Wednesday, July 26, 2017

MLS Midweek: July 26, 2017

Just one midweek game this time, as the Philadelphia Union host the Columbus Crew SC. Zack Steffen and John McCarthy draw the starts in goal. Philadelphia opened in the twentieth minute with an Ilsinho goal, passed from C.J. Sapong. In the thirty-first minute, Giliano Wijnaldum of the Union had a yellow card for his foul. Columbus went down to ten men in the thirty-fifth minute with a straight red card for Jonathan Mensah's denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. The Crew saw a yellow card for dissent given to Lalas Abubakar in the thirty-sixth minute. Philadelphia's Raymon Gaddis had a yellow card for a thirty-ninth minute foul. The Union added on in the sixty-sixth minute with a Sapong goal. Columbus went down to nine men in the seventy-sixth minute when Abubakar took a second yellow card for a foul. Philadelphia extended the lead in the eighty-first minute with a Marcus Epps goal, made possible by Sapong and Ilsinho. This made it 3-0, the final, with the man of the match being Sapong.

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Sunday, July 23, 2017

MLS 2017: Week 20

We've got a big weekend ahead, as play fully resumes from the Gold Cup break. We begin on Friday with...

Orlando City SC hosting Atlanta United FC. Brad Guzan and Joe Bendik draw the starts in goal. Orlando City's Kaka took a yellow card for a foul in the sixth minute. Atlanta had a yellow card for a Leandro Gonzalez Pirez foul in the thirty-eighth minute. Orlando City saw a yellow card for a sixtieth minute foul by Will Johnson. Atlanta saw a yellow card for time wasting by Julian Gressel as he was subbed out in the sixty-seventh minute. Atlanta's Michael Parkhurst had a yellow card for a foul in the eightieth minute. Atlanta got going in the eighty-sixth minute on a Hector Villalba goal, passed from Greg Garza. The final stood at 1-0, with the man of the match being Villalba for his winner.

On Saturday, the first of eight games has New York City FC welcoming the Chicago Fire. Matt Lampson and Sean Johnson protect the nets. New York City went down to ten men in the twelfth minute after Yangel Herrera took a second yellow card for a foul, his first offense being in the eighth minute. Joao Meira of Chicago had a yellow card for a forty-fourth minute foul. New York City dented the scoreboard in the forty-seventh minute with a David Villa goal, via Jonathan Lewis. New York City added on in the fiftieth minute with a Frederic Brillant goal. The Fire got on the board in the fifty-fourth minute with a David Accam goal. Chicago's Johan Kappelhof took a yellow card for his foul in the sixty-first minute. New York City saw yellow cards for Jack Harrison's eighty-third minute foul and time wasting by Brillant in the eighty-seventh minute. Despite the disadvantage in manpower, New York City won 2-1, with Brillant the man of the match.

West to Minnesota United FC bringing in the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Bobby Shuttleworth are in goal. New York began in the sixteenth minute with a Daniel Royer goal, via Felipe. The Red Bulls saw a yellow card for a thirty-seventh minute Tyler Adams foul. Brent Kallman of Minnesota had a yellow card for a fifty-third minute foul. In the sixty-seventh minute, Ibson of Minnesota took a yellow card for dissent, and the Red Bulls added on with a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal, made possible by Royer. New York extended the lead in the ninetieth minute with an Alex Muyl goal, passed from Sacha Kljestan and Sean Davis. This made it 3-0, the final, with the man of the match being Royer.

Back east, DC United host the Houston Dynamo. Tyler Deric and Travis Worra are the keepers. Houston led off in the sixth minute with an Andrew Wenger goal, via Alex. In the thirteenth minute, the Dynamo's Alex took a yellow card for his foul. Houston added on in the fifteenth minute with a Mauro Manotas goal, coming off of Alex. The Dynamo extended the lead as Memo Rodriguez scored in the seventeenth minute, with the help of Wenger and Alex. DC got on the board in the sixty-second minute with a Bobby Boswell goal, guided in by Lloyd sam and Jared Jeffrey. DC had yellow cards for fouls by Nick DeLeon in the sixty-third minute and Jeffrey in the seventy-second minute. Houston saw yellow cards for Deric's time wasting and Wenger's foul in stoppage time. They still won 3-1, with the man of the match being Wenger.

Up in Canada, Toronto FC welcomes the Colorado Rapids. Zac MacMath and Clint Irwin draw the starts in goal. Toronto opened in the fifth minute with a Jay Chapman goal. Chris Mavinga of Toronto had a yellow card for a twenty-sixth minute foul. Colorado saw a yellow card for a forty-fourth minute foul by Axel Sjoberg. The Rapids tied it on a seventy-sixth minute goal by Dominique Badji, coming off of Alan Gordon. Marlon Hairston of Colorado took a yellow card for his foul in stoppage time. The final stood at 1-1, with the man of the match being Badji.

