NWSL Week 4

We're back for the fourth week of the season, with four Saturday games and a single game on Mother's Day, with special sponsorship by Coppertone for the NWSL this weekend. The first game is...

The Washington Spirit hosting the Portland Thorns. Adrianna Franch and Stephanie Labbe protect the nets. Watch the game here. Portland had a shot in the third minute from Meleana Shim, blocked by Megan Oyster of Washington. The Spirit had their first true chance with Crystal Dunn up the left wing, crossing in directly at Thorns keeper Franch. Alyssa Kleiner earned a corner for Washington in the ninth minute, and Diana Matheson's service was headed by Ali Krieger but saved by Franch. The Spirit kept up good pressure through Dunn, but Emily Menges proved strong in defense as another corner kick comes up, with Franch snagging Matheson's service this time. Washington had another shot in the fourteenth minute by Cali Farquharson, but it was wide right. The corner produced a high and wide Shelina Zadorsky shot. Tobin Heath of Portland drew a foul by Oyster on the left side of the box in the seventeenth minute, earning Oyster a yellow card and the Thorns get a free kick. Heath served it in, but Kleiner knocked it out for a corner, and eventually Joanna Lohman knocked it out to the sideline. On the counterattack, Krieger's cross was defended by Menges as the game is wide open through about 20 minutes. In the twenty-fourth minute, Heath had a half-chance for Portland. In the twenty-fifth minute, Emily Sonnett fouled Dunn outside the box in a very similar situation to the foul by Oyster, and Sonnett earned a yellow card for it. Matheson's service was sent back across for a shot by Tori Huster, but Franch tipped it over the bar. The corner saw Krieger head Matheson's service out of bounds as the Spirit get another wave of attack. On a thirtieth minute attack from the Thorns, Labbe came off her line strong, blocking Heath, Allie Long, and then ushering Meghan Klingenberg's chip attempt over the bar. Lindsey Horan was swarming around the box, and Kleiner cleanly knocked the ball away in what could have been called for a foul. A pair of Portland corner kicks, Dagny Brynjarsdottir had a chance go wide and Oyster made a clearance on the second service before there was a foul to give the Spirit possession. In the thirty-fifth minute, Krieger had a cross into Dunn that went past Franch, but Dunn was called offside and the game remains scoreless. Washington charged again, with Krieger serving in to Farquharson, who missed on a shot, and then Dunn deflected it off a Thorn for a corner kick. Lohman tried to volley the ball in, but Brynjarsdottir cleared it for Portland. In the fortieth minute, Franch did well to challenge Farquharson, who shot wide left to give the Thorns a goal kick. In the forty-fourth minute, Dunn kept the traffic going toward Franch's net, but she shot high as the half winds down with a bit less action. Heath had a late corner cleared by Estefania Banini. The first half ended with no score. Playing well for the Thorns are GK Franch, CB Menges, and LW Heath, while the Spirit have seen strong efforts from CB Oyster, RB Krieger, LB Kleiner, LW Matheson, DCM Huster, and striker Dunn. In the forty-eighth minute, Nadia Nadim had her first real look for Portland, getting stopped by Labbe on the right side of the goal. The Thorns had some pressure with Brynjarsdottir, Long, and Heath all taking touches before the Spirit could clear. Shim and Labbe had a collision in the fifty-third minute as Portland has seen the better of the attacks in the early stages of the second half. In the fifty-ninth minute, Heath took a yellow card for interfering with Krieger's free kick. When she did get the kick off, Franch plucked it up to relieve the pressure for Portland. In the sixty-second minute, Heath crossed in after Long dummied, and Oyster cleared it out for a corner kick. Labbe punched the Heath service out, and Banini moved it along further. In the sixty-fifth minute, Lohman and Nadim collided, with Lohman drawing the foul. Long got sandwiched between Labbe and Zadorsky in the sixty-seventh minute as she charged up the center toward goal, and she stayed down awhile, but there was no call on the play. After a Spirit corner kick, they buzzed around Franch's net, ending with Matheson shooting straight at Franch. Cheyna Williams fed Dunn with a pass in the seventy-third minute, but Franch palmed it aside for a Spirit corner kick. In the seventy-sixth minute, Heath's free kick was cleared by Williams for a corner kick, cleared out by the Spirit again. On another attack by Long, Oyster came up big for the defensive stop. Portland has applied some pressure late in the half as they look to break the deadlock. In the eighty-eighth minute, Heath did her best Rob Gronkowski, spiking the ball after fouling Oyster. This drew her second yellow card of the game, and the Thorns are down to ten women. Despite the disadvantage, Horan managed a shot in the ninetieth minute after a block initially by Zadorsky. In stoppage time, Matheson cramped up but came back into play to finish the game. The Spirit created a flurry in stoppage time, mostly through sub Christine Nairn, ending with a shot that went wide. Dunn had a shot about three minutes into added time, but it went off the left post after beating Franch. A minute later, Horan took a yellow card for a handball. Nairn's free kick found Huster, but nothing happened with it. Hayley Raso pushed Krieger down on the wing without a call. Nairn took a shot high on the next Washington attack. The game ended 0-0, with Dunn the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match. The players named at halftime stayed strong in the second half without much else from the other players, aside from maybe CBs Sonnett and Zadorsky and DM Long.

Along to Boston, where the Breakers welcome the Chicago Red Stars. Alyssa Naeher faces her former team and Abby Smith in goal. Watch the game here. Chicago earned a corner kick in the third minute with pressure from Arin Gilliland. The service from Danielle Colaprico went short to Vanessa DiBernardo, but nothing came of it. Boston had some services from Stephanie McCaffrey and Mollie Pathman from the left side in the fifth minute, but Sam Johnson came up strong to start the counter through Jen Hoy for the Red Stars. Christen Press challenged the Breakers keeper Smith with a shot, and they're holding the zone now. Chicago's Hoy received a yellow card for a foul on Boston defensive midfielder on McCall Zerboni in the eighth minute. The Red Stars saw Julie Johnston break up three crosses by the Breakers. Chicago has had some pressure early in the first half, with Gilliland and Alyssa Mautz earning a throw in in the Breakers defensive third. Smith took care of the throw. Boston had a great chance as Kyah Simon set up McCaffrey for a narrow angle shot that just crossed the face of goal in the fifteenth minute. Red Stars keeper Naeher blocked headers from Julie King and Simon, and then Engen crossed one in before it was cleared. DiBernardo and Colaprico did the defensive work to keep out what should have been a goal. Kassey Kallman went deep for Simon in the sixteenth minute, but Naeher snatched it up. Gilliland found Sofia Huerta with a pass, but they had to go out wide and Smith distributed from the cross. Chicago had a shot from the top of the box in the twentieth minute by Huerta, stopped by Smith after it bounced off the post. Boston made a foray forward in the twenty-second minute, ending when Louise Schillgard was taken down legally in the box. On the other end, Hoy just barely shot wide in the twenty-third minute, earning a corner kick with Smith getting fingertips on it. Gilliland had the final cross on that attack, and Smith picked it up to send Boston forward. Smith had to make a huge save against Hoy when Kallman failed to break up a through ball from the Red Stars back line. Smith took a bad step and was hurt on the play, and Libby Stout was forced to replace Smith in goal. Boston had a decent attempt in the thirty-eighth minute, as Angela Salem set up Schillgard, who knocked it off a Red Star to create a corner kick. Kristie Mewis' service was punched out by Naeher. In the thirty-ninth minute, Johnston fouled Mewis as they battled for a King cross in the penalty area, but Mewis took her own penalty kick and hit the post before it rebounded off Naeher's arm, good for a save to keep it scoreless. In the forty-second minute, Salem and Mautz tangled, with Mautz called for the foul on a somewhat dangerous play. Chicago had a big counterattack in the forty-fifth minute on a Casey Short cross, cleared out for a corner. The service was knocked over the bar by the Red Stars. The teams went into halftime tied at 0. Impressing for the Red Stars are GK Naeher, RB Gilliland, CB Johnston, DMs Colaprico and DiBernardo, and LF Hoy. On the Boston side, RB King, LB Pathman, AM Mewis, and RF Simon have done pretty well so far. The Breakers had early pressure in the second half, with Sam Johnson turning the ball out for a corner kick. Mewis sent one in for Zerboni and Kallman, but they couldn't connect. In the fiftieth minute, Mewis sent in a cross, which King sent wide as the Breakers have done well to keep the ball so far. McCaffrey also found Simon on the next foray forward, but the shot from Simon was off target. Chicago had a shot in the fifty-third minute, tipped away by Stout. The Red Stars got things going in the scoring department with a sixtieth minute goal by Press. The Breakers had a bad clearance on a DiBernardo corner kick, and Press struck it to the top left corner to give Chicago the 1-0 lead. Boston looked to have a good chance as Simon strung a pass to Schillgard, but the latter was offside. On the other end, in the sixty-fourth minute Huerta had a shot go wide. Boston has had trouble breaking the Chicago defensive shell after the goal, creating a battle in the midfield. Mewis had an attempt in the seventy-second minute, blocked by Casey Short. Huerta was called offside on the counterattack, after Whitney Engen fell down, setting the line accidentally. Johnston had to clear one off the line in the seventy-fourth minute after Schillgard sent one into a mob of players, where Katie Schoepfer shot it in. In the eighty-third minute, Press had another shot toward Stout's right, but the keeper turned this one out for a corner kick this time. Colaprico's service was deflected out for another corner, and nothing came of the second offering. Mewis nearly had a golden chance in stoppage time, but Mewis was smothered by Naeher and her defenders to preserve the score. The Red Stars held on for a 1-0 win. Julie Johnston earned the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match honors, providing solid defense and a clear off the line to help the win. In addition to the players mentioned at halftime, striker Press did really well in the second half.

