league’s goal-scorers are doing what they are supposed to do, and new stars are emerging. Rose Lavelle brings the drama twice for Gotham, while Bay FC’s Karlie Lema is making people take notice. Utah’s terrific turnaround continues, and Portland stumbles again. In disheartening news, one of the league’s young stars went down with a season-ending injury.

NWSL Week 13 featured joy, triumph, heartbreak and disappointment.

Gotham stymies Washington, takes Queens Classic in front of record crowd

Gotham and Rose Lavelle have had Washington’s number lately, and that number is 1-0. In last season’s championship, the Gotham star scored late to give her side the title. In the two team’s latest meeting, Lavelle struck again for the only goal of the match.

This match was a highlight for the league this season. Gotham will be moving from New Jersey to the new Etihad Park in New York City in 2028, and this match showcased the new digs. To showcase what women’s football can be in NYC, Gotham hosted the Spirit in front of more than 42,000 fans, the second largest regular-season crowd in NWSL history. While conditions were less than ideal, the teams put on a show for the fans in attendance.

The match featured several strong attacks by both sides in the first half. Washington had the better of the play, but Ann-Katrin Berger kept everything out of her net. The home side eventually broke the deadlock in the 37th minute, as Lavelle displayed her talent. Jaelin Howell pressured the Spirit defense and put the ball ahead to Lavelle breaking through. She split the defenders and went to the left side of the box. The midfielder then unleashed a finish for the ages. She turned across her body, then placed a perfect chip over Sandy MacIver for the winner.

Washington did not go down without a fight, however. The Spirit peppered Berger with shots all night, sending nine on frame, and the German international stopped them all. The second half saw several attempts by either side, none of which came to fruition. With the win, Gotham is now undefeated in their last six matches against the Spirit (3-0-3).

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Boston wins again, sweeps season series with Orlando

Boston’s terrific inaugural season just keeps shining bright. With their latest effort, the debutantes have the first win streak in franchise history.

The Legacy traveled down to Orlando and played a perfect road match. After a few attempts that were easily handled by the Pride’s Anna Moorhouse, the visitors broke through in the 17th minute. Following a clearing attempt from Moorhouse, the Legacy quickly broke back with a wonderful passing display. The play culminated with a pass from Ella Stevens to Barbara Olivieri right in the middle of the box. The Venezuelan international quickly fired a shot into the far netting for the Boston lead.

After two great chances by either side, Orlando put the ball in the net in the 41st minute. Jackie Ovalle took a corner, and the ball went all the way in for an apparent Olimpico. However, Orlando’s Ally Lemos had leaned into and impeded goalkeeper Casey Murphy, and the goal was waved off.

Orlando pressed more in the second half and had several chances, the best bone coming off the foot of Solai Washington in the 64th minute. Her low shot just was rolling toward the far corner, but Murphy stretched and got a fingertip to it, sending the ball just wide. The Pride did not threaten again, and Boston closes the gap for the final playoff spot. Orlando is just outside of the top eight, and will be disappointed that they could not get a point in this match.

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San Diego scores early and late to salvage draw with Kansas City

Both San Diego and Kansas City have been playing very well of late, and are looking to move up the table. On a beautiful day in Kansas City, the home team looked to have a victory assured, but a hero in the form of Trinity Byars saved a point for the Wave. San Diego started this one out early.

Just six minutes in, the aforementioned Byars opened up the scoring. The pressure of the Wave midfield forced a turnover just outside the box. Kimmi Ascanio sent the ball over to Gia Corley in the left corner of the box, and Corley fed it dead center of the box. Byars put her foot out and directed the ball past Marisa Jordan. The two teams had few chances the rest of the half, with the best coming off of the foot of Croix Bethune. The Current midfielder took a shot from distance that surprised Luisa Agudelo. Fortunately for the San Diego keeper, it was too high and struck the crossbar.