Back stateside, the Columbus Crew SC bring in the Philadelphia Union. John McCarthy and Zack Steffen are in the six-yard boxes. Columbus drew first blood in the sixty-fifth minute with a Justin Meram goal, set up by Artur. Philadelphia saw a yellow card for a sixty-eighth minute foul by Jack Elliott. The game ended at 1-0, with the man of the match being Meram.

In Canada again, the Montreal Impact host FC Dallas. Chris Seitz and Evan Bush are the goalies. Montreal started in the twenty-third minute with a Michael Salazar goal, passed from Matteo Mancosu. In the forty-third minute, the Impact's Mancosu took a yellow card for a foul. Dallas' Maynor Figueroa had a yellow card for his forty-fourth minute foul. Dallas got on the board in the fifty-second minute with a Cristian Colman goal, fueled by Maximiliano Urruti and Roland Lamah. Hernan Grana of Dallas took a yellow card for a fifty-fifth minute foul. Dallas took the lead with a Colman goal in the sixty-second minute, assisted by Carlos Gruezo. Victor Ulloa of Dallas had a yellow card in the sixty-sixth minute for a foul. The final stood at 2-1, with Colman's brace making him the man of the match.

Stateside again, as the New England Revolution welcome the Los Angeles Galaxy. Brian Rowe and Brad Knighton are between the posts. New England struck first in the sixteenth minute with a Lee Nguyen goal, via Diego Fagundez. Los Angeles tied it in the twenty-second minute on a Daniel Steres goal, fueled by Romain Alessandrini and Rafael Garcia. The Revolution took the lead back in the thirty-fourth minute on a Kei Kamara goal, courtesy of Fagundez. Andrew Farrell of New England had a yellow card for a thirty-eighth minute foul. The Galaxy saw yellow cards for fouls by Bradley Diallo and Jack McBean in the forty-second and forty-fourth minutes, respectively. Los Angeles retied it in the fifty-third minute on another Steres goal. The Revolution had yellow cards for fouls by Antonio Mlinar Delamea in the fifty-sixth minute, Chris Tierney in the sixty-sixth minute, and Fagundez in the sixty-ninth minute. New England retook the lead on a seventieth minute Teal Bunbury goal, helped along by Kelyn Rowe. The Revolution added on with a seventy-third minute Bunbury goal, made possible by Farrell and Kamara. The Galaxy got one back in the seventy-ninth minute with an Ariel Lassiter goal. This only made it 4-3, the final, with the man of the match being Fagundez.

Saturday ends with Real Salt Lake bringing in Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and Nick Rimando are given the starts in goal. Roger Espinoza of Kansas City had a yellow card for a fortieth minute foul. Salt Lake was first to score in the forty-third minute with a Luis Silva goal, helped along by Joao Plata and Danilo Acosta. Ilie Sanchez of Sporting took a yellow card for a foul in the forty-seventh minute. Real had yellow cards for fouls by Sunny in the fifty-third minute and Acosta in the fifty-sixth minute. Kansas City tied it on a fifty-ninth minute Benny Feilhaber penalty kick goal. Tony Beltran of Salt Lake had a yellow card for a seventy-first minute foul. Gerso Fernandes of Sporting took a yellow card for his seventy-seventh minute foul. The game ended at 1-1, with the man of the match being Melia (five for six in saves).

On Sunday, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC host the Portland Timbers. Jake Gleeson and David Ousted are the keepers. Portland got on the board first with a fourteenth minute Jeremy Ebobisse goal, set up by Dairon Asprilla and Sebastian Blanco. Vancouver tied it in the forty-fifth minute with an Andrew Jacobson goal, via Tim Parker and Christian Bolanos. Nicolas Mezquida of the Whitecaps took a yellow card for a foul in first half stoppage time. The Timbers took the lead back in the forty-ninth minute with a Blanco goal, coming off of Ebobisse. In the seventy-seventh minute, Vancouver's Ousted had a yellow card for dissent. Portland saw yellow cards for persistent infringement by Roy Miller in the seventy-ninth minute, time wasting by Jack Barmby in the eighty-fourth minute, and a foul by Ben Zemanski in the ninetieth minute. The final held at 2-1, with the man of the match being Blanco.

Finally, the Seattle Sounders FC host the San Jose Earthquakes. David Bingham and Stefan Frei tend the nets. Seattle cracked the scoresheet in the fifty-fourth minute with a Cristian Roldan goal, via Gustav Svensson and Kelvin Leerdam. The Sounders added on in the fifty-sixth minute with a Roldan goal. San Jose had yellow cards for fouls by Jackson Yueill in the fifty-seventh minute and Anibal Godoy in the sixtieth minute. Seattle extended the lead in the sixty-fifth minute as Leerdam scored, thanks to Joevin Jones. Andres Imperiale of the Earthquakes had a yellow card for an eighty-seventh minute foul. The final was 3-0, with Roldan named man of the match for his quick brace.

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NWSL 2017: Week 15

Only four of the five scheduled games got completed this weekend, with FC Kansas City and the North Carolina Courage succumbing to some brutal Midwest weather. The other four begin with...