In New Jersey, Sky Blue FC hosts the Western New York Flash. Sabrina D'Angelo and Caroline Stanley guard the nets. Here's the game. In the second minute, Western New York's Adriana Leon had a good foray forward broken up by Sky Blue's Kelley O'Hara. In the fourth minute, the Flash's Abby Dahlkemper had to shove Natasha Kai of Sky Blue on her run, and this earned Dahlkemper a yellow card for the foul. Sarah Killion's free kick was caught by Flash keeper D'Angelo. O'Hara had a brilliant cross into the box in the eighth minute, where Kai headed it wide right despite being very open. Sky Blue has had the better of the play in the first ten minutes. Jaelene Hinkle of Western New York did have a questionable non-foul against O'Hara, throwing a hip that knocked the Sky Blue star down. Maya Hayes fed a pass toward O'Hara in the twelfth minute, and while D'Angelo bobbled the ball, she was able to recover with no added danger. The Flash had their first good work when Elizabeth Eddy beat Erin Simon, but the cross was cleared by Erica Skroski. On the other end, Eddy shut down Taylor Lytle as Sky Blue made a counterattack in the sixteenth minute. In the eighteenth minute, Killion found O'Hara, who ran toward goal and shot at D'Angelo. The keeper again struggled to handle the ball, but covered before Sky Blue could do anything. In the twentieth minute, Hayes had a run forward, getting around Flash defender Abby Erceg but with a heavy touch that D'Angelo sent to the sideline. Samantha Mewis had a shot in the twenty-first minute, a low shot grabbed easily by Stanley in the Sky Blue six-yard box. Christie Rampone had a rare bad pass, picked off by Alanna Kennedy, who sent it to Leon, but the service in was sent away. Taylor Smith of Western New York eventually got it and shot high over Stanley's goal. Sky Blue broke down on defense after Dahlkemper's free kick resulting from Nikki Stanton's foul on Jeon Ga-eul, with Smith and Jessica McDonald both getting shots, and Leon got tangled up, allowing Stanley to cover it with help from Rampone to shield her. Eddy once again got around Simon on the Flash's right attacking flank, showing a bit of a mismatch to favor Western New York. The Flash had a corner kick that saw Rampone clear for Sky Blue, and while they got numbers forward, they didn't produce a shot. Mewis had a shot going back the other way that went over the bar. In the thirty-first minute, Leon hit the post as Simon fell down in defense, keeping Western New York's pressure high. In the thirty-third minute, Hayes earned a free kick, taken by Rampone short as they move up the field. The Flash held off the pressure, including a Raquel Rodriguez shot that went over the bar as Sky Blue has shifted the pressure away from their goal and toward D'Angelo. In the thirty-fifth minute, Hayes scored on a pass from Rodriguez, giving Sky Blue the 1-0 lead. Western New York had Kennedy take a shot in the thirty-eighth minute, but Stanley took care of it. In the fortieth minute, Sky Blue saw Lytle shoot one deflected back at her by Dahlkemper, and then Stanton shot one over the bar. In the forty-first minute, Stanton took a yellow card for her foul against Mewis at the top of the penalty area. The Flash's free kick was taken by Mewis, but it went over the goal. Sky Blue had a counter with O'Hara passing to Hayes, but her shot was blocked by Hinkle. Sky Blue went into halftime up 1-0. Impressing for the Flash are RB Eddy, CB Dahlkemper, DM Mewis, and RF Leon, while Sky Blue have seen great efforts from GK Stanley, RB O'Hara, CB Rampone, DM Killion, and forwards Hayes and Kai. In the fifty-first minute, Sky Blue saw Kai called offside in the first real offensive attack of the second half. On the other side, McDonald sent a pass to Ga-eul at the top of the six-yard box, but she didn't get a clean kick and Stanley covered it. The Flash had some pressure around the fifty-fifth minute, but they haven't had any good crosses on the possession. A free kick in the fifty-eighth minute found McDonald but went wide of Stanley's net. Hayes had a good cross for Sky Blue in the fifty-ninth minute, headed away by Dahlkemper. On the ensuing throw in, Rodriguez took a low shot saved by D'Angelo. On the next Sky Blue attack, Hayes laid off for O'Hara, who shot just wide left from the right side of the box. Eddy had a shot for Western New York that went straight at Stanley in the sixty-third minute. Hinkle managed a shot at Stanley in the sixty-fifth minute. In the sixty-seventh minute, Sky Blue's Rodriguez took a shot saved by D'Angelo. In the sixty-ninth minute, Kai took a hard shot at D'Angelo, and then nearly trickled the ball in, but Dahlkemper saved her keeper with the clearance. In the seventy-first minute, Skroski committed a handball in the box, and Western New York's Hinkle took and made the penalty kick to tie the game. Stanley also received a yellow card for arguing with the referee's judgement on the call. O'Hara tried a cross for Sky Blue in the seventy-fourth minute, but Dahlkemper came up big again with the clearance. In the seventy-fifth minute, Hinkle again pushed O'Hara down without being called for a foul, as she toes the line between physical and reckless. A McDonald long throw in the eighty-first minute found substitute Makenzy Doniak, but she couldn't get enough power on it to challenge Stanley. Kelly Conheeney of Sky Blue challenged D'Angelo with a long shot on the counter attack. D'Angelo had to come far out to clear a through ball from Sky Blue, and it bounced to McDonald, who shot high over Stanley's goal. Western New York had a lot of pressure, with Hinkle crossing in, Stanley dropping the service and falling down, and Mewis pounding in the rebound in the eighty-sixth minute to put the Flash up 2-1. Sky Blue had three straight corners, with the second producing Danielle Schulmann's header tipped over by D'Angelo, while the third did nothing. In stoppage time, Kristen Hamilton of the Flash took a yellow card for her foul. O'Hara had a shot immediately after, but it went off target. Mewis fouled Schulmann to give Sky Blue one last chance in the very final seconds of the game, taken and shot high by O'Hara. The final held at 2-1 for Western New York, with the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match being Samantha Mewis, the defensive midfielder. Also playing well in the second half was LB Hinkle for the Flash, and DM Stanton for Sky Blue, in addition to the players mentioned at half time.

The last game on Saturday has FC Kansas City bringing in the Houston Dash (while the men's teams from the same cities tangle down in Houston). Lydia Williams and Nicole Barnhart are the gloved women. Houston's Rachel Daly very quickly had a shot go high in the first minute after kickoff, receiving the pass from Chioma Ubogagu. Kansas City didn't get a lot of possession early, but one foray forward saw Heather O'Reilly stuffed by the Dash's Allysha Chapman. Becca Moros again turned over the ball to the Blues, but O'Reilly's cross to Erika Tymrak didn't produce a shot. Another cross from Brittany Taylor caught Mandy Laddish offside. The Blues kept going in the ninth minute as Shea Groom crossed into Laddish, who popped the shot very high. In the eleventh minute, O'Reilly flicked one in to Groom, who also shot over the bar. Chapman beat O'Reilly on a Houston attack, but Taylor got the ball to Becky Sauerbrunn for the clear in the thirteenth minute. An O'Reilly ball over the top in the fourteenth minute was handled by Ellie Brush to keep it away from Groom. The game has been pretty open-ended in the first 15 minutes. The Blues had another chance as Jen Buczkowski crossed into Groom, whose header was snatched by Williams. Groom continued to be a pain in the neck for Williams, deflecting a cross from Laddish on goal. In the twenty-first minute, Laddish took a shot tipped over by Williams for a corner kick. O'Reilly's service for the Blues was easily cleared. In the twenty-fourth minute, Daly played in Chapman, and Barnhart made a kick save to create a corner kick. The Blues had a shot from Buczkowski in the twenty-sixth minute after a serve in from Amanda Frisbie. The true chances have dried up a bit around the half hour mark as the teams bounce around the midfield. Yael Averbuch had a chance broken up by a good slide as Houston has proven very strong defensively. As Groom received a pass, Brush knocked her down cleanly to break up the Kansas City attack. In the thirty-sixth minute, Laddish forced Williams to make a massive, diving save. Tymrak was fouled at the top of the penalty area by Amber Brooks, giving Kansas City a dangerous free kick chance. Averbuch bounced the free kick off the wall and shot the rebound wide without any true threat to Williams. Going the other way in the fortieth minute, Daly took a shot on a rebound from Ubogagu that went high over the Blues net. Laddish embarrassed the Houston defense, beating both Moros and Brush, but shooting narrowly wide of the left post in the forty-second minute. In first half stoppage time, Daly took a yellow card for her foul on Tymrak. The game went to halftime scoreless. Playing well for the Dash are GK Williams, LB Chapman, CB Brush, CF Daly, and LF Ubogagu, while the Blues have seen RB Taylor, RW O'Reilly, DM Buczkowski, AM Laddish, and striker Groom all play very well so far. Houston attacked in the forty-sixth minute as Denise O'Sullivan crossed to Ubogagu, parried out to Brooks by Barnhart, with a foul called to alleviate the pressure. The second half saw a bit of passing around without any true crosses or shots to create dangerous play. Houston tried an attack in the fifty-fifth minute as Daly got by Sauerbrunn but failed to fool Averbuch. In the fifty-eighth minute, O'Reilly ran to the end line and then at Williams, who turned her away in the Blues' best chance so far this half. Averbuch served one in to Groom in the sixty-third minute as Kansas City has taken a bit more possession after the hour mark. In the sixty-fifth minute, Daly took a shot after breaking free from Sauerbrunn and Averbuch, earning a corner as Barnhart tipped it aside. On the corner, Moros got a shot from outside the box that went over the bar. In the sixty-eighth minute, Houston dented the scoreboard on an O'Sullivan goal, set up by a bicycle kick by Ubogagu who shot it to the left side with Barnhart unable to react. Kealia Ohai had the original service into Ubogagu on the play. In the seventieth minute, Daly passed one to Ubogagu from the top of the box, and she slotted it home to make it 2-0 Dash in quick succession. O'Sullivan had what would be the secondary assist. Houston continued to look dangerous, with Ubogagu getting blocked by Barnhart, and then Andressa fired a shot that got knocked out by Frisbie. Houston's Brush redirected the service from the short corner kick right at Barnhart with good pace. In the seventy-sixth minute, Andressa cracked another shot on goal toward Barnhart. Andressa nearly found Ohai on another foray forward for the Dash, but Sauerbrunn broke the play up. Sauerbrunn showed some offense steel for a run forward, where Brush fouled her just outside the box. Averbuch's shot on the kick was deflected out for a corner kick by O'Reilly. Taylor and Groom each had shots in the eighty-sixth minute, and one deflected off a Houston player's hands. Averbuch came up for the penalty kick, and buried it in the eighty-seventh minute, making it a 2-1 game. Taylor had a shot in stoppage time, but wide left, as Houston has done pretty well in killing the game. Houston sealed it for a 2-1 win, with the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match being Ubogagu for her role in both goals. Also impressing alongside the first half mentions were the Dash's sub O'Sullivan and LW Andressa, while Kansas City saw a decent performance from CBs Averbuch and Sauerbrunn despite them being responsible for the defensive lapses.