Bethune was merely warming up, however. Just seven minutes into the second half, she cashed in a tremendous effort from her teammates. Hailey Hopkins and Laney Rouse pressured the Wave defense deep in their end, and took advantage of a miscommunication. The ball came out to Rouse, and she sent it back to an onrushing Bethune. She took the pass on the volley and immediately smashed it home for the equalizer. The Current wasted little time taking the lead. Ten minutes after the first, a familiar face made her presence known. Bethune took control of the ball at the midfield stripe, and sent a ball through to a streaking Temwa Chawinga. Kansas City’s two-time MVP and Golden Boot winner took it in stride, and put a perfect shot between the Wave defender and keeper.

The match proceeded on, and the hosts looked to take all three points. Then, in the 90th minute, Byars used her goal-scorer mentality to beautifully finish the play and tap home. Mimi Van Zanten sent a ball into the middle of the box, and Gabi Portilho got her head to it. The ball fell to Wave CB Kristen McNabb, playing up to press for the equalizer. Her shot went through Jordan, but Current defender Izzy Rodriguez cleared it off the line. That was when Byars dove in with little regard to her own body, and pushed the ball in. The sides share the points in one of the most exciting matches of the week.

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Denver comes back against Portland, eyes playoff spot

The expansion Summit hosted one of the league’s most decorated and experienced sides in the Thorns. And the home side showed that they are more than capable of running with anyone in the league. Denver looked strong all match, and were rewarded with a late winner. The first half was evenly fought, with both sides making impressive attack runs. The visitors got on the board first through Sophia Wilson. In the 23rd minute she made a crossing run across the box. The Summit’s Janine Sonis came back hard to challenge, but barreled right into Wilson, knocking her down. The referee pointed to the spot, and Wilson took her place. She sent keeper Abby Smith left while she went right, and the Thorns had the lead.

Sonis would respond for Denver late in the half. Eight minutes into nine added on, Denver had a strong sustained attack. The ball came to Sonis just outside of the box. With a sea of Denver green crowding keeper Mackenzie Arnold, the Denver captain launched a shot over the pile. Arnold had to stay back to mind the runners, and the ball deftly bounced into the far corner to square up the match.

The second half was more reserved than the first, as both sides settled down defensively. The teams looked as though they would share the points on the day, but in the 86th minute, Natalie Means decided otherwise. She got the ball far on the right side, then walked in as no defenders challenged her. Looking up, she saw that Arnold was guarding the near post. The winger unleashed a perfect shot into the far side of the net for the victory. Denver is firmly eyeing Orlando and North Carolina, who sit just above the Summit. Portland meanwhile, has fallen to fourth after their second loss in a row, and third in five matches.

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Gotham scores three late, stuns Seattle

The Reign will be thinking about this one for a long time. After scoring on their only two shots on target and holding off a furious Gotham attack all afternoon, they endured a nightmare 17 minutes and lost the match.

Following a two hour weather delay, Seattle got the opener from a penalty after a good attacking run. Maddie Dahlien sent a ball in to Maddie Mercado right in front of goal. Before she could take her shot, however, Gotham’s Mandy Freeman took her down. The referee pointed directly to the spot, and Mia Fishel stepped up for the visitors. She went low right, and so did Ann-Katrin Berger. Fishel’s shot was faster than the Gotham keeper, and Seattle had the lead 14 minutes in. Dahlien and Mercado teamed up again for Seattle nine minutes later. Dahlien took a long over the top pass and ran full steam at goal. She passed to the middle, and Mercado ran right into it and blasted home. Berger had no chance on it, and the Reign took a 2-0 lead into the half.