The Chicago Red Stars hosing the Orlando Pride. Aubrey Bledsoe and Alyssa Naeher make the starts in goal. Chicago led off in the twenty-ninth minute with a Christen Press goal, via Sofia Huerta. The Red Stars added on with a fifty-second minute Press goal, coming off of Jen Hoy. Orlando's Marta took a yellow card for a foul in the seventy-sixth minute. The Pride got on the board in stoppage time with an Alanna Kennedy goal, made possible by Rachel Hill. This only made it 2-1, the final, with Press named woman of the match. Huerta, Taylor Comeau, and Hoy also impressed for the Red Stars, while Orlando's best were Steph Catley, Kennedy, Dani Weatherholt, and Marta.

Down in Houston, the Dash welcome the Boston Breakers. Abby Smith and Jane Campbell protect the nets. Houston began in the twenty-third minute with a Nichelle Prince goal, set up by Andressinha. This stood for a 1-0 win for the Dash, led by the woman of the match, the keeper Campbell for her four-save clean sheet. Prince, Rachel Daly, Andressinha, and Cami Levin did well for Houston, while Boston's best were Brooke Elby, Morgan Andrews, Midge Purce, and Adriana Leon.

In the northwest, the Portland Thorns FC bring in the Washington Spirit. Stephanie Labbe and Adrianna Franch play goal. Washington's Arielle Ship took a yellow card for a twelfth minute foul. Portland's Ashleigh Sykes received a yellow card for a thirtieth minute foul. The Spirit opened in the fifty-eighth minute with a Havana Solaun goal, who just tapped it in after a prior shot off the post from Mallory Pugh's service. The Thorns tied it in the sixty-second minute with an Allie Long, assisted by Tyler Lussi after an Emily Sonnett free kick. In the seventy-second minute, Caprice Dydasco took a yellow card for a foul for Washington. The Thorns took the lead in the eightieth minute with a Mallory Weber goal, via Sykes. The final remained at 2-1 for Portland, with Long the woman of the match, and other Thorns stars being Sonnett, Franch, and Lussi. The Spirit's best were Shelina Zadorsky, Tori Huster, Pugh, and Solaun.

Finally, the Seattle Reign FC host Sky Blue FC. Kailen Sheridan and Haley Kopmeyer are the gloved women. Seattle started in the twenty-seventh minute with a Megan Rapinoe free kick goal. The Reign's Merritt Mathias took a yellow card for a foul in the thirtieth minute. Seattle added on in the forty-seventh minute when Rapinoe scored again after Beverly Yanez earned a penalty kick. The Reign extended the lead as Yanez scored in the forty-ninth minute, thanks to Nahomi Kawasumi and Rapinoe. Seattle padded the lead in the fifty-sixth minute with an own goal by Sky Blue's Erica Skroski, off a cross from Rapinoe. Sky Blue got on the board when Leah Galton controversially won a penalty kick against Mathias, and Kelley O'Hara buried the spot kick. Sky Blue got closer with a sixty-fourth minute Galton goal on a rebound from a Kopmeyer save. Sky Blue chipped closer in the seventy-second minute with a Daphne Corboz goal. Sky Blue tied it on a seventy-sixth minute goal by Sam Kerr, assisted by Corboz. Rapinoe took a yellow card for the Reign in the eightieth minute for her foul. Seattle retook the lead with Rapinoe finishing her hat trick in the eighty-seventh minute, with an assist from Katie Johnson. Sky Blue's Madison Tiernan received a yellow card for an eighty-ninth minute foul. The final was a wild 5-4, with Rapinoe the woman of the match. Also strong for the Reign were Yanez, Kawasumi, and Carson Pickett, while Sky Blue's best were O'Hara, Galton, Kerr, and Corboz.

NWSL Best XI of the Week
GK Jane Campbell
RB Brooke Elby
CB Shelina Zadorsky
CB Emily Sonnett
LB Cami Levin
DM Allie Long
AM Leah Galton
AM Daphne Corboz
FW Christen Press
FW Megan Rapinoe
FW Beverly Yanez

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

MLS Midweek: July 19, 2017

Seven games on at midweek this time. We begin in...

Montreal, as the Impact host the Philadelphia Union. John McCarthy and Evan Bush draw the starts in goal. Montreal opened in the nineteenth minute with a Michael Salazar goal, via Chris Duvall. Roland Alberg of Philadelphia had a yellow card for a twenty-ninth minute foul. Louis Beland-Goyette of the Impact took a yellow card for his thirty-second minute foul. The Union tied it in the forty-third minute with a Fabrice-Jean Picault goal. Raymon Gaddis of Philadelphia received a yellow card for a forty-fifth minute foul. Montreal reclaimed the lead with a fifty-first minute goal by Blerim Dzemaili, assisted by Salazar. The Union saw yellow cards for fouls by Jack Elliott in the seventy-seventh minute and Oguchi Onyewu in stoppage time. Hernan Bernardello of the Impact took a yellow card four minutes into stoppage time for his foul. Montreal won 2-1, with Salazar the man of the match.

