NWSL 2018 Week 9

Four games this weekend, spread out over three days. First up...

The Portland Thorns FC host the Utah Royals FC. Abby Smith and Britt Eckerstrom are the less experienced goalies. Portland led off in the eighteenth minute with a Christine Sinclair goal, made possible by Tobin Heath on a give-and-go. The Thorns added on in the thirty-ninth minute with a Lindsey Horan goal, passed from Meghan Klingenberg. In the sixty-seventh minute, Horan received a yellow card for dissent. In the sixty-ninth minute, Rachel Corsie of Utah received a yellow card for a foul. In the eighty-second minute, Gunnhildur Jonsdottir had a yellow card for her foul for the Royals. The final held at 2-0, with the woman of the match being Sinclair. The Thorns also got good performances from Heath, Klingenberg, Horan, and Midge Purce. The Royals' best were Becky Sauerbrunn, Desiree Scott, Erika Tymrak, and Amy Rodriguez.

On Saturday, the Chicago Red Stars welcome the Orlando Pride. Ashlyn Harris and Alyssa Naeher are the American keepers. Orlando began in the second minute with a Rachel Hill goal, after Poliana and Marta combined to send in a cross deflected by Chicago's Arin Gilliland. The Pride added on in the sixth minute with an Alex Morgan goal, helped along by Marta and Alanna Kennedy. Chicago got on the board in the twenty-first minute with a Sam Kerr goal, assisted by Yuki Nagasato and Michele Vasconcelos. The Red Stars saw a yellow card for a Sam Johnson foul in the forty-second minute. Chicago tied it in the sixtieth minute on a Kerr goal, made possible by Nagasato and Taylor Comeau. Orlando retook the lead on a Sydney Leroux goal, fueled by Ali Krieger. The Pride extended the lead as Leroux scored again in the sixty-third minute after Morgan's initial shot was deflected. Orlando capped it at 5-2 with a Dani Weatherholt goal in the eighty-third minute, courtesy of Morgan. The woman of the match was Leroux, while Morgan, Marta, Kennedy, Krieger, Poliana, Shelina Zadorsky, and Weatherholt all did well for the Pride. For the Red Stars, the best efforts came from Katie Naughton, Ertz, Nagasato, and Kerr.

East to New Jersey, as Sky Blue FC brings in the Seattle Reign FC. Lydia Williams and Kailen Sheridan protect the nets. Seattle got going in the sixty-fourth minute with a Megan Rapinoe goal, assisted by Christen Westphal. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the woman of the match being the Reign's Allie Long. Also starring for Seattle were Westphal, Lauren Barnes, Jess Fishlock, and Rapinoe. Sky Blue's best were Sheridan (five for six in saves), Rebekah Stott, Sarah Killion, and Carli Lloyd.

Finally, on Sunday, the Houston Dash host the Washington Spirit. Aubrey Bledsoe and Jane Campbell are between the sticks. Washington saw a yellow card for a foul in the fifth minute by Meggie Dougherty Howard. Houston got going in first half stoppage time on a Rachel Daly goal, passed from Nichelle Prince and Mana Shim. Francisca Ordega of the Spirit received a yellow card in first half stoppage time for a foul. The Dash added on in the forty-sixth minute with a Kealia Ohai goal from outside the box. Washington got on the board in the fifty-fourth minute with an Estefania Banini goal, passed from Taylor Smith. In the seventy-eighth minute, Houston replied with a Daly goal, courtesy of Thembi Kgatlana and scored into an empty net as Bledsoe missed her tackle. The Spirit got one back with an Ashley Hatch goal in second half stoppage time. Daly received a yellow card for delaying the game in stoppage time. The final held at 3-2 for the Dash, with Daly named woman of the match. Also starring for Houston were Ohai, Shim, and van Wyk, while the Spirit saw good games from Sullivan, Banini, and Smith.

Team of the Week
GK Jane Campbell
RB Ali Krieger
CB Rebekah Stott
CB Lauren Barnes
LB Allysha Chapman
DM Alanna Kennedy
AM Christine Sinclair
AM Yuki Nagasato
FW Rachel Daly
FW Sydney Leroux
FW Jessica McDonald

Bench
GK Kailen Sheridan
FB Jaelene Hinkle
CB Janine van Wyk
DM Andi Sullivan
AM Allie Long
FW Marta
FW Alex Morgan