Seattle had the chance to put the game away in the 57th minute. Gotham’s Emily Sonnett took down Sam Menti in the box, and Dahlien came to take the penalty for Seattle. She went left and put it past Berger’s reach, but struck the post. That miss would prove huge. The Reign protected their lead for a while, but they could only hold off Gotham for so long. In the 81st minute Esther Gonzalez put a ball off the crossbar, and it came back out for another Gotham attack. Jaedyn Shaw sent a cross to the far post, and Gonzalez was there to poke home past Cassie Miller. Gonzalez would bring her side all the way back in the 94th minute. Brununha dropped a ball in the box that Shaw expertly deflected off her chest right into the Spanish international’s path. She quickly fired past Miller to equalize.

And then, in the last gasps of the match, Gotham completed the comeback through their sniper, Rose Lavelle. As the saying goes, Rose Lavelle only scores big goals. In the 97th minute, Gotham had a great build up, and Sam Kerr took a pass just inside the box. She laid the ball back to a trailing Lavelle, and she sent it top bins for the winner. With the win, Gotham stays level with Washington at the top of the table, trailing on goal differential. Seattle meanwhile, will rue the three points lost as they fight for a playoff berth.

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Lema stars for Bay, scores brace in victory over North Carolina

July has been heating up, and so has Karlie Lema. The young striker has come into her own and has been terrorizing opposing defenses since the best month started. Her latest victim? The North Carolina Courage. The Courage traveled across the country to be greeted by a totally in-form Lema. Just six minutes in, she made a run across the top of the box and unleashed a rocket, that unfortunately, shook the post. She would not be denied for long.

In the 14th minute, she struck paydirt. After Bay cleared an attack from the Courage, Rachel Kundananji sent a long ball up the middle. Lema outraced everyone, made a move to get around keeper Kailen Sheridan, then sent the ball into the open net. Just three minutes later, she tallied again. In an eerily similar play, Bay broke up another Courage attack and sent a long ball forward. This one fell to Alex Pfeiffer, who spotted Lema wide open in the middle. One soft pass later, and the US international had her brace. Lema now has four goals in her last three matches, and is running with complete confidence. It’s a treat to watch the young star thrive.

The two sides had several chances throughout the rest of the first half, and continued into the second. However, the only further goal came off of a bad mistake at the Carolina defense. Uno Shiragaki tried to send a back pass to Sheridan, but her effort was not strong enough. Kundananji pounced on the loose ball and immediately put it past the hapless Courage keeper. The visitors came at Jordan Silkowitz for the rest of the match, but could not solve the Bay netminder. Ally Schlegel’s absolutely heroic effort in the 60th minute did everything but go in, and Bay got a much needed win. North Carolina still holds the last playoff position in an extremely tight race for that spot.

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Chicago’s woes continue with loss to Angel City, Jordyn Huitema out for season

Chicago’s bad season went full nightmare this week. The side suffered their league-worst 11th loss and shutout, but those were eclipsed by a much bigger loss. Star striker Jordyn Huitema went down early in the first half, and was later diagnosed with a ruptured ACL in her left knee. The Canadian international is Chicago’s top scorer, netting four of the Stars eight total goals on the season. Her presence will be sorely missed.

The match between the Stars and Angel City was a fast paced affair, with each side creating terrific scoring chances. Chicago put the ball in the net in the 40th minute, but the play was correctly ruled offside. Moments later, Angel City keeper Angelina Anderson made her best save of the night, stopping Mal Swanson at point-blank range. The match would have to wait until the second half for it’s first goal, and that would come courtesy of a familiar face for Angel City. Maiara Niehaus had been going for goal all night, and she cashed in following a penalty call in the box. In the 56th minute, she walked up slow and sent her shot low and right. Katie Atkinson went the right way, but could not get her fingers to the ball.

The visitors looked to have put the match away late after controlling most of the second half. In the 86th minute, the speedy Sveindís Jónsdóttir got on the end of a perfect cross from Prisca Chilufya, but the play had come from an offside position. The two would team up again for a good goal just before the final whistle. In the 99th minute, with Chicago pressing for the equalizer, Angel City got the ball and sent it forward to Chilufya. She outran her defender, and Jónsdóttir ran up the middle, far faster than anyone else on the pitch. The Zambian international hit the Icelandic international in stride, and Jónsdóttir easily slotted home. Angel City has won three straight, while Chicago lingers near the bottom of the table.