Down to the New York Red Bulls welcoming the San Jose Earthquakes. David Bingham and Luis Robles play goal. Daniel Royer of New York had a yellow card for a twenty-fourth minute foul. The Red Bulls started in the thirty-eighth minute on a Sean Davis goal, via Connor Lade and Sacha Kljestan. San Jose had a yellow card for a sixty-third minute foul by Andres Imperiale. New York added on in the seventy-third minute with a Kljestan goal. The Red Bulls extended the lead as Felipe scored in the seventy-fifth minute, thanks to Kljestan. The Earthquakes got on the board in the eighty-eighth minute with a Valeri Kazaishvili goal, passed from Jahmir Hyka. New York shot back on a ninetieth minute goal by Royer, helped along by Derrick Etienne. The Red Bulls capped it at 5-1 with another Royer goal a minute later, made possible by Gonzalo Veron. The man of the match was Royer for his late brace.

Over in the Bronx, New York City FC brings in Toronto FC. Alexander Bono and Sean Johnson are the keepers. Toronto led off in the eleventh minute with an Ashtone Morgan goal, coming off of Ben Spencer. New York City's Thomas McNamara took a yellow card for a twenty-third minute foul. Toronto saw yellow cards for a foul by Drew Moor in the twenty-sixth minute and time wasting by the keeper Bono in the thirty-fourth minute. New York City tied it in first half stoppage time on a David Villa goal, courtesy of Jack Harrison. New York City took the lead with a fifty-sixth minute Maximiliano Moralez goal, assisted by Villa. Yangel Herrera of New York City took a yellow card for a sixty-sixth minute foul. Toronto's Morgan had a yellow card for his seventieth minute foul. In second half stoppage time, RJ Allen of New York City had a yellow card for a foul, leading to Toronto's equalizing penalty kick goal by Victor Vazquez. The result was a 2-2 draw, with the man of the match being Villa.

West to Minnesota United FC hosting the Houston Dynamo. Tyler Deric and Bobby Shuttleworth are the veterans in goal. Ismaila Jome of Minnesota had a yellow card in the thirty-sixth minute for a foul. Houston's Ricardo Clark took a yellow card for a forty-fifth minute foul. Adolfo Machado of the Dynamo had a yellow card for a sixty-third minute foul. Minnesota saw yellow cards in stoppage time for fouls by Brent Kallman and Collin Martin. The final was 0-0, and Shuttleworth's four-save clean sheet made him the man of the match.

In California, the Los Angeles Galaxy welcome the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. David Ousted and Brian Rowe are in the six-yard boxes. Vancouver's Tony Tchani had a yellow card for a twenty-third minute foul. Tchani made up for it by getting the Whitecaps going with his sixty-fourth minute goal, passed from Christian Bolanos. Los Angeles had a yellow card for a Joao Pedro foul in stoppage time. Vancouver won 1-0, with Tchani the man of the match.

Up in Portland, the Timbers bring in Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Jake Gleeson are the gloved men. Salt Lake began in the tenth minute with a Kyle Beckerman goal, via Tony Beltran. Lawrence Olum of Portland had a yellow card for a twenty-eighth minute foul, followed into the book by teammate Zarek Valentin in the forty-first minute for his foul. Real's Albert Rusnak took a yellow card for a forty-second minute foul. In first half stoppage time, the Timbers' Diego Valeri had a yellow card for dissent. Danilo Acosta of Salt Lake took a yellow card for a forty-sixth minute foul. Real added on in the fiftieth minute with a Joao Plata goal in the fiftieth minute. In the fifty-third minute, Portland went down to ten men when Victor Arboleda took a straight red card for his foul. Tensions remained high in the fifty-fifth minute, when the Timbers went to nine men and Salt Lake stayed just a man up at ten men as both Fanendo Adi and Beckerman received straight red cards for violent conduct. David Horst of Real had a yellow card for a fifty-seventh minute foul. Salt Lake extended the lead in the sixty-eighth minute as Rusnak scored, thanks to Jefferson Savarino. Real padded the lead as on a Plata goal, made possible by Acosta, in the eightieth minute. Jack Barmby of Portland had a yellow card for his eighty-first minute foul. The Timbers got on the board with a Barmby goal in second half stoppage time, coming off of Ben Zemanski. The final stood at 4-1, with the man of the match being Plata.

Finally, in Seattle, the Sounders FC host DC United. Travis Worra and Tyler Miller are the backups in goal. DC struck first in the eighth minute with a Deshorn Brown goal, via Patrick Nyarko. DC added on in the twenty-seventh minute with an Ian Harkes goal, courtesy of Sean Franklin. Marcelo Sarvas of DC had a yellow card for persistent infringement in the thirty-third minute. DC extended the lead in the fiftieth minute as Lloyd Sam scored, thanks to Luciano Acosta. Seattle got on the board in the fifty-first minute with a Will Bruin goal, coming off of Joevin Jones. The Sounders pulled closer with a sixty-second minute Brad Evans goal, passed from Jones and Nouhou Tolo. Seattle tied it in the seventy-fourth minute on a Gustav Svensson goal, made possible by Nicolas Lodeiro. The Sounders took the lead with a Cristian Roldan goal in the seventy-eighth minute, assisted by Bruin. In the eighty-ninth minute, Seattle went down to ten men as Lodeiro earned a straight red card for violent conduct. The Sounders held on to win 4-3, with Roldan the man of the match for the historic winner, as this marks the first time a team has overcome such a deficit to win in regulation.