On Sunday, the week ended with the Orlando Pride hosting the Seattle Reign. Hope Solo faces her national team backup Ashlyn Harris in goal. The game can be found here. Seattle had chances from Elli Reed and Keelin Winters disrupted by Laura Alleway and Kaylyn Kyle in defense. The Pride saw a chance by Jasmyne Spencer die with a heavy touch, allowing Solo to pick it up. Josee Belanger did well to block a Reign cross from Manon Melis in the fifth minute. Merritt Mathias made a nice run toward goal, deflecting her shot off Alleway and Harris, as well as the Pride's post to earn a corner kick. Lauren Barnes served into Rachel Corsie, but the header was caught by Harris in the ninth minute to allow Orlando to break out. Sam Witteman had a shot in the tenth minute, but went wide of Solo's net. In the eleven minute, Alex Morgan tracked down a ball into space, serving into Sarah Hagen who headed it past Solo for a 1-0 Pride lead on a strong goal. Spencer and Hagen connected for a decent chance in the fourteenth minute, but it deflected off of a Seattle defender for a corner kick. Beverly Yanez defended it, and Kristen Edmonds tried from the other side on another corner kick that was cleared by Reed. Mathias was called offside for a sixteenth minute try for Seattle. Mathias was caught offside again on a Carson Pickett pass in the seventeenth minute. Melis earned the Reign a corner in the twentieth minute with her right wing run. Kim Little has had trouble connecting with the forwards so far. Spencer earned a corner off of Corsie in the twenty-sixth minute. Edmonds had the service, but it was punched away by Solo. In the thirtieth minute, Kyle had a pretty hard foul on Yanez at midfield, giving Seattle a free kick. Seattle built out the back on the right side, but they ended up with nothing when Melis and Fletcher miscommunicated, giving the Pride a throw-in. In the thirty-ninth minute, Kyle was fouled hard by Winters, in what could be seen as a make-up for what happened to Yanez earlier. Edmonds had a corner kick in to Monica in the fortieth minute, but it rolled out for a Solo goal kick. Reed made a good run up the left wing, and Monica proved strong in defense, keying an Orlando counter. Barnes had a corner in the forty-fifth minute, but Winters couldn't get it on target, and Harris watched it go out harmlessly. Witteman, Edmonds, and Spencer all connected for a good play after Witteman dispossessed Barnes, but Spencer's shot went into the arms of Solo. The Pride lead 1-0 at halftime. The best efforts have come from RW Witteman, LW Spencer, ACM Edmonds, and forward Hagen for Orlando, while Seattle's CB Barnes, AM Yanez, and CF Mathias have been decent. Orlando's Morgan took Barnes off the ball, but Barnes disrupted her run up the left wing to create two straight corner kicks from Edmonds that didn't produce a shot. In the forty-ninth minute, Steph Catley tried a long cross to Kyle, but Solo picked it up. Corsie had no choice to foul Edmonds in the fifty-first minute, giving the Pride an odd angle free kick. Solo punched it straight to Spencer, who shot it high. Orlando continued to press early in the second half, with Morgan earning a corner kick off Fletcher. Solo had to cover a deflected ball in the box to prevent a goal. In the fifty-sixth minute, Little fed one in to Yanez, but the latter was offside as Seattle continues to try a north-south style of play. Catley had the best of Melis in the fifty-ninth minute when Melis tried to use footwork to get around her. In the sixty-first minute, Alleway broke up a combination that saw Little charging forward as the Reign have gained some attacking possession. In the sixty-fifth minute, Mathias just lost control of a ball in the box before she could shoot. In the sixty-ninth minute, Corsie fouled Fletcher just outside the top of the box, and the free kick taken by Lianne Sanderson, who deflected it off the wall for a corner kick, and nothing came from it. In the seventy-first minute, Sanderson served to Morgan, who was saved by Solo, and then Spencer and Morgan nearly connected before it was cleared away. In the seventy-fourth minute, Catley took a through ball and shot off the bar. Witteman had a big play, beating multiple Reign defenders to set up Morgan for a shot that Solo just saved. Witteman tried again to pass to Morgan after Catley's long ball, and Solo's punch to Spencer created a high shot in the eightieth minute. Seattle had a big chance in the eighty-third minute, with Yanez taking a long shot that Harris palmed off her bar, and then Michelle Cruz shot on the rebound and crashed into Harris. In the eighty-sixth minute, Morgan took a shot when she got around Cruz, and the shot took Solo out of the play, allowing Sanderson to bash home the rebound, and make it 2-0 for Orlando. Havana Solaun had a decent bit of footwork but couldn't get through all of the Pride. In stoppage time, Solaun passed to Reed, who shot straight at Harris. The game ended 2-0, with the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match being RW Witteman, who grew into the game. Also impressing for Orlando in the second half were LB Catley, striker Morgan, ACM Sanderson, and DCM Kyle, while the Reign had DCM Winters play well.

Outsider Sports Best XI - Week 4
GK Alyssa Naeher
RB Elizabeth Eddy
CB Julie Johnston
CB Abby Dahlkemper
LB Allysha Chapman
DCM Kaylyn Kyle
RW Samantha Witteman
LW Samantha Mewis
RF Chioma Ubogagu
CF Crystal Dunn
LF Rachel Daly

Major League Soccer 2016 - Week 10

MLS is back for nine games this weekend. The first is a Friday game...

As Orlando City SC hosts the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Joe Bendik are in goal. Aurelien Collin of New York had a yellow card for a foul in the eighteenth minute. The Red Bulls led off in the nineteenth minute with a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal, passed from Sacha Kljestan and Sal Zizzo. Orlando City's Rafael Ramos and Kaka had yellow cards for dissent in the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth minutes, respectively. New York had a yellow card given to Ronald Zubar for his fifty-eighth minute foul. Orlando City saw a yellow card go to David Mateos for a foul in the fifty-ninth minute. In the sixty-first minute, Lloyd Sam of the Red Bulls took a yellow card for dangerous play. Brek Shea of Orlando City received a yellow card for a sixty-fifth minute foul. Orlando City tied it on a Kevin Molino goal in the sixty-seventh minute, courtesy of Cyle Larin and Darwin Ceren. Orlando City went down to ten men in the eighty-fifth minute when Cristian Higuita's foul brought out a straight red card. New York's Kemar Lawrence took a yellow card for an eighty-seventh minute foul. The game ended 1-1, with the man of the match being Molino for the equalizer.

The first of Saturday's six games has the Vancouver Whitecaps FC welcoming the Portland Timbers in a Cascadia Cup clash. Jake Gleeson and David Ousted are the keepers. Vancouver's Pedro Morales had a yellow card for an eleventh minute foul, and teammate Kendall Waston took a yellow card for his foul in the sixteenth minute. Portland began in the thirty-fourth minute with a Nat Borchers goal, set up by Darlington Nagbe and Fanendo Adi. The Whitecaps tied it on a sixtieth minute Masato Kudo goal. In the sixty-sixth minute, Vancouver gained the lead on a Christian Bolanos goal, via Kudo. The Whitecaps' Blas Perez took a yellow card for a sixty-ninth minute foul. The Timbers had a yellow card given to Nagbe for his seventieth minute foul. Diego Chara of Portland had a yellow card for a foul in stoppage time. Vancouver won 2-1, with the man of the match being Kudo for his goal and assist.

Along to Columbus, where the Crew SC bring in the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Steve Clark man the nets. Columbus opened in the sixteenth minute with a Kei Kamara goal, assisted by Justin Meram and Corey Ashe. Montreal tied it in the twenty-sixth minute on an Ignacio Piatti goal, set up by Didier Drogba. In first half stoppage time, the Crew retook the lead with a Kamara goal, coming off of Michael Parkhurst. Columbus added on with a forty-eighth minute Federico Higuain goal. The Crew extended the lead as Higuain scored a penalty kick goal in the fifty-third minute. The Impact pulled back with a fifty-seventh minute Drogba penalty kick goal. Montreal edged closer on a Piatti goal in the fifty-eighth minute, passed from Dominic Oduro. In the eighty-second minute, Lucas Ontivero of the Impact and Waylon Francis of Columbus took yellow cards for their argument. In stoppage time, Montreal tied it with an Oduro goal, fueled by Drogba and Ambroise Oyongo. The final stood at 4-4, with the man of the match being Oduro for his assist and equalizing goal.

Up in Canada, Toronto FC hosts FC Dallas. Jesse Gonzalez and Clint Irwin play goal. Toronto had a yellow card for a fourteenth minute foul by Marco Delgado. Toronto started in the twenty-eighth minute with a Tsubasa Endoh goal, courtesy of Sebastian Giovinco. Dallas had a yellow card given to Victor Ulloa for his thirty-ninth minute foul. Toronto's Michael Bradley took a yellow card for a forty-third minute foul. Toronto had yellow cards for Steven Beitashour in the seventy-fourth minute for time wasting and Will Johnson's eighty-seventh minute foul. Toronto's Jozy Altidore took a yellow card for a handball in stoppage time, but it didn't matter, with Toronto winning 1-0. The man of the match was Endoh for his winner.

Stateside, the Houston Dynamo welcome Sporting Kansas City (while the corresponding women's teams play in KC tonight). Tim Melia and Tyler Deric are in the six-yard boxes. Houston's Alex received a yellow card for a fifth minute foul. The Dynamo struck first in the thirtieth minute on a Giles Barnes goal, set up by Erick Torres. Houston added on in first half stoppage time with an Andrew Wenger goal, passed from Cristian Maidana and Barnes. The Dynamo saw a yellow card for Jalil Anibaba in the fifty-third minute for a foul. Kansas City had a yellow card given to Roger Espinoza in the sixty-second minute for his foul. Houston's Ricardo Clark had a yellow card for a foul in second half stoppage time. The game ended 2-0, with the man of the match being Barnes with his goal and assist.

Out west, the Colorado Rapids bring in Real Salt Lake for a Rocky Mountain Derby. Nick Rimando and Zac MacMath are in goal. Mekeil Williams of Colorado had a yellow card for persistent infringement in the fifteenth minute. Sunny of Salt Lake took a yellow card for his twenty-ninth minute foul. The Rapids were first to score in the forty-seventh minute on a Jermaine Jones goal, via Kevin Doyle and Luis Solignac. Colorado's Jones had a yellow card for a foul in the fifty-third minute. In the seventy-ninth minute, Tony Beltran had a yellow card for Real for a foul. The Rapids had yellow cards for Shkelzen Gashi in the eighty-first minute and MacMath in stoppage time for time wasting. Colorado won 1-0, with MacMath the man of the match for his five-save clean sheet.

