NWSL Week 6 round-up: Boston wins historic first match, Portland goes top of table

Following an opening day loss to Portland, the Spirit have not lost in six matches. An early strike and some tremendous team defense were the recipe for a victory over visiting Louisville. On a rainy night at Audi Field, the hosts held the Lavender to but a single shot on target while firing five of their own. The only one they needed came in the 15th minute. Sofia Cantore sent the ball into the middle of the box, and a wide-open Trinity Rodman calmly put it into the top bin.

From there, Washington had most of the chances throughout, with Louisville only threatening twice. Quincy McMahon sent an offering that glanced off the crossbar in the first half, and an attack by Katie O’Kane gave hope when a penalty in the box was called. The visitors prepared for a PK, but when the referee reviewed VAR, it was obvious that Spirit defender Hal Hershfelt had played perfect defense and stopped the play cleanly. Washington held on to continue their run up the table.

Gotham moves up with win at Chicago

Gotham jumped out on the home team early, putting two balls in the net in the first ten minutes of the match. Just 46 seconds in, Jaedyn Shaw sent a perfect pass to Jordynn Dudley at the far post. The striker merely had to tap the ball in, and Gotham led while fans were just getting to their seats. The Chicago faithful were in for a second disappointment quickly.

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New signing Guro Reiten had the ball alone on the left side and sent in almost the same pass that Shaw had done earlier. This time, Rose Lavelle was on the end of the back-post delivery, and she easily doubled the Gotham lead.

From there on out, Gotham controlled the match, as the Chicago offense continued sputtering — something it has done most of the season. The Stars managed just one shot on target all match, a rather pedestrian attempt that was easily stopped by Ann-Katrin Berger. The two sides are moving in opposite directions in the table, Gotham up, and Chicago down.

Portland upends San Diego in battle of table-toppers

Coming into this match, the Wave sat atop the table, with the Thorns just below them. On this night, the home side decided they liked the look from above and handled their guests. Portland started off quickly. Just ten minutes in, Olivia Moultrie sent a pass to Marie Müller at the top of the box. The German wizard made a textbook shot, opening up the goal and striking the ball perfectly into the far corner.

This match was exciting, with both sides making impressive attacks. Portland’s Mackenzie Arnold was able to turn away all chances directed at her, and the Thorns got their insurance in the second. A strong press from Jessie Fleming created a turnover, and the home side cashed in. Marie-Yasmine Alidou D’Anjou fed a streaking Sophia Wilson, and she fired a shot that Leah Freeman got a piece of, but could not keep out. Portland leapfrogs San Diego to go top of the table.

Houston & Seattle battle to scoreless draw

Although neither side managed to find the back of the net, this was an exciting match. Both teams had periods of control throughout, and both goalkeepers had to be at their best.

Uncomfortably for both teams, the Seattle Reign was joined by the Houston rain. The skies above Shell Energy Stadium opened up to a downpour for most of the first half, slowing play substantially. Jane Campbell stopped several Seattle shots, and the visitors hit both the post and the crossbar. Claudia Dickey was not as busy facing Houston’s attack, but still made two important saves.

The second half was drier, and the pace of the game picked up. Seattle’s offense kept up the intensity, and Emily Mason struck the crossbar solidly in the 60th minute for the best chance of the night. Neither side was able to strike home, and the match ended as it had begun. Houston and Seattle sit in the middle of the table, one point separating the two sides.

Washington continues hot streak, doubles up on Orlando

The Spirit are playing solid football, going unbeaten in their last seven matches. Washington’s latest victim was the Orlando Pride, who welcomed a side that has found their offense of late. In this match, however, Sofia Cantore found her offense very early.

Just two minutes in, Cantore took a pass from Trinity Rodman at the top of the box. The Italian international took a quick look and unleashed a shot from distance that blew past Anna Moorhouse. Then, just four minutes later, the striker got her brace. Rodman again spotted her teammate in the middle and gave her a great through ball. Cantore raced by the Orlando defense and around Moorhouse, tucking home for the fastest brace to start a match in NWSL history.