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Sunday, July 16, 2017

NWSL 2017 - Week 14

We're back with a full week of games, all on Saturday. First up...

The Portland Thorns FC host the North Carolina Courage. Katelyn Rowland and Adrianna Franch play in goal. North Carolina saw a yellow card for Taylor Smith's fifty-eighth minute foul. Portland had a yellow card for a foul by Hayley Raso in the sixty-second minute. Raso made amends in the seventieth minute, getting the Thorns going with her goal, assisted by Meghan Klingenberg. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the woman of the match being Raso, while the Thorns also got good games from Klingenberg, Lindsey Horan, and Ashleigh Sykes. The Courage's best performances came from Smith, Abby Erceg, and McCall Zerboni.

In New Jersey, Sky Blue FC welcomes the Chicago Red Stars. Alyssa Naeher and Kailen Sheridan protect the nets. In the second minute, Sky Blue's Nikki Stanton took a yellow card for her foul. Chicago opened in the fourth minute with a Sofia Huerta goal, passed from Christen Press. The Red Stars added on in the twenty-sixth minute with a Press goal, set up by Vanessa DiBernardo. Sky Blue got on the board with a Maya Hayes goal, after Naeher made the initial save. In the thirty-eighth minute, Sky Blue's Sam Kerr received a yellow card for a foul. In the seventy-fourth minute, Sky Blue's Erica Skroski took a yellow card for her foul. In the seventy-ninth minute, Sky Blue's Kelley O'Hara received a yellow card for a foul. Sky Blue tied it in the ninetieth minute with a Kerr goal, fueled by Sarah Killion. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, with the woman of the match being Press, while Huerta, Arin Gilliland, and Alyssa Mautz also played well for the Red Stars. Sky Blue's best were Kerr, O'Hara, Hayes, and Daphne Corboz.

Down in Florida, the Orlando Pride host FC Kansas City. Nicole Barnhart and Aubrey Bledsoe are the goalies. Orlando started in the twenty-second minute with an Alanna Kennedy goal, coming off of Marta. The Pride added on with a thirty-eighth minute Alex Morgan penalty kick goal, after drawing the opportunity against Kansas City's Katie Bowen on a prior free kick. In the forty-fifth minute, Orlando's Dani Weatherholt took a yellow card for a foul. Kansas City got on the board in the sixty-fifth minute with a Maegan Kelly goal, helped along by Bowen. The Pride fired back with a seventieth minute goal by Toni Pressley from distance, courtesy of Camila. Orlando extended the lead in the seventy-fifth minute as Kristen Edmonds stole the ball from Kansas City keeper Barnhart and deposited the ball in a vacated net for the goal. In the eighty-eighth minute, Christina Gibbons of Kansas City picked up a yellow card for a foul. The final stood at 4-1, with the woman of the match being Pressley. Also strong for the Pride were Bledsoe, Camila, Kennedy, and Marta. Kansas City's best were Becca Moros, Brittany Ratcliffe, and Kelly.

West to Houston, where the Dash bring in the Washington Spirit. Stephanie Labbe and Jane Campbell guard the woodwork. Houston led off in the twenty-fifth minute with a Poliana goal, made possible by Janine Beckie after a short corner from Andressinha. The Dash added on in the fifty-third minute with an Andressinha goal, passed from Rachel Daly. Houston's Janine Van Wyk took a yellow card for a fifty-ninth minute foul. Washington got on the board in the seventy-fifth minute with an Estelle Johnson goal, via Havana Solaun. The game ended 2-1, with the woman of the match being Campbell (eight for nine in saves), while other Dash stars were Poliana, Andressinha, Beckie, and Daly. The Spirit's best were Johnson, Estefania Banini, and Solaun.

Finally, the Seattle Reign FC host the Boston Breakers. Abby Smith and Haley Kopmeyer are in the six-yard boxes. Seattle began in the thirty-second minute with a Nahomi Kawasumi goal. Boston tied it in the forty-third minute on an Adriana Leon goal, made possible by Christen Westphal. The score held at 1-1 to the end, with the woman of the match being Kawasumi. Also good for the Reign were Lauren Barnes and Lindsay Elston, while the Breakers' best were Westphal, Angela Salem, and Leon.

NWSL Best XI of the Week
GK Jane Campbell
RB Poliana
CB Toni Pressley
CB Lauren Barnes
LB Becca Moros
DM Alanna Kennedy
AM Marta
AM Janine Beckie
RF Nahomi Kawasumi
CF Christen Press
LF Hayley Raso

Saturday, July 8, 2017

NWSL 2017: Week 13

The season gets into its second half this weekend, with one game on Friday and four more on Saturday. We begin with...