Saturday ends with the Seattle Sounders FC hosting the San Jose Earthquakes. David Bingham and Stefan Frei tend the nets. Seattle drew first blood in the twenty-sixth minute with a Clint Dempsey goal, assisted by Erik Friberg and Jordan Morris. The Sounders saw Osvaldo Alonso take a yellow card for a forty-third minute foul. Seattle added on in the eighty-ninth minute with a Morris goal, set up by Alonso. This made it 2-0, the final, with the man of the match being Morris for his powerful strike and work to set up the first goal.

On Sunday, the Los Angeles Galaxy welcome the New England Revolution. Bobby Shuttleworth and Brian Rowe are set to start in goal. Los Angeles got going in the thirteenth minute on a Robbie Keane goal, passed from Gyasi Zardes. The Galaxy added on with a Giovani Dos Santos goal in the twenty-fourth minute. Los Angeles extended the lead as Keane scored in first half stoppage time, thanks to Zardes and Dos Santos. New England had a yellow card for a Je-Vaughn Watson foul in the fifty-eighth minute. The Revolution got on the board with a sixty-seventh minute goal by Kelyn Rowe, coming off of Gershon Koffie. New England got closer with a Juan Agudelo goal in the seventieth minute, set up by Femi Hollinger-Janzen. In stoppage time, A.J. DeLaGarza of the Galaxy had a yellow card for time wasting. Two minutes later, Steven Gerrard scored to make it 4-2, with the help of Mike Magee. Los Angeles won by this margin, with Keane named man of the match.

Finally, DC United bring in New York City FC. Josh Saunders and Travis Worra are between the posts. Luciano Acosta of DC had a yellow card for a third minute foul. United's Jared Jeffrey received a yellow card for his forty-seventh minute foul. New York City dented the scoreboard in the forty-ninth minute on a David Villa goal, assisted by Thomas McNamara and Khiry Shelton. New York City added on with a Shelton goal, via Ronald Matarrita. New York City had yellow cards for Frederic Brillant in the fifty-ninth minute for a foul, Saunders in the seventy-eighth minute for time wasting, and Federico Bravo in the seventy-ninth minute for an argument. Julian Buescher of DC took a yellow card for his foul in stoppage time. The final stood at 2-0 for New York City, and Shelton was the man of the match.

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Atlantic Division Final: 2) Tampa Bay Lightning VS. 4) New York Islanders

As usual, this post covers the entire series in the first round of this year's NHL playoffs.

Game 1: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Thomas Greiss for New York and Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay started in the first period with an Ondrej Palat goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Jonathan Drouin and Vladislav Namestnikov. New York tied it with a Travis Hamonic goal, passed from Alan Quine and John Tavares. The Islanders took the lead with a Shane Prince goal, his second of the playoffs, courtesy of Ryan Strome and Brock Nelson. New York added on with another Prince goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason, assisted by Strome and Nelson. The Islanders extended the lead in the second period as Tavares scored his sixth of the playoffs on the power play, powered by Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen. Andrei Vasilevskiy took over for Bishop in goal. The Lightning got one back with a Nikita Kucherov goal, his sixth of the postseason, with helpers from Matthew Carle and Victor Hedman. Tampa Bay got closer with a Valtteri Filppula goal, helped along by Alex Killorn and Jason Garrison. New York iced it with a Cal Clutterbuck empty net goal, set up by Casey Cizikas and Calvin de Haan. The final stood at 5-3, with the three stars being Tavares, Prince, and Strome, while Nelson gets an honorable mention. The Islanders have a 1-0 series lead early on.

Game 2: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Thomas Greiss for New York and Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay opened in the first period with a Tyler Johnson goal, his third of the postseason, made possible by Ondrej Palat and Victor Hedman. The Lightning added on with a Jonathan Drouin goal, via Valtteri Filppula. New York got on the board with a Nikolay Kulemin power play goal, powered by Thomas Hickey and Alan Quine. Tampa Bay shot back with a Hedman power play goal, with helpers by Johnson and Drouin. The Lightning iced it at 4-1 with a Johnson empty net goal, his second of the game and fourth of the playoffs, set up by Jason Garrison. The three stars were awarded to Johnson, Drouin, and Hedman. The series heads north tied at 1.

Game 3: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York. In goal: Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay and Thomas Greiss for New York. New York led off in the first period with a Josh Bailey goal, assisted by Nikolay Kulemin and Travis Hamonic. Tampa Bay tied it with a Ryan Callahan power play goal, powered by Alex Killorn and Valtteri Filppula. The Lightning took the lead with a Victor Hedman goal in the second period, his second of the postseason, with a lone assist from Tyler Johnson. The Islanders tied it on a Nick Leddy goal, made possible by Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas. New York regained the lead on a Bailey power play goal in the third period, his second of the game with helpers from Thomas Hickey and Shane Prince. Tampa Bay tied it on a Vladislav Namestnikov goal, guided in by Filppula and Killorn. The Islanders pulled ahead with a Clutterbuck goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Cizikas. The Lightning tied it as Nikita Kucherov scored his seventh of the playoffs, thanks to Jonathan Drouin and Hedman. Tampa Bay won 5-4 in overtime with a Brian Boyle goal, his second of the postseason, helped along by Hedman, who got a sock trick, and Callahan. The three stars went to Hedman, Bailey, and Callahan, while Filppula, Killorn, Clutterbuck, and Cizikas get the honorable mentions. The Lightning have a 2-1 series lead now.

Game 4: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York. In goal: Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay and Thomas Greiss for New York. New York began in the first period with a Kyle Okposo power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Nikolay Kulemin and Frans Nielsen. Tampa Bay tied it in the third period with a Nikita Kucherov goal, his eighth of the playoffs, assisted by Tyler Johnson. The Lightning won 2-1 in overtime with a Jason Garrison goal, passed from Andrej Sustr and Ondrej Palat. The three stars were Bishop (27 for 28 in saves), Garrison, and Kucherov. The Lightning head home with a chance to advance, holding a 3-1 series lead. 

Game 5: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Thomas Greiss for New York and Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay struck first in the first period with a Victor Hedman goal, his third of the postseason, going in unassisted. The Lightning added on with a Brian Boyle goal, his third of the playoffs, assisted by Matthew Carle and Cedric Paquette. Tampa Bay extended the lead in the second period as Hedman scored his fourth of the postseason and second of the game, a power play goal, powered by Jonathan Drouin and Tyler Johnson. The Lightning padded the lead in the third period on a Nikita Kucherov goal, his ninth of the playoffs, with a lone assist by Alex Killorn. This stood for a 4-0 win, with the three stars going to Hedman, Bishop (28 save shutout), and Boyle. The Lightning won the series 4-1, and will await either the Capitals or Penguins for the Eastern Conference Final.

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2015/16 Premier League Week 37

It's a full slate on the second to last weekend of the season. The games begin with seven on Saturday, the first being...

Norwich City hosting Manchester United. David de Gea and John Ruddy are in goal. Manchester United dented the scoreboard with a seventy-second minute goal by Juan Mata, assisted by Wayne Rooney. In stoppage time, Gary O'Neil of Norwich City had a yellow card for his foul. The game ended 1-0 for Manchester United.

Next up, Aston Villa welcomes Newcastle United. Karl Darlow and Mark Bunn are the goalies. Aston Villa saw Ciaran Clark take a yellow card for a fifty-ninth minute foul. In stoppage time, Newcastle United's Paul Dummett took a yellow card for his foul. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.

Moving along, Bournemouth brings in West Bromwich Albion. Ben Foster and Artur Boruc man the nets. West Bromwich Albion began in the sixteenth minute with a Salomon Rondon goal, set up by Jonny Evans. Bournemouth had a forty-second minute yellow card given to Tommy Elphick for his foul. In the sixty-second minute, Claudio Yacob of West Bromwich Albion took a yellow card for his time wasting. Harry Arter of Bournemouth had a yellow card for a seventieth minute foul. Bournemouth tied it in the eighty-second minute on a Matt Ritchie goal. This stood for a 1-1 draw.

In London, Crystal Palace hosts Stoke City. Jakob Haugaard and Wayne Hennessey are set to start in goal. Stoke City had yellow cards go to Glenn Whelan in the third minute and Erik Pieters in the twenty-first minute, both for fouls. Stoke City led off in the twenty-sixth minute with a Charlie Adam goal, passed from Marko Arnautovic. In the thirty-third minute, Crystal Palace saw a yellow card for James McArthur's foul. Crystal Palace tied it on a forty-seventh minute goal from Dwight Gayle, via Yannick Bolasie. In the sixty-eighth minute, Gayle scored again to put Crystal Palace ahead. In the eighty-seventh minute, Stephen Ireland of Stoke City received a yellow card for his foul. In stoppage time, Papa Souare of Crystal Palace took a yellow card for time wasting. The final favored Crystal Palace 2-1.

Continuing along, Sunderland welcomes Chelsea. Thibaut Courtois and Vito Mannone guard the woodwork. Gary Cahill of Chelsea took a yellow card for a first minute foul. Chelsea opened in the fourteenth minute on a Diego Costa goal. In the forty-first minute, Sunderland tied it on a Wahbi Khazri goal. Chelsea regained the lead in first half stoppage time with a Nemanja Matic goal, courtesy of Cesar Azpilicueta. Lee Cattermole of Sunderland had a yellow card for his fifty-second minute foul. Sunderland tied it again in the sixty-seventh minute with a Fabio Borini goal, assisted by Patrick van Aanholt. Jermain Defoe put Sunderland ahead with a seventieth minute goal. Chelsea's John Terry took a yellow card for his eighty-seventh minute foul, while Younes Kaboul of Sunderland had a yellow card for dissent. In the eighty-eighth minute, Sebastian Larsson of Sunderland committed a foul and took a yellow card. In second half stoppage time, Terry of Chelsea had a second yellow card for a foul, earning his ejection. Sunderland won 3-2.