Orlando would come back in the half with a quick brace of their own. League-leading scorer Barbara Banda took the ball just in front of goal in the 33rd minute, and she did not miss from close range. Her quick turn and fire halved the lead. Barely six minutes later, Oihane Hernández fed the Zambian international in the box, and Banda again turned and fired home to equalize.

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The two sides came out hungry for more in the second half, and it was Washington that found the back of the net. Leicy Santos dropped a ball for Claudia Martinez on the run. She got behind the defense and put her shot past Moorhouse to regain the Spirit lead.

In the 70th minute, Rosemonde Kouassi took the ball down the right side and spotted Rodman sprinting down the middle. The pass was sublime, and Rodman easily tucked home to give the Spirit the two-goal lead again. Orlando could not find an answer, allowing Washington to steadily move up to third in the table.

Kansas City gets first road win of season at North Carolina

Bolstered by the recent return of superstar Temwa Chawinga, the Current was looking to right the ship and move up the table. They faced a Courage side that has been middle of the pack all season and is also struggling to find their identity.

The visitors tallied early, just eight minutes in. After some sustained pressure in the North Carolina end, the ball fell to Croix Bethune in the box. She took one touch and sent a rocket past Kailen Sheridan for the lead. Bethune was instrumental in Kansas City’s second goal, which came in the 23rd minute. Bethune got the ball in the middle of the field and sent it to Michelle Cooper on the right side. She got a head of steam, went past Sheridan, and slotted home for a 2-0 lead.

The second half did not provide so many highlights, as the visitors sat back and played excellent defense. The Courage mounted several attacks, and Lorena was called to make two huge saves. The home side finally broke through late, in the 85th minute. A steady push saw the ball and several players in the box right in front of goal. Manaka Matsukubo was finally able to finish for North Carolina, cutting the lead in half.

Any chance the home side could get the equalizer went out the door when defender Felicita Rauch was sent off for a hair pull on an aerial challenge in the 97th minute. Kansas City was able to see the rest of the match out for the three points.

Portland goes 4 points clear, handle hapless Chicago

Portland is currently playing terrific football and are top of the table, while Chicago is struggling both offensively and defensively, and sit third from the bottom. On this night, though, the Stars played the Thorns well, but the visitors were just that notch above.

Both sides had good chances early on, with Chicago’s Alyssa Naeher and Portland’s Mackenzie Arnold both making a big early save. The Thorns got the opener at 17 minutes, when Pietra Tordin’s shot was stopped by Naeher, but the rebound came right to Olivia Moultrie. The youngster slammed home after earlier becoming the youngest player to make 100 appearances in the NWSL.

The match would remain tight until late into the second half, when the Thorns finally got their insurance marker. With Chicago pressing, Moultrie put the ball into the middle of the field for Reilyn Turner. Naeher came way out of her goal to try to play the ball, but Turner got there first. She dribbled past the Stars’ netminder and put in a shot from 35 yards out. Portland opens up a three-point lead over Utah, while Chicago stays down toward the bottom.

Utah continues to rise as Angel City falls

After starting out the season as the league’s last unbeaten side, Angel City has now lost three straight matches. Utah was the latest victor, coming out on top in a very evenly matched affair.

Early on, both sides tested the other’s goalkeeper and both keepers came through. Utah’s Mandy McGlynn stopped Sveindís Jónsdóttir from in close, and Angel City’s Angelina Anderson denied Mina Tanaka just minutes later. The visitors broke through in the 32nd minute. Paige Cronin sent a terrific cross into the box, and Cloé Lacasse finished with a wonderful header.

The half ended on a worse note for the hosts, as midfielder Maiara Niehues was sent off just before the break after an altercation with Lacasse. Lacasse was shown yellow, but Niehues’ actions earned her a red.

Despite being down to 10, Angel City came out of the half going forward. The home side tested McGlynn several times, with Jónsdóttir’s chance in the 77th minute being the strongest. The Utah keeper was up to the task, and the Royals held on for the win. Utah has now won four straight for the first time in their brief history. They now sit second in the table behind only Portland.