The Boston Breakers hosting the Chicago Red Stars. Alyssa Naeher and Sammy Jo Prudhomme are the goalies on Friday night. Chicago's Alyssa Mautz took a yellow card for her sixty-second minute foul against Boston's Morgan Andrews. Allysha Chapman of the Breakers took a yellow card for a foul in the eightieth minute on the Red Stars' Sofia Huerta. In the ninetieth minute, Boston's Rosie White received a yellow card for fouling Chicago's Julie Ertz. The game ended in a 0-0 draw, with the woman of the match being Breakers keeper Prudhomme for an eight-save clean sheet. Also good for Boston were Chapman, Angela Salem, and Adriana Leon, while Chicago's top players were Casey Short, Ertz, Mautz, and Christen Press.

On Saturday, the first of four games saw the Washington Spirit welcome the Orlando Pride. Aubrey Bledsoe and Stephanie Labbe protect the nets. Orlando opened in the tenth minute with a Marta penalty kick goal, with the attempt earned by Camila. Washington tied it in the twenty-fourth minute with a Mallory Pugh goal, via Francisca Ordega. The Pride took the lead back in the fifty-sixth minute with a Marta goal. The Spirit tied it again as Pugh scored on a ninetieth minute penalty kick goal, earned by Kristie Mewis. The final stood at 2-2, with the woman of the match being Pugh. Washington also saw good games from Tori Huster and Estefania Banini, while Orlando's best were Marta, Camila, and Ali Krieger.

Next up, Sky Blue FC host FC Kansas City. Nicole Barnhart and Kailen Sheridan play goal. Kansas City started in the twenty-ninth minute with a Katie Bowen goal, via Christina Gibbons. Kansas City added on in the forty-second minute with a Gibbons goal, made possible by Desiree Scott. In first half stoppage time, Erica Skroski of Sky Blue fouled Kansas City's Shea Groom to earn a yellow card, but Groom retaliated in a violent manner and received a red card, putting Kansas City shorthanded for the rest of the game. Sky Blue got on the board with a Sam Kerr goal in the seventy-eighth minute, coming off of Kelley O'Hara. Sky Blue tied it in the eighty-first minute with a Kerr goal, passed from Daphne Corboz. Sky Blue took the lead in the ninetieth minute as Kerr completed her hat trick on a goal set up by Taylor Lytle. This made it 3-2, the final, with the woman of the match being Kerr. Sky Blue also saw good games from Raquel Rodriguez and O'Hara, while Kansas City's top players were Gibbons, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Bowen.

Down the coast, the North Carolina Courage bring in the Seattle Reign FC. Haley Kopmeyer and Katelyn Rowland play in goal. North Carolina led off in the thirty-third minute with an Ashley Hatch goal. Seattle's Kristen McNabb took a yellow card for a seventy-first minute foul. Hatch of the Courage had a foul in the seventy-fifth minute that earned a yellow card. North Carolina added on in the eighty-first minute with a McCall Zerboni goal. This produced the 2-0 final, with the woman of the match being Hatch. Zerboni, Abby Dahlkemper, and Taylor Smith were good for the Courage, while the Reign saw their best efforts from Rebekah Stott, McNabb, and Megan Rapinoe.

Finally, the Houston Dash host the Portland Thorns FC. Adrianna Franch and Jane Campbell are in the six-yard boxes. Houston began in the eighth minute with a Janine Beckie goal, passed from Rachel Daly. In first half stoppage time, Lindsey Horan of Portland took a yellow card for her foul. In the eighty-third minute, the Dash's Bruna took a yellow card for a foul. In the ninetieth minute, Daly received a yellow card for time wasting. The Thorns tied it in stoppage time on a Horan goal from a free kick. A minute later, Carli Lloyd of the Dash took a straight red card for a reckless foul against Mallory Weber of Portland. The final stood at 1-1, with the woman of the match being Horan for the late equalizer. Also good for the Thorns were Meghan Klingenberg, Franch, and Hayley Raso, while the Dash had good games from Amber Brooks, Cami Privett, Beckie, and Daly.

NWSL Best XI of the Week
GK Sammy Jo Prudhomme
RB Kelley O'Hara
CB Amber Brooks
CB Abby Dahlkemper
LB Meghan Klingenberg
DM Christina Gibbons
AM Janine Beckie
AM Marta
RF Mallory Pugh
CF Ashley Hatch
LF Sam Kerr

Thursday, July 6, 2017

MLS 2017: Week 19

This is the last MLS action for about two weeks, spread over Tuesday through Thursday this week. We begin with five games on Tuesday, the first in...