Along to West Ham United bringing in Swansea City. Lukasz Fabianski and Darren Randolph protect the nets. Swansea City started in the twenty-fifth minute with a Wayne Routledge goal, coming off of Kyle Naughton. Swansea City added on in the thirty-first minute with an Andre Ayew goal, via Stephen Kingsley. Swansea City extended the lead as Ki Sung-Yueng scored in the fifty-first minute, thanks to Modou Barrow. In the sixty-eighth minute, West Ham United got on the board when Kingsley committed an own goal. West Ham United had yellow cards for Diafra Sakho in the seventy-second minute, Winston Reid in the eighty-first minute, and Angelo Ogbonna in the eighty-fifth minute, all for fouls. Swansea City iced it at 4-1 with a stoppage time goal by Bafetimbi Gomis, set up by Ayew.

Saturday ends with Leicester City hosting Everton. Joel Robles and Kasper Schmeichel are the gloved men. Leicester struck first in the fifth minute with a Jamie Vardy goal, set up by Andy King. Leicester City added on with a thirty-third minute King goal. Matthew Pennington of Everton had a yellow card for his foul in the forty-fourth minute. Everton's Tom Cleverley took a yellow card for a forty-ninth minute foul. Leicester City extended the lead as Vardy scored a penalty kick goal in the sixty-fifth minute. In the seventy-first minute, Darren Gibson of Everton had a yellow card for a foul. Everton got on the board with an eighty-eighth minute goal by Kevin Mirallas, courtesy of Gibson. This made it a 3-1 final for Leicester City.

On Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur welcomes Southampton. Fraser Forster and Hugo Lloris are the keepers. Tottenham Hotspur was first to score in the sixteenth minute with a Son Heung-Min goal, via Erik Lamela. Southampton tied it on a thirty-first minute goal by Steven Davis, guided in by Dusan Tadic. In the fiftieth minute, Sadio Mane of Southampton had a yellow card for a foul. Southampton took the lead with a seventy-second minute goal by Davis, passed from Tadic. Southampton saw yellow cards for Oriol Romeu in the seventy-fourth minute and Shane Long in the eighty-third minute, both for fouls. The final held at 2-1 for Southampton.

Up to Liverpool bringing in Watford. Heurelho Gomes and Simon Mignolet are the gloved men. Liverpool got going in the thirty-fifth minute on a Joe Allen goal, courtesy of Christian Benteke. Watford had a yellow card for a foul by Miguel Britos in the fifty-ninth minute. Jon Flanagan of Liverpool received a yellow card for his sixty-third minute foul. Steven Berghuis of Watford took a yellow card for a foul in the seventy-third minute. Liverpool added on with a seventy-sixth minute goal from Roberto Firmino, passed from Sheyi Ojo. Liverpool won 2-0.

Finally, Manchester City hosts Arsenal. Petr Cech and Joe Hart are the top-tier goalies. Manchester City drew first blood in the eighth minute on a Sergio Aguero goal, coming off of Fernandinho. Arsenal tied it in the tenth minute on an Olivier Giroud goal, courtesy of Mohamed Elneny. Manchester City retook the lead with a Kevin De Bruyne goal in the fifty-first minute. In the sixty-eighth minute, Alexis Sanchez retied it for Arsenal, with the help of Giroud. Arsenal's Gabriel Paulista had a yellow card for a seventy-first minute foul. Manchester City's Nicolas Otamendi and Fernandinho had yellow cards for stoppage time fouls. The game ended in a 2-2 draw.

There's some midweek games upcoming, and then Championship Sunday on 5/15 to close out this season. Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NWSL Week 3

Here we are for the third week of the season. There are two games on Friday and three on Sunday. I will have a coverage gap as I move back home this weekend, so it should all be wrapped up on Monday afternoon. The first game is...

The Western New York Flash hosting the Washington Spirit. Stephanie Labbe and Sabrina D'Angelo protect the nets. Here is the game link. Washington began in the fourth minute with a Diana Matheson goal, set up with a ball into space by Crystal Dunn on the first really good look of the game. Western New York had their first shot in the eighth minute with a distance shot by Samantha Mewis, tipped over the bar by Spirit keeper Labbe. On the corner kick, Elizabeth Eddy shot over the bar as the Flash get a bit of pressure. Abby Dahlkemper broke up a run by Dunn with some solid defense in the tenth minute. The Flash cleared a Christine Nairn free kick with Abby Erceg's boot, after a missed clearance by Jaelene Hinkle. Washington has looked to be more dangerous so far, with a cross from Matheson during the seventeenth minute nearly finding Cheyna Williams. Western New York lost an opportunity when Taylor Smith didn't see the ball land near her, and Ali Krieger cleared things out for the Spirit. Smith looked dangerous again in the twenty-second minute on a Mewis pass, but Shelina Zadorsky and Megan Oyster cut off the center of the box after a heavy touch from Smith. The Spirit tried a slow build in the twenty-fifth minute, but eventually the right side of the Western New York defense finished it. A defensive break-up from Mewis led to Lynn Williams and Smith each getting a shot attempt, but without threatening Labbe. On the counter, Krieger's cross landed on top of D'Angelo's net with the play slightly off target. Washington put on a shooting gallery with the thirty-third minute on Matheson's corner kick, and Dunn, Nairn, Cheyna Williams, Krieger, and others all had shots disrupted in some manner in the chaos in front of D'Angelo. The Flash missed out again as a corner by Hinkle was cleared by Oyster, and then Halimatu Ayinde missed with a high shot while Labbe was out of the play. In the fortieth minute, Lynn Williams drew a foul by Joanna Lohman just outside of the box, a dangerous free kick for the Flash. Dahlkemper took the kick, but Labbe easily saved it. Williams outlasted Oyster a minute later to earn a corner kick for Western New York, and Hinkle had a wide shot after Dahlkemper's service. The Flash have had some strong play near the end of the first half. On another kick, there was a double dummy on Eddy's corner kick, but Dahlkemper's shot came up weak. The best performances of this half for the Flash include DM Mewis, CB Dahlkemper, and forwards Smith and Lynn Williams. The Spirit's best play has been from RB Krieger, CB Oyster, and forwards Dunn and Matheson, as well as their keeper Labbe. Smith came out flying for the Flash in the second half, with a low cross just cut out by the defense. Mewis kept the pressure high for Western New York with a shot deflected for a corner kick, and Dahlkemper's went long, but the ball went back in the box, and a foul on Adriana Leon creates a penalty kick. The Flash saw Mewis step up to take it, and she hit the post, narrowly missing the equalizer. Oyster had an arm-bar on Leon to create the spot kick. Smith went on a deep run in the fifty-first minute on a Dahlkemper outlet, but Smith hit the same post Mewis did earlier, and Labbe grabbed the second shot to preserve the lead again. Dunn had a run stopped pretty firmly by Eddy in the fifty-sixth minute. The Flash had more pressure with a corner kick that saw a shot by Hinkle get deflected by a teammate and out of bounds. Labbe has been particularly strong in this game. Washington saw a break by Matheson, but her chip went over the net in the sixty-fourth minute. The Flash have spent a lot of time in front of Labbe, but another pair of corners ended out-of-bounds, including a Lynn Williams cross that saw Erceg take a wide shot before the Spirit could clear the lines. In the seventieth minute, Hinkle fouled Cheyna Williams in the box, and now Washington has a penalty kick. Matheson converted the penalty kick, making it 2-0 for Washington with the right-middle shot. Smith tried to answer with a cross in the seventy-second minute, but Zadorsky blocked it and Alyssa Kleiner cleared it. The Spirit have taken to chewing up time on the clock at this point. In the eightieth minute, Eddy received a yellow card for a foul on Kleiner. This created a goal in the next minute, where Nairn swerved a ball in, and a Flash player bumped the ball into their own net under the pressure of Katie Stengel, giving the Spirit a 3-0 lead and essentially securing their win. On the other end, Labbe stopped Williams at point-blank range to turn a corner kick out. Washington isn't done yet, as Krieger rocketed an eighty-fifth minute shot just wide. Labbe kept another one out with a kick save against Kristen Hamilton, but the Flash eventually earned a corner kick. The game ended 3-0, with Matheson named Outsider Sports Woman of the Match for her brace, a strong effort from the left forward. Also impressing: RF Dunn, RB Krieger, and GK Labbe for the Spirit, and RB Eddy, CB Dahlkemper, DM Mewis, and forwards Williams and Smith.

Along to Houston, where the Dash welcome Sky Blue FC. Caroline Stanley and Lydia Williams are the keepers. Watch the game here. Houston had a good look in the fourth minute with a Kealia Ohai run, but Erin Simon of Sky Blue shut it down before Ohai could shoot. Sky Blue's first shot came on a Kelley O'Hara strike, but it went wide right from her perspective. The dangerous chances haven't really come quite yet, but the two teams are exchanging chances in the first ten minutes. The Dash saw a cross from Poliana come in, but Rachel Daly couldn't connect, and Stanley put it back in play. Raquel Rodriguez took a shot for Sky Blue in the twelfth minute, but Williams covered it easily. Sky Blue had to use mob defense to stop Chioma Ubogagu in the seventeenth minute. Ohai followed up on the next attack to earn a corner kick off of Erica Skroski. The service in found Daly's head, but Rodriguez got it out of danger. On the following press from Houston, Ohai outran an impressive Christie Rampone to earn another corner kick. Ohai served in the rebound of Andressa's corner, but Poliana just sent it over after Rodriguez again cleared the first attempt. Rodriguez nearly made magic at the other end, but a good stop from Cami Privett kept the Dash out of trouble. In the twenty-second minute, Andressa sent a shot wide as Houston seem to have the upper hand so far. In the twenty-eighth minute, Ubogagu took a shot wide for the Dash after Sky Blue had made forays forward. Andressa made a huge slide tackle stop on O'Hara in the thirtieth minute just outside the box. In the thirty-second minute, Rodriguez fouled Andressa (and not for the first time), and this drew out a yellow card. In the thirty-sixth minute, an Ubogagu cross found Daly, who poked it just wide of Stanley's net on a near moment of brilliance for Houston. Daly tried to return the favor with a through ball to Ubogagu, but the play was ruled rightfully offside and Sky Blue took over to try and apply pressure late in the first half. The first half ended at 0-0. Impressive players mostly came from the Houston side, particularly the outside backs Poliana and Allysha Chapman, the DM Privett, and the attacking trio of forwards of Daly, Ohai, and Ubogagu. On the Sky Blue side, Rampone and Rodriguez did most of the damage, while Ashley Nick and Skroski have contributed decently for a team that's lacked much in attack. In the forty-eighth minute, Ohai put the ball in the net on a rebound from a Daly shot, but the play was called offside and the game remained scoreless after a good Stanley save. The Dash possessed the ball a lot in the early going of the second half. In the fifty-second minute, Ubogagu took a free kick but shot it high after Nick fouled Denise O'Sullivan. Ohai had another shot attempt blocked by Skroski in the fifty-fifth minute. On the counter, Ellie Brush stuffed an O'Hara surge forward. In the fifty-ninth minute, Ohai served one in to Daly, but she missed wide right as the goals have yet to come. On the next attack, O'Sullivan received the ball but shot high. Andressa took a shot in the sixty-first minute from distance, which Stanley bobbled but stopped. In the seventieth minute, Daly had another brilliant shot, passed from Poliana, stopped by Stanley as the game remains scoreless. The ensuing corner was grabbed by Stanley. Sky Blue has pressed forward a bit more since the seventy-fifth minute, but the Dash's back line has held solid, with CB Brush being particularly impressive in breaking things up. Houston had another attempt on a Poliana cross to Ubogagu, but Simon threw Ubogagu off the ball cleanly. In the eighty-sixth minute, O'Sullivan cranked out a shot, but Stanley pulled it in with a small jump to preserve a scoreless line. In the eighty-eighth minute, a foul by Sarah Killion on Daly allowed Andressa to take a free kick, but it went high as well. The Dash have totally dominated this game. In the ninetieth minute, Brush shot off a corner kick by Andressa, and Simon chested it away off the line. In stoppage time, Brush got called for a foul just outside the box, giving Sky Blue one more chance, which O'Hara shot high and wide, allowing the game to end 0-0. Impressing in the second half, Sky Blue GK Stanley, and Dash ACM O'Sullivan and CB Brush, to complement the first half starring players. The Outsider Sports Woman of the Match is Daly for having two of the best shots in the game.

