There's still two games left to play in this weeks NWSL but already it's been MAD! The table is all over the place, it looks like they've thrown all the clubs into a hat and pulled them out one by one!
I want to go over the battle for 1st place between Portland Thorns & North Carolina Courage. There remains ONE POINT in the title race and it's hotting up more than ever!
Portland Thorns v Sky Blue FC
The biggest moment of this weekend was 1st place Thorns vs 9th (last place) Sky Blue FC. Sky Blue have had 13 games in a row scoring 1 goal or less. They are REALLY struggling to put it in the net and they've only won 2 games all season. Awkward.
Portland Thorns were top going into this weekend, scoring 30 goals in 14 games. I think you get the picture. Walkover right?
Wrong. 39 minutes in and things were all going to plan - penalty to The Thorns for a really late tackle in the area. No complaints from the Sky Blues and Sinclair smashed it home for 1-0.
Then the second half happened and it wasn't comfortable viewing... Sky Blue FC adopted a really deep position and wouldn't stop pushing, the counters were constant but between 60th & 70th minute there were 2 or 3 opportunities to get the Blues back into the game. One headed cross hit the post and then deflected out of the danger zone before one moment of magic turned the game upside down: 68th minute, a clever low pass across the box and Dorsey smashed it low and hard into the bottom left. Absolute peach. What. A. Lovely. Goal.
The last few minutes were touch and go following a 91 minute sending off for Sky Blue's Pierre-Louise following a silly yellow card. She only ended up playing 19 minutes of football... My coach would probably sit me out for the rest of the season for two yellows in 19 minutes!!
The game finished 1-1 which seemed like a relatively fair result. If The Thorns want to snatch the title then they're going to have to become more clinical and get their heads in the game. Portland Thorns would have to pray that 2nd place North Carolina Courage weren't able to beat 5th place Washington Spirit to remain top of the table.
North Carolina Courage v Washington Spirit
It was a game dominated by Courage arguably because the referee issued a red card in the 24th minute for "last man standing". The Brazilian Debinha was in on goal on the edge of the area but by my standards it was a soft decision by the referee. It was almost certainly a goal if she'd chosen not to hit the floor and it flipped the game around. Let's face it, Debinha chose to hit the floor, she could've held herself up and she chose not to. Luckily the resulting free kick flew over the bar and a small semblance of normality resumed.
In the 30th minute Washington looked as if they were going to have one of those days when the ball hit the Washington post before the keeper pulled off two remarkable saves. For just a second you thought that luck may be in their favour before in 63rd NCC finally made them pay with an awesome volleyed goal smashed into the ceiling of the net. Spetsmark does well to get the ball headed across the face of the goal and that (diving) Brazilian causes more upset by burying it!
How is the table looking?
Portland wont be too pleased following this weekends action, they now sit ONE POINT below North Carolina Courage with 3 goals difference on the GD tally. They are a ruthless team and I can see them pulling it back though. The title is likely to rest on next weekend as they take on each other and they'll have all their main ladies back in action.
I, for one, can't wait!!
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