Legacy earn historic first win with victory over Denver

In the highly anticipated first battle between the league’s two expansion sides, it was the home Legacy that gained their first franchise win with some late heroics.

The visitors tallied first in the 18th minute. Yazmeen Ryan displayed some fancy footwork outside the box, got herself some separation from her defender, and unleashed a shot past Casey Murphy. Boston kept coming at Abby Smith, and eventually were rewarded. The Legacy earned a corner in the 43rd minute, and the ball bounced around in the box until it came to Nichelle Prince. The Canadian international headed home, and the sides were level.

Boston kept up their offensive play in the second half, looking to go ahead, but it was Denver who took the late lead. Olivia Thomas sent a quick pass ahead to Tash Flint, and she let fly from just outside the box. The England international’s shot kept rising into the top bin, and it looked as though the Legacy would have to wait for their first win.

Boston would not give up, however. Their press paid off in the 90th minute, as Laurel Ansbrow put the ball into the box. Aissata Traoré brought the ball down, turned and fired by Smith. And then, with time winding down, the captain came through for the home side. Traoré popped a little header to a wide-open Bianca St-Georges. The Canadian skipper calmly closed and put the winner by Smith. Boston earns a well-fought first-ever win.

Gotham pitches third straight clean sheet, takes down Racing Louisville

Gotham is another side putting together a nice little win streak, claiming their third straight against a floundering Racing Louisville side. Hosting the Lavender, Gotham controlled this match throughout and were rewarded for their efforts. The home side got all the scoring they needed early on through Jaedyn Shaw in the 16th minute. Jordynn Dudley made a great run down the right side and spotted her winger in front of the net. Shaw tapped in the perfect pass that left Jordyn Bloomer with no chance. Shaw nearly nabbed a brace moments later, but Bloomer stopped her on this occasion.

Gotham came at Louisville in waves during the second half, and it was only the efforts of Bloomer that kept the match from being a four- or five-goal blowout. The visitors never mounted another serious attack and managed one shot on target. Gotham and Ann-Katrin Berger have now collected three clean sheets in a row, and sit fifth in the table.

Bay FC hands San Diego second straight loss

Following a five-match win streak that had them at the top of the table, the Wave have now lost back-to-back matches. Bay took an early lead and held on for the duration to stop their own two-match slide.

The visitors wasted no time getting on the board. Five minutes in, Taylor Huff started out from just outside her own box and spotted Racheal Kundananji making her run. Huff’s pass was perfect, catching the Zambian international in stride. Kundananji closed on goal, then nutmegged Didi Haracic for the lead.

The home side came within centimeters of tying the match in the 17th minute. Ludmila was brought down in the box, and San Diego was awarded a penalty. Kenza Dali stepped to the spot, and Jordan Silkowitz got her fingertips on the low effort, pushing it off the post to be cleared by her defense.

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San Diego kept on the front foot for most of the rest of the match, and Silkowitz was called on to make six saves throughout. The Wave controlled possession, corners, and shots, but could not find the equalizer. Then, with but five minutes left on the clock, Wave coach Jonas Eidevall was shown a red card for arguing after Bay’s Anouk Denton went down following a blow to the head. (Which is fine, because he will never be forgiven for Viv leaving.) The sides played out, and Bay get their third win of the season.

NWSL Week 6 results in full

• Boston Legacy 2-2 North Carolina Courage
• Washington Spirit 1-0 Racing Louisville
• Chicago Stars 0-2 Gotham FC
• Portland Thorns 2-0 San Diego Wave
• Houston Dash 0-0 Seattle Reign
• Orlando Pride 2-4 Washington Spirit
• North Carolina Courage 1-2 Kansas City Current
• Angel City FC 0-1 Utah Royals
• Chicago Stars 0-2 Portland Thorns
• Boston Legacy 3-2 Denver Summit
• Gotham FC 1-0 Racing Louisville
• San Diego Wave 0-1 Bay FC

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