On Sunday, the first of three games sees the Boston Breakers host the Portland Thorns. Adrianna Franch and Abby Smith are the keepers. Watch the game here. The first five minutes or so were played almost exclusively in the midfield, a battle of the wingers and outside backs mostly. The first half-chance came on a cross by Dagny Brynjarsdottir, but that was blocked partially by Mollie Pathman and picked up by Smith. Louise Schillgard had a counter cross for Kyah Simon in the eighth minute, but Meghan Klingenberg cleared it up. Boston saw Kristie Mewis pass to an offside Stephanie McCaffrey in the ninth minute as the offenses warmed to the game a bit. Tobin Heath had a long shot in the tenth minute, grabbed out of the air by Smith even as it might have gone wide. In the thirteenth minute, Allie Long fouled McCall Zerboni, but the free kick from Angela Salem went a bit long, and the Breakers couldn't produce anything. On the next attack, McCaffrey had a shot go wide of Franch as Boston currently has a bit of an advantage in possession. In the sixteenth minute, the Thorns had a play offside that looked to be developing pretty well up to that point. McCaffrey crossed in to Simon a minute later, but the header didn't quite connect. In the twentieth minute, a Klingenberg cross was stopped by Smith before Nadia Nadim could strike as Portland made an attack forward. The Breakers had Julie King block a Nadim attempt on the Thorns' next effort in the twenty-second minute. In the twenty-fourth minute, Heath and Zerboni met up, with the Breakers defensive midfielder stifling the Thorns attack. A bad Franch clearance nearly allowed something for Boston, but McCaffrey didn't have anything big on her service. Mewis has gotten a bit chippy around the half-hour mark. The score remains 0-0 at this point. In the thirty-fourth minute, Meleana Shim had a tough foul against Salem, but avoided a card. A foul in the thirty-seventh minute from Schillgard on Heath eventually earned a yellow card in the midfield. Still, the game has settled in with a lot of exchanges in the midfield. Neither goalie has been tested, and technically, Lindsey Horan's shot stopped by Smith didn't count when the play was ruled offside after the free kick. In the thirty-ninth minute, a cross from Klingenberg saw Dagny get hit by Smith in the air on the challenge. Mewis just missed over the crossbar in the forty-first minute as the Breakers look to open things up. Nadim almost had a chance in the forty-fourth minute, but Smith covered the heavy touch. The game stood at a scoreless mark at halftime, with the Breakers seeing good efforts from GK Smith, LB Pathman, DM Zerboni, LW Schillgard, and RF McCaffrey, while the Thorns have seen the best from LB Klingenberg, RB Katherine Reynolds (she's advanced forward well and shut down a potent left side from Boston), DCM Long, RW Dagny, and Striker Nadim. The second half started a lot like the first, although with a bit more range from both sides. Long did well to block out McCaffrey in a forty-seventh minute attack for the Breakers. For Boston's first corner kick in the forty-ninth minute, Salem served in a low ball, and McCaffrey took a shot off the bar to nearly make something out of nothing. On the counter, Whitney Engen broke up a Heath cross that was headed along by Horan. The game opened up a bit, with Mewis taken off the ball well by Emily Menges in the fifty-first minute. Franch cut off a cross from McCaffrey toward Simon in the fifty-second minute. In the fifty-sixth minute, Heath had a hard run and a back-heel chip effort both get stopped by Smith. The Thorns carried momentum around the hour mark. In the sixty-second minute, Portland's Shim had a decent shot go wide right. Klingenberg had a rocket shot saved by Smith in the sixty-fourth minute, and the corner from Heath went straight to Smith to relieve the pressure. In the sixty-eighth minute, Klingenberg's cross saw both Horan and Dagny take a try, but it went out with Smith holding strong in the box. Horan and Simon had a bit of physicality in the seventy-first minute, but no cards were assessed. Boston had a good chance on a Julie King header on a pass from Schillgard, but Franch made a strong save on the play. In the seventy-eighth minute, King took a yellow card for her foul on Klingenberg. On the free kick from Heath after the foul, Dagny scored on a header to Smith's right for a 1-0 Portland lead. Boston replied with immediate pressure to try for an equalizer. Zerboni and Kassey Kallman both had shots against Franch, but both were stopped. Heath nearly set up Raso, but Smtih got their first, sending Raso flying a bit. Zerboni had a long shot go high and wide in the eighty-third minute for the Breakers. In the eighty-seventh minute, Smith was tested again on Heath's sharp shot, and caught it for a solid save. In the ninetieth minute, Brittany Ratcliffe of the Breakers took a yellow card for her foul, coming after Mewis challenged Franch with the shot. The Thorns took the win at 1-0. The Outsider Sports Woman of the Match was Dagny for her goal. Other strong efforts came from LW Heath, LB Klingenberg, and DCM Long for the Thorns, and DM Zerboni, LW Schillgard, and GK Smith.

An hour later, the Chicago Red Stars kicked off their game with the visiting Orlando Pride. Ashlyn Harris and Alyssa Naeher are the national team backups in goal. Find the game at the link. The first five minutes didn't produce any dangerous chances. In the ninth minute, Lianne Sanderson had an attempt turned away by Katie Naughton. A cross by Maddy Evans forced Naeher to step up and claim it as Orlando has had some pressure moving forward. Naughton again made a defensive play against Alex Morgan in the eleventh minute. In the thirteenth minute, Chicago had a good chance when Sofia Huerta played in to Christen Press at the top of the box, but Harris stopped it with a commanding save. The Red Stars maintained pressure to gain a corner kick, and the service from Danielle Colaprico didn't do anything. Morgan countered for the Pride, but Arin Gilliland stopped the rush to create a corner by Sanderson, cleared by Press. Casey Short tried to trigger the Red Stars attack, but Josee Belanger made a strong defensive stop in the fifteenth minute. Kristen Edmonds of Orlando turned the play into a shot that Naeher made a big stop on. Morgan and Gilliland had another meeting in the twenty-sixth minute, which Gilliland won as a corner that Sanderson couldn't make anything of. Sarah Hagen had a decent cross attempt toward the left side, but it came up short of Edmonds, and Naeher received the ball from her defense to clear it. The Pride have had a lot of possession and pressure, but not many true attacking chances to show for it, opting to pass around much of the half so far. In the thirty-second minute, Belanger sent a cross into Hagen, but the header went at Naeher for the save to keep things scoreless. Hagen later had a cross in to Morgan, but the latter fouled Alyssa Mautz as the Red Stars defense continues to hold strong under the barrage. In the thirty-sixth minute, Mautz was caught offside when Huerta sent a ball her way in one of the few forays forward for Chicago. In the thirty-seventh minute, Jen Hoy did some work in the box before crossing to Mautz, but the cross went too high and over the midfielder's head. In the thirty-ninth minute, Press fired a shot high as Chicago has taken over a bit on offense. In the fortieth minute, Evans took a yellow card for her foul on Sam Johnson. Hoy made a run forward in the forty-third minute, but Laura Alleway shut down the break. Kaylyn Kyle cleared the ensuing corner kick from Colaprico after Short couldn't make anything of it. Chicago continued to pressure, with Gilliland connecting with Press, only to be saved by Harris. In the scoreless first half, the Pride had great performances from Belanger, Edmonds, Sanderson, and Morgan. The Red Stars had the best efforts from Naughton, Gilliland, Press, and Huerta. Hagen had the first good chance of the second half in the forty-seventh minute, but Naeher made the stop on the headed chance. In the fifty-sixth minute, Amanda DaCosta, with Harris again coming up with a big save to preserve the scoreless status of the game. Orlando had a bit of pressure as Sanderson took a shot, but Johnson turned it away for a corner, which created a flurry of activity and another Pride corner. Morgan pulled the shot wide right this time, allowing the Red Stars to turn up the field. Press had the ball, but Edmonds took it away from her to destroy a decent Chicago chance. Morgan tried to get a shot going for Orlando, but Johnson and Naughton shut it down. In the sixty-third minute, Sanderson's cross was turned up field by Gilliland, and later Gilliland blocked a Morgan shot. In the sixty-fourth minute, the Red Stars finally broke the Pride resistance, as a free kick from Colaprico found Press, who slotted it left of Harris for the 1-0 lead. Chicago had a shot from Gilliland in the seventieth minute swallowed up by Pride keeper Harris. Orlando's dangerous sub Jasmyne Spencer had a shot picked up by Naeher in the seventy-seventh minute, with the shot being a bit weak and wide. In the seventy-eighth minute, Chicago saw a good sequence shut down when Huerta's shot was blocked by Kyle. On the corner kick, Colaprico's service saw a Short header just punched out by Harris to keep it 1-0. Huerta made a late push forward in the eighty-third minute, but Alleway had the block to prevent a real shot. The Pride applied late pressure, but the Red Stars defense held strong in the final ten regulation minutes to keep their lead intact. In stoppage time, Edmonds had a big cross in front of Naeher's net, but Spencer couldn't connect with it. The Pride had the final kick, with Alleway serving the ball over the bar on a free kick. The final stood at 1-0 for the Red Stars, with Press named as Outsider Sports Woman of the Match. Other good efforts came from RB Gilliland, CB Naughton, DM Colaprico, and LF Huerta for Chicago, as well as Orlando's RB Belanger, RW Edmonds, and GK Harris.