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Utah rights the ship, upends Orlando

Utah has been the story of the NWSL this season with their amazing turnaround from last year. The Royals continued their winning ways by fully shutting down visiting Orlando. While the Pride did not have a shot on target all match, Utah sent several balls toward Anna Moorhouse, and got the only goal of the match 36 minutes in. After the home side controlled the ball on the edges of the Orlando box, Narumi Miura dribbled all the way to top corner of the box. She then turned back across her body and sent a perfect looper into the far side netting.

Utah’s defense was impenetrable for the rest of the match. Every shot directed toward Mandy McGlynn was blocked out before she had to make a save. The Royals continued their constant pressure, and the ball spent most of the match in the Orlando end. The Pride was never able to mount any sort of sustained attack, and Utah saw the match out comfortably. With the win, the Royals snap a three match winless streak, and maintain their place toward the top of the table. Orlando falls out of a playoff position, and have now been blanked in three of their last four matches.

Houston earns draw against Racing with last gasp goal from Rader

Bottom of the table Louisville was hoping to pick up their first win in seven league matches, and looked to have done it. But then, in the dying moments, Houston’s Kat Rader squashed those hopes and salvaged a draw for the Dash. The home side started off strong, testing Houston keeper Jane Campbell several times in the first quarter-hour. For their part, Houston kept Jordyn Bloomer on her toes with quality attempts of their own. Both keepers held firm, until Racing broke through in the 19th minute. Emma Sears came down the left side and sent a shot at Campbell. She made the save, but could not control the ball. It lay on the line, and after several attempts to poke it home and heroic defense, Kayla Fischer was finally able to convert. Louisville held strong the rest of the half, and went in with their slim lead.

Louisville played the same smooth, controlled game in the second half, and it looked to pay dividends 80 minutes in. Maja Lardner sent the ball nicely into the path of Sears, and she tucked it by Campbell. Unfortunately for the home side, Sears was offside and the goal was waved off. Racing kept pressing for the second, but could not find it. And then, deep into stoppage time, Rader saved the point for Houston. In the 95th minute, Avery Patterson sent the ball into the box. Sophie Schmidt rose to head it back toward the onrushing Rader. She fired past Bloomer, and the match ended all square. Louisville remains at the bottom of the table, with Houston just three places ahead.

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Washington scores two in first, holds off furious Boston comeback attempt

The Spirit came in to Boston facing a Legacy team that was on a three match point streak and full of confidence. The visitors knew they would have to bring their A game, and did so in the first half. After a few attempts from either side early on, the Spirit cashed in at the 25 minute mark. Leicy Santos sent in a high cross to the far side. Tara Rudd rose up and sent a looping header back across goal. Casey Murphy chased after the ball, but it eluded her grasp and the visitors led, 1-0.

The Spirit quickly doubled their lead just six minutes later. Gift Monday got the ball right at midfield and spotted Trinity Rodman making a break. Monday threaded a perfect pass right in stride for the US international. She got between three Boston defenders and fired a low shot past Murphy, and the Spirit were cruising.

Then came the second half. Boston came out on fire, and had an excellent attempt just one minute in to the half. Aissata Traoré sent a strong shot at the Washington net that Sandy MacIver calmly handled. Boston controlled play from there and the ball seldom left the Washington end. The home side’s pressure finally paid off as the match was in it’s late stages. In the 88th minute, Emerson Elgin sent a long ball over the top towards a breaking Sammy Smith. MacIver came out to challenge, and Smith put it far post to halve the lead. Unfortunately for he Legacy, they could not find the equalizer despite tremendous effort in extra time. With the win, Washington goes top of table on goal differential, while Boston still has a legitimate chance at a playoff spot.

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NWSL Week 13 results in full

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