Georgia, as Atlanta United hosts the San Jose Earthquakes. David Bingham and Kyle Reynish are the goalies. San Jose opened in the second minute with a Tommy Thompson goal. Kofi Sarkodie of the Earthquakes had a yellow card in the tenth minute for his foul. Anton Walkes of Atlanta received a yellow card for a fifteenth minute foul. San Jose keeper Bingham took a yellow card for dissent in the eighteenth minute. The Earthquakes went down to ten men in the thirty-second minute as Sarkodie took a second yellow card for a foul. Atlanta saw yellow cards for Carlos Carmona in the forty-second minute and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez in the forty-fifth minute, both for fouls. Atlanta tied it in the fifty-fifth minute with a Carmona goal. Atlanta took the lead in the sixty-fifth minute on a Josef Martinez goal, helped along by Greg Garza and Miguel Almiron. San Jose tied it again in the sixty-sixth minute on a Chris Wondolowski goal, via Nick Lima. Jeff Larentowicz of Atlanta had a yellow card for his seventy-fourth minute. Atlanta regained the lead with a Walkes goal in the eighty-first minute, made possible by Julian Gressel. Atlanta added on with another Martinez goal in the eighty-ninth minute, coming off of Almiron. Martinez took a yellow card delaying the game in the ninetieth minute with his extended celebration. The Earthquakes went down to nine men in stoppage time when Victor Bernardez took a straight red card for violent conduct. The game ended at 4-2, with the man of the match being Martinez.

Up to Minnesota United FC welcoming the Columbus Crew SC. Zack Steffen and Bobby Shuttleworth play in goal. Ibson of Minnesota had a yellow card for his ninth minute foul. Columbus got going in the fifty-eighth minute with a Kekuta Manneh goal, via Wil Trapp. The Crew's goalie Steffen had a yellow card for time wasting in stoppage time. The game ended at 1-0, with the man of the match named as Manneh.

In Texas, FC Dallas brings in DC United. Travis Worra and Jesse Gonzalez draw the starts in goal. DC started in the thirtieth minute with an Ian Harkes goal, via Patrick Nyarko. Dallas tied it on a forty-first minute goal by Atiba Harris, coming off of Victor Ulloa. Hernan Grana of Dallas took a yellow card for a forty-third minute foul. Dallas took the lead with a Roland Lamah goal in first half stoppage time. Dallas added on in the forty-seventh minute with a Maximiliano Urruti goal, helped along by Michael Barrios. Jared Jeffrey of DC took a yellow card for his forty-ninth minute foul. Dallas extended the lead in the fifty-fifth minute as Lamah scored again, thanks to Barrios and Mauro Diaz. DC got one back with a Deshorn Brown goal, courtesy of Luciano Acosta. The final held at 4-2, with the man of the match honors going to Lamah for his brace.

Northwest to Colorado, where the Rapids host the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei and Tim Howard are the gloved men. Seattle led off in the sixth minute with a Clint Dempsey goal, via Joevin Jones. Mekeil Williams of Colorado had a yellow card for a twenty-third minute foul. The Sounders added on in the thirtieth minute with a Will Bruin goal, set up by Dempsey and Nicolas Lodeiro. The Rapids' Bismark Boateng took a yellow card for a foul in first half stoppage time. Colorado saw yellow cards for Dominique Badji in the forty-eighth minute, Mike da Fonte in the fifty-fourth minute, and Alan Gordon in the sixty-sixth minute, all for fouls. The Rapids got on the board in the seventy-eighth minute with a Badji goal, assisted by Marlon Hairston and Micheal Azira. Seattle shot back with a Dempsey goal in the eighty-fifth minute, passed from Bruin and Frei. The final stood at 3-1, with the man of the match being Dempsey.

Tuesday ends in California, with the Los Angeles Galaxy welcoming Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Clement Diop are the keepers. Demar Phillips of Salt Lake had a yellow card for a twenty-sixth minute foul. Real began in the thirty-sixth minute with an Albert Rusnak goal, assisted by Luke Mulholland. Los Angeles tied it in the forty-first minute with an Ashley Cole goal, coming off of Jose Villarreal. Salt Lake retook the lead in first half stoppage time on a Kyle Beckerman goal, made possible by Rusnak. Real added on in the sixty-second minute with a Yura Movsisyan goal, fueled by Phillips and Rusnak. Salt Lake extended the lead as Jefferson Savarino scored in the seventy-second minute. Real padded the lead with another Savarino goal in the seventy-seventh minute. Salt Lake struck again with a Joao Plata goal in the eightieth minute, with an assist from Brooks Lennon. The Galaxy got one back in the eighty-ninth minute with a Bradford Jamieson goal. The final was 6-2, with the man of the match being Savarino for his brace.