The final game of the week sees the Seattle Reign FC bring in FC Kansas City. Nicole Barnhart and Hope Solo tend the nets. After a long delay due to technical difficulties, the game was published and can be watched here. Kansas City had the first good attempt in the third minute, as Becky Sauerbrunn sent a free kick in to Caroline Kastor, who headed just wide of Solo's goal. The Blues did well early on to limit Seattle's break outs from the back, with the visitors' pressure driving play in their favor. In the eighth minute, a sliding tackle from Jen Buczkowski broke up an attack led by Kim Little of the Reign. In the tenth minute, Manon Melis got around Amanda Frisbie and sent in a cross, but Elli Reed couldn't control it and it went out. The game has lacked a lot of good opportunities on either side, as the defenses hold strong and the midfield has seen most of the ball. On a twenty-first minute free kick, Little served in to Kendall Fletcher, but Brittany Taylor defended well for Kansas City. Kansas City built up well with a pass from Desiree Scott toward Heather O'Reilly, but it went long and the Blues attack was thwarted. The Blues had the first corner kick of the game in the twenty-sixth minute, with service from O'Reilly punched out by Solo. In the twenty-ninth minute, Melis hit a shot pretty high on a one-touch after a clearance by Yael Averbuch. Merritt Mathias got fouled just outside the box by Scott, and Little shot it high to close out a stronger run of Reign possession. Seattle kept pressing with Little passing to Reed, who had a cross just a bit long that went out for a goal kick from Barnhart. Reed had another decent run after receiving the ball from Beverly Yanez, but she got taken down at the edge of the penalty area from a clean tackle. The Blues pressed a bit in the fortieth minute, with Laddish and O'Reilly challenging and getting stopped by Rachel Corsie and Lauren Barnes. Erika Tymrak sent in the first of two corner kicks, punched back over the bar by Solo, and the second one resulted in O'Reilly being called offside to relieve the pressure for Seattle. The game, featuring few chances, went into halftime at 0-0. The Reign had their best efforts from CB Corsie, AM Little, RF Melis, and LF Reed, while the Blues saw great efforts from RB Taylor, LW O'Reilly, and Striker Kastor. Melis had the first good chance of the second half, shooting into the wrong side of the side netting after being played in by Little. Seattle kept pressing as Keelin Winters sent Mathias out wide, and her cross deflected to earn a corner kick, which went long and out after a header attempt on the service from Little. In the fifty-sixth minute, Little scored on a buildup by Mathias, which forced Barnhart out of her position. Mathias sent the ball back in, and failed clearance by Frisbie allowed Little to strike and make it 1-0 for the Reign. Seattle kept the pressure high, including a corner by Barnes in the fifty-ninth minute that went over Yanez. They stayed in the zone, but Mathias was called offside, allowing Kansas City to break out. Mathias finally got a chance to shoot in the sixty-first minute, but it went high. Blues substitute Fran Silva had a press forward stopped by Little. In the sixty-sixth minute, Little had another good shot saved by Barnhart, and Little's corner kick was eventually cleared out. In the sixty-ninth minute, O'Reilly came up the right side and shot on goal, which Solo punched out for a corner. Frisbie's corner kick settled in the box but Seattle safely cleared. In the seventy-second minute, Alexa Newfield drew a foul by Melis outside of the Reign box, giving Kansas City a free kick from a dangerous spot. Melis was down injured, just minutes after Reed was injured previously as the Reign took a few knocks. Averbuch took the kick, and put it in the outside of the side netting, leaving the score at 1-0. Seattle had pressure in the seventy-sixth minute, where Carson Pickett tried to get one to Corsie, only to see Sauerbrunn break it up, and later clear it as the Reign tried one too many passes. An eightieth minute free kick by O'Reilly was cleared by Lindsay Elston as the Reign continue to bunker down. Little broke up a cross by Taylor in the eighty-third minute, showing her defensive skill. In the eighty-fourth minute, Yanez was fouled by Laddish in the attacking third. Little's free kick went out off of Corsie's head, returning the ball to Kansas City. In stoppage time, Elston had a yellow card for delaying the game. Kansas City didn't find a way to break the Seattle ranks, and the Reign won 1-0. The Outsider Sports Woman of the Match was the AM Little, while CB Corsie and RF Melis also starred for the Reign. The Blues only saw good efforts from CB Averbuch, RB Taylor, and LW O'Reilly in a very tight, defensive game.

Outsider Sports Best XI - Week 3
GK Stephanie Labbe
RB Josee Belanger
CB Katie Naughton
CB Rachel Corsie
LB Meghan Klingenberg
DM Samantha Mewis
RW Dagny Brynjarsdottir
LW Kim Little
RF Rachel Daly
Striker Christen Press
LF Diana Matheson

Sorry about the delay in posting. I have no control over the technical difficulties that may arise in the broadcasts. While my coverage of other leagues is broad and general, I take a thorough look for these games, and without the footage to review, I had to delay. I try to watch as many live as possible, but for the Reign-FCKC game this week, I was unavailable. We'll be back on Saturday with four games. Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

2015/16 Premier League Week 36

Full weekend of games. As with my other coverage, there will be a slight delay today for the final Saturday game due to travel. For the first of six Saturday games, we have...

Everton hosting Bournemouth. Artur Boruc and Tim Howard are in goal. Everton opened in the seventh minute with a Tom Cleverley goal, assisted by Ross Barkley. Bournemouth tied it with a Marc Pugh goal in the ninth minute, set up by Joshua King. Darron Gibson of Everton took a yellow card for a sixty-second minute foul. Everton regained the lead in the sixty-fourth minute on a Leighton Baines goal, via Cleverley. The final held at 2-1 for Everton.

Along to Newcastle United welcoming Crystal Palace. Wayne Hennessey and Karl Darlow protect the nets. Newcastle United had a yellow card given to Chancel Mbemba in the seventh minute for a foul. Newcastle United got going in the fifty-eighth minute on an Andros Townsend goal. Newcastle United saw a yellow card given to Jack Colback for his foul in the sixty-sixth minute. The final stood at 1-0 for Newcastle United.

Southeast to Stoke City bringing in Sunderland. Vito Mannone and Jakob Haugaard are given the starting nods in goal. Stoke City struck first in the fiftieth minute on a Marko Arnautovic goal, assisted by Peter Crouch. Stoke City's Charlie Adam had a yellow card for his seventy-fourth minute foul. In the seventy-ninth minute, Dame N'Doye of Sunderland received a yellow card for his foul. Stoke City's Giannelli Imbula took a yellow card for a foul time wasting at the eighty-two minute mark. Sebastian Larsson of Sunderland had a yellow card for a ninetieth minute foul. In stoppage time, Jermain Defoe scored on a penalty kick for Sunderland, producing the 1-1 draw as the final.

Further south, Watford hosts Aston Villa. Mark Bunn is mismatched with Heurelho Gomes in goal. Aston Villa started in the twenty-eighth minute on a Ciaran Clark goal, passed from Ashley Westwood. Aston Villa saw yellow cards go to Leandro Bacuna in the forty-first minute and Idrissa Gueye in first half stoppage time, both for fouls. On the ensuing free kick from the latter foul, Almen Abdi scored to tie it for Watford. In the forty-eighth minute, Aston Villa regained the lead with a Jordan Ayew goal, courtesy of Rudy Gestede. Aston Villa went down to ten men when Aly Cissokho took a straight red card in the seventy-third minute. In the seventy-seventh minute, Aston Villa keeper Bunn took a yellow card for time wasting. Watford had yellow cards for Steven Berghuis in the seventy-eighth minute and Abdi in the eighty-second minute. In the ninetieth minute, Watford tied it with a Troy Deeney goal, coming off of Berghuis. In second half stoppage time, Deeney scored again to secure a 3-2 win for Watford.

Next up, West Bromwich Albion welcomes West Ham United. Adrian and Ben Foster are the gloved men. West Ham United led off in the thirty-fourth minute with a Cheikhou Kouyate goal, set up by Dimitri Payet. In first half stoppage time, West Ham United added on with a Mark Noble goal, coming off of Kouyate. West Ham United extended the lead in the seventy-ninth minute as Noble scored again, thanks to Andy Carroll. The final stood at 3-0.

Ending the day, Arsenal brings in Norwich City. John Ruddy and Petr Cech are in the six-yard boxes. Arsenal drew first blood with a fifty-ninth minute Danny Welbeck goal, via Olivier Giroud. In the eighty-fifth minute, Mesut Ozil of Arsenal took a yellow card for his time wasting. Arsenal still won 1-0.

Sunday's three games begin in Wales with Swansea City hosting Liverpool. Danny Ward and Lukasz Fabianski are called to start in goal. Swansea City began in the twentieth minute with an Andre Ayew goal, set up by Gylfi Sigurdsson. In the twenty-seventh minute, Brad Smith of Liverpool took a yellow card for a foul. Swansea City added on in the thirty-third minute with a Jack Cork goal. Nathaniel Clyne of Liverpool took a yellow card for a thirty-ninth minute foul. Swansea City's Cork received a forty-first minute yellow card for his foul. Liverpool got on the board with a Christian Benteke goal in the sixty-fifth minute, coming off of Sheyi Ojo. Swansea City shot back with Ayew's second of the game and sixty-seventh minute. In the seventy-fourth minute, Angel Rangel of Swansea City took a yellow card for a foul. Liverpool went down to ten men in the seventy-sixth minute as Smith took a second yellow card for another foul, earning his ejection. In the seventy-seventh minute, Martin Skrtel took a yellow card for a foul for Liverpool. The final held at 3-1 for Swansea City.

In England, Manchester United welcome Leicester City. Kasper Schmeichel and David de Gea guard the woodwork. Manchester United was first to score in the eighth minute on an Anthony Martial goal, via Antonio Valencia. Leicester City tied it in the seventeenth minute on a Wes Morgan goal, passed from Daniel Drinkwater. Manchester United had yellow cards given to Jesse Lingard in the fifty-third minute and Michael Carrick in the fifty-seventh minute, both for fouls. Drinkwater of Leicester City had a yellow card for his fifty-eighth minute foul. In the sixty-sixth minute, Manchester United took a yellow card for a Wayne Rooney foul. Leicester City went down to ten men as Drinkwater took a second yellow card for a foul in the eighty-sixth minute. The game remained in a 1-1 draw.

Closing out the day, Southampton brings in Manchester City. Joe Hart and Fraser Forster protect the nets. In the twentieth minute, Fernandinho of Manchester City had a yellow card for a foul. Southampton cracked the scoresheet with a twenty-fifth minute Shane Long goal, set up by Dusan Tadic. Southampton added on with a Sadio Mane goal in the twenty-eighth minute, courtesy of Tadic. In the thirtieth minute, Jordy Clasie of Southampton had a yellow card for a foul. Manchester City got on the board with a Kelechi Iheanacho goal in the forty-fourth minute. Tadic of Southampton had a fifty-fourth minute yellow card for a foul. Southampton replied with a Mane goal in the fifty-seventh minute, passed from Jose Fonte. Southampton's Mane completed his hat trick in the sixty-eighth minute, extending the lead as he scored with a pass from Tadic. Manchester City pulled back on an Iheanacho goal, his second of the game, in the seventy-eighth minute, set up by Jesus Navas. The final held at 4-2 for Southampton. 

Finally, Chelsea hosts Tottenham Hotspur on Monday. Hugo Lloris and Asmir Begovic are the gloved men. In the twenty-seventh minute, Kyle Walker of Tottenham Hotspur had a yellow card for a foul. Tottenham Hotspur dented the scoreboard in the thirty-fifth minute with a Harry Kane goal, via Erik Lamela. In the thirty-eighth minute, Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur took a yellow card for a foul. Tottenham Hotspur added on with a Son Heung-Min goal, set up by Christian Eriksen in the forty-fourth minute. In first half stoppage time, Danny Rose of Tottenham Hotspur and Willian of Chelsea received yellow cards for their argument. Tottenham Hotspur had a yellow card given to Lamela for a foul in the fifty-first minute. Chelsea got on the board with a goal by Gary Cahill in the fifty-eighth minute, assisted by Willian. In the seventieth minute, Eriksen of Tottenham Hotspur had a yellow card for a foul. In the seventy-first minute, Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic was booked on a yellow card for his foul. In the eighty-third minute, Chelsea tied it on an Eden Hazard goal, made possible by Diego Costa. Eric Dier of Tottenham Hotspur and John Obi Mikel of Chelsea had yellow cards in the eighty-seventh minute, for a foul and dissent respectively. Late in stoppage time, Tottenham Hotspur had yellow cards for Kane, Mousa Dembele, and Ryan Mason, the first and third for fouls while the second was for dissent. The game ended 2-2, and the result means Leicester City are Premier League Champions with two weeks to go. 

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Major League Soccer 2016 - Week 9

We're back with a full week of soccer. There will be a blip in Saturday coverage of the league as I'll be on the road, but I should get everything done when I return. We begin with...

The New York Red Bulls hosting FC Dallas. Jesse Gonzalez and Luis Robles man the nets. In the twenty-second minute, Ronald Zubar of New York took a yellow card for a foul. The Red Bulls opened in the thirty-seventh minute on a Lloyd Sam goal, passed from Sal Zizzo and Sacha Kljestan. In the thirty-eighth minute, Dallas had a yellow card for a Mauro Diaz foul. New York added on with a Kljestan goal in the fifty-second minute. The Red Bulls extended the lead as Mike Grella scored in the seventy-first minute, assisted by Felipe and Sam. In the eighty-third minute, New York padded the lead with a Felipe goal, set up by Alex Muyl. The final held at 4-0, with Sam named man of the match.

The first of Saturday's seven sees the Montreal Impact welcome the Colorado Rapids. Zac MacMath and Evan Bush are the goalies. Montreal began in the ninth minute with a Didier Drogba goal. Colorado's Marlon Hairston took a yellow card for his dissent in the forty-fifth minute. The Rapids tied it on a forty-seventh minute Shkelzen Gashi goal, assisted by Mekeil Williams and Jermaine Jones. The Impact retied it with a fiftieth minute Maxim Tissot goal, set up by Harry Shipp. In the sixty-first minute, Axel Sjoberg of Colorado had a yellow card for a foul. Laurent Ciman of Montreal had a yellow card for a sixty-sixth minute. The Rapids retied it in the seventy-third minute on a Bobby Burling goal, passed from Sjoberg and Gashi. Gashi had a yellow card for a foul in the seventy-eighth minute. This made it 2-2, the final, with the man of the match being Gashi.

Stateside, New York City FC bring in the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. David Ousted and Josh Saunders man the nets. Vancouver started in the first minute with an Octavio Rivero goal, via Nicolas Mezquida. New York City tied it on a thirty-fifth minute David Villa goal, assisted by Khiry Shelton. New York City took the lead in the forty-first minute with another Villa goal, coming off of Andrea Pirlo. In the forty-sixth minute, Mikey Lopez of New York City received a yellow card for his foul. The Whitecaps tied it with a Christian Bolanos goal in the sixty-third minute. New York City regained the lead on a Steven Mendoza goal, made possible by Thomas McNamara and Ronald Matarrita. In the eightieth minute, Frederic Brillant took a yellow card for an argument for New York City. In stoppage time, Pa Modou Kah of Vancouver took a yellow card for his foul, as did New York City's Matarrita for time wasting. New York City won 3-2, and Villa's brace earned him man of the match honors.

Into Pennsylvania, as the Philadelphia Union host the San Jose Earthquakes. David Bingham and Andre Blake man the nets. Philadelphia led off in the thirtieth minute with a Chris Pontius goal, courtesy of Tranquillo Barnetta. San Jose had yellow cards given to Fatai Alashe in the thirty-first minute for dissent and Anibal Godoy's foul in the thirty-fifth minute. The Earthquakes went down to ten men when Godoy took a second yellow card for a foul in the fifty-ninth minute. San Jose tied it on an eighty-third minute Simon Dawkins goal. This made it 1-1, the final, with Dawkins earning the man of the match honors for a shorthanded equalizer.

Out west, the Seattle Sounders FC welcome the Columbus Crew SC. Steve Clark and Stefan Frei tend the nets. Seattle had a yellow card for an Osvaldo Alonso foul in the twenty-seventh minute. The Sounders took a yellow card on an eighty-second minute Erik Friberg foul. Columbus had yellow cards for fouls by Waylon Francis in the eighty-sixth minute and Ethan Finlay in the eighty-seventh minute. Seattle got going in the eighty-eighth minute on a Jordan Morris goal. This stood for a 1-0 win, with Morris named man of the match for the late winner.

Back east, the Chicago Fire bring in DC United. Travis Worra and Matt Lampson are the unknown goalies. Chicago dented the scoreboard in the forty-first minute with a Jonathan Campbell goal, via Arturo Alvarez. In the forty-fourth minute, Kennedy Igboananike of the Fire had a yellow card for his foul. DC had a yellow card given to Chris Rolfe for his foul in first half stoppage time. United tied it on a sixty-fourth minute Patrick Nyarko goal, guided in by Luciano Acosta and Lamar Neagle. DC's Steve Birnbaum had a yellow card for his eighty-third minute foul. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Rolfe's equalizer making him the man of the match.

Further east, the New England Revolution host Orlando City SC. Joe Bendik and Bobby Shuttleworth are between the posts. New England struck first in the seventh minute on a Diego Fagundez goal, courtesy of Lee Nguyen. Darwin Ceren of Orlando City took a yellow card for his twenty-fourth minute foul. Orlando City tied it on a thirtieth minute goal by Kevin Molino. The Revolution took the lead on a seventy-first minute Juan Agudelo goal, set up by Kelyn Rowe and Nguyen. In the seventy-eighth minute, Fagundez took a yellow card for his foul for New England. In the eighty-seventh minute, Orlando City's Carlos Rivas had a yellow card for a foul. Rivas atoned for the mistake with a ninetieth minute goal to tie it for Orlando City. Rafael Ramos of Orlando City had a yellow card for a foul in stoppage time. The game ended 2-2, with the man of the match being Nguyen for his role in both Revolution goals.

Saturday ends with Real Salt Lake welcoming the Houston Dynamo. Joe Willis is mismatched with Nick Rimando. Houston had yellow cards given to DaMarcus Beasley in the third minute and Ricardo Clark in the twenty-fourth minute, both for fouls. In the fifty-fourth minute, the Dynamo were first to score with a Leonel Miranda goal, set up by Giles Barnes. Salt Lake tied it on a sixty-second minute goal by Jordan Allen, via Justen Glad. Real took the lead with a Yura Movsisyan goal, assisted by Demar Phillips and Allen. This stood for a 2-1 win, with Allen being the man of the match for a goal and an assist. 

On Sunday, the Portland Timbers bring in Toronto FC. Clint Irwin and Jake Gleeson are the keepers. Portland was first to score in the seventeenth minute with a Fanendo Adi goal, coming off of Diego Valeri and Darren Mattocks. Toronto tied it on a Will Johnson goal in the fortieth minute, set up by Sebastian Giovinco. In the fifty-seventh minute, Toronto had a yellow card given to Damien Perquis for his foul. Liam Ridgewell of the Timbers took a yellow card for a sixty-second minute foul. Portland took the lead back with a seventy-fourth minute goal by Valeri. The Timbers had a yellow card go to Dairon Asprilla in the eighty-second minute for his foul. This held for a 2-1 win, with the man of the match being Valeri for his winner and assist.

Finally, Sporting Kansas City host the Los Angeles Galaxy. Brian Rowe and Tim Melia draw the starts in goal. Kansas City cracked the scoresheet in the thirtieth minute on a Brad Davis goal, via Graham Zusi and Matt Besler. Los Angeles tied it on a forty-second minute Giovani Dos Santos goal, helped along by Gyasi Zardes. The Galaxy went down to ten men when Ashley Cole took two yellow cards in quick succession, for time wasting in the sixty-ninth minute and a foul in the seventieth minute to seal the ejection. Ike Opara of Sporting had a yellow card for an eighty-second minute foul. Los Angeles' Jose Villarreal took a yellow card in stoppage time for dissent. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Dos Santos the man of the match for his equalizer to grab a road point.

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