Wednesday begins with the New England Revolution bringing in the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Cody Cropper are between the posts. New England struck first in the twenty-first minute with a Teal Bunbury goal, via Diego Fagundez. New York tied it in the twenty-third minute with a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal. The Revolution retook the lead with a Lee Nguyen goal in the twenty-sixth minute. The Red Bulls saw a yellow card for a Daniel Royer foul in the forty-fourth minute. Sal Zizzo of New York had a yellow card for his foul in the forty-seventh minute. Benjamin Angoua of New England took a yellow card for dissent in the fifty-fifth minute, and Royer tied it for the Red Bulls on a penalty kick as well. Sean Davis of New York had a yellow card for delaying the game in the seventy-sixth minute. Antonio Mlinar Delamea of the Revolution received a yellow card for his seventy-seventh minute foul. Wright-Phillips of the Red Bulls had a yellow card for his seventy-eighth minute foul. New York won it 3-2 with a ninetieth minute goal by Gonzalo Veron, made possible by Felipe. Wright-Phillips was the man of the match.

Down in Florida, Orlando City SC hosts Toronto FC. Alexander Bono and Joe Bendik draw the starts in goal. Oyvind Alseth of Toronto had a yellow card for a twelfth minute foul. Toronto was first to score in the eighteenth minute with a Jozy Altidore goal, passed from Sebastian Giovinco. Jonathan Spector of Orlando City received a yellow card for a twenty-third minute foul, as did teammate Jose Aja in the forty-fifth minute. Victor Vazquez of Toronto took a yellow card for a foul in first half stoppage time. Toronto added on in the forty-sixth minute with a Giovinco goal, helped along by Altidore and Vazquez. Orlando City got on the board with a sixty-third minute Carlos Rivas goal, coming off of Kaka. Toronto replied in the sixty-fifth minute with a Giovinco goal. This made it 3-1, the final, with Giovinco named man of the match.

In Texas, the Houston Dynamo welcome the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Tyler Deric play in goal. Houston opened in the first minute with an Andrew Wenger goal, assisted by Mauro Manotas. Michael Salazar of Montreal had a yellow card for a foul in the fourth minute. The Dynamo's Leonardo took a yellow card for his twelfth minute foul. Houston added on in the twenty-third minute with an Alex goal, set up by Manotas. Ricardo Clark of the Dynamo took a yellow card for his foul in the twenty-fifth minute. Blerim Dzemaili of the Impact had a yellow card for a thirty-first minute foul. Houston extended the lead as Memo Rodriguez scored in the sixty-seventh minute. Montreal's Hernan Bernardello took a yellow card for a seventy-ninth minute foul. The Impact got on the board in the eighty-ninth minute with a Salazar goal, courtesy of Laurent Ciman. The final stood at 3-1, with Manotas named man of the match.

Out in Vancouver, the Whitecaps FC bring in New York City FC. Eirik Johansen is mismatched with David Ousted in goal. Vancouver started in the third minute with a Fredy Montero goal, made possible by Brek Shea. Yangel Herrera of New York City had a yellow card for his seventeenth minute foul. Shea of the Whitecaps had a yellow card for a twenty-third minute foul. New York City tied it on a thirty-fourth minute goal by Maxime Chanot, via RJ Allen and Andrea Pirlo. Kendall Waston of Vancouver received a yellow card for his thirty-ninth minute foul. New York City took the lead in the fortieth minute on a David Villa penalty kick goal. Montero of the Whitecaps had a yellow card for a foul in the forty-third minute. Vancouver retied it in the fifty-fourth minute with a Jordan Harvey goal, guided in by Christian Bolanos. Jack Harrison of New York City had a yellow card for a fifty-sixth minute foul, as did teammate Alexander Ring in the sixty-eighth minute. Tony Tchani of the Whitecaps took a yellow card for a seventy-fifth minute foul. Vancouver took the lead in the eighty-eighth minute with a Yordy Reyna goal, fueled by Jakob Nerwinski and Cristian Techera. Reyna received a yellow card for delay of game, but the Whitecaps would win 3-2. The man of the match was Montero.

Wednesday closes as the Portland Timbers host the Chicago Fire. Matt Lampson and Jake Gleeson are the gloved men. Portland led off in the twenty-fourth minute with a Fanendo Adi penalty kick goal. Chicago tied it on a thirty-fourth minute Arturo Alvarez goal, via Juninho. The Fire took the lead with a Brandon Vincent goal in the sixty-first minute, made possible by Alvarez and David Accam. Lampson of Chicago had a yellow card for time wasting in the sixty-fifth minute. The Timbers tied it on a Sebastian Blanco goal in the seventieth minute, coming off of Diego Valeri. In the seventy-third minute, Portland's Blanco took a yellow card for a foul. The final stood at 2-2, with Blanco the man of the match.

On Thursday, Sporting Kansas City wraps up the week hosting the Philadelphia Union. John McCarthy and Tim Melia are the keepers. Kansas City dented the scoreboard in the forty-ninth minute with a Diego Rubio goal, set up by Daniel Salloi. Saad-Abdul Salaam of Sporting had a yellow card for a sixty-fourth minute foul. In the sixty-eighth minute, Benny Feilhaber of Kansas City and Haris Medunjanin of Philadelphia each had yellow cards for dissent. The Union tied it on a sixty-ninth minute Roland Alberg penalty kick goal. The final stood at 1-1, with the man of the match being Rubio.

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