Saturday, September 2, 2017

MLS 2017: Week 26

Just four games on this Saturday due to an international week. We begin in...

New England, as the Revolution host Orlando City SC. Joe Bendik and Cody Cropper receive the starts in goal. New England started in the twenty-sixth minute with a Kei Kamara goal, via Scott Caldwell and Lee Nguyen. Orlando City saw yellow cards for fouls in the fifty-sixth minute by Leo Pereira and in the sixty-sixth minute by Jose Aja. Juan Agudelo of the Revolution took a yellow card for a sixty-eighth minute foul. New England added on in the seventy-fifth minute with a Kamara goal, helped along by Nguyen. Orlando City went to ten men in the eightieth minute as Aja took a second yellow card for a foul. Tony Rocha of Orlando City took a yellow card for his eighty-sixth minute foul. The Revolution extended their lead as Kamara scored in the eighty-ninth minute to complete his hat trick, with the help of Nguyen, who earned a sock trick. New England iced it at 4-0 with a Teal Bunbury goal, set up by Krisztian Nemeth and Nguyen. The men of the match were Kamara and Nguyen.

In Canada, the Montreal Impact welcome the Chicago Fire. Matt Lampson and Evan Bush are the gloved men. Chicago saw a yellow card for a thirty-eighth minute Juninho foul. Montreal went down to ten men in the fiftieth minute with a straight red card to Deian Boldor for a foul. The Fire got going in the fifty-ninth minute on a Bastian Schweinsteiger goal, helped along by Matt Polster and Djordje Mihailovic. Marco Donadel of the Impact had a yellow card for a seventieth minute foul. Chicago's Michael de Leeuw took a yellow card for a foul in stoppage time. The final stood at 1-0, with Schweinsteiger named man of the match.

Down in Texas, FC Dallas bring in the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Jesse Gonzalez tend the nets. Sal Zizzo of New York had a yellow card for a sixth minute foul. Dallas went down to ten men after Jacori Hayes took yellow cards for fouls in the twenty-ninth and thirty-seventh minutes. The Red Bulls opened in the forty-third minute with a Sacha Kljestan goal, via Bradley Wright-Phillips and Alex Muyl. Dallas tied it in the fifty-fourth minute with a Hernan Grana goal, passed from Michael Barrios. New York retook the lead with an Aaron Long goal in the fifty-seventh minute, assisted by Kljestan. Sean Davis of the Red Bulls received a yellow card for his sixty-fifth minute foul. Dallas tied it again in the seventy-fifth minute with a Mauro Diaz penalty kick goal. The final remained at 2-2, with the man of the match being Kljestan.

Finally, the Los Angeles Galaxy host the Colorado Rapids. Zac MacMath and Jon Kempin play in the six yard boxes. Los Angeles struck first in the eighteenth minute with a Romain Alessandrini penalty kick goal. The Galaxy added on in the twenty-third minute with an Emmanuel Boateng goal, helped along by Gyasi Zardes. Los Angeles extended the lead in the fifty-sixth minute as Zardes scored, thanks to Alessandrini. This produced the 3-0 final, with the man of the match being Alessandrini.

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Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Washington Spirit VS. North Carolina Courage: August 30, 2017

There's just one midweek NWSL game this time, but before I get into that, I'd like to thank everyone who has stopped in to read this blog over its now 3,000 posts. This post brings me to that big milestone, just a few months shy of when I first started on here. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be an independent writer on this blog, but I will let everyone know where my writing career takes me when I know more. With that, let's get to the game.

The Washington Spirit host the North Carolina Courage. Katelyn Rowland and Didi Haracic protect the nets. Washington led off in the eighth minute with an Estefania Banini goal, on a rebound after Rowland spilled a shot from Cheyna Williams. In the twenty-third minute, the Spirit's Cali Farquharson took a yellow card for a foul on North Carolina's Kristen Hamilton. In the forty-fifth minute, Tori Huster of Washington took a yellow card for fouling Hamilton as well. The Courage capitalized on the free kick with a Samantha Mewis goal, a flick-on header assisted by Abby Dahlkemper. Early in the second half, the Spirit's Estelle Johnson left with an injury. North Carolina took the lead in the sixty-first minute with a Jessica McDonald goal, via Jaelene Hinkle on a free kick that McDonald won against Washington's Shelina Zadorsky. North Carolina added on with a McDonald goal in the sixty-sixth minute, made possible by Lynn Williams. The Spirit got one back with a Cheyna Williams goal, helped along by Francisca Ordega and Meggie Dougherty Howard. The final held at 3-2, with McDonald named woman of the match. Also starring for the Courage were Taylor Smith, McCall Zerboni, Mewis, and Lynn Williams, while the Spirit's best were Alyssa Kleiner, Banini, and Cheyna Williams.

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Sunday, August 27, 2017

MLS 2017: Week 25

Just ten games this weekend after the Houston Dynamo's match against Sporting Kansas City was postponed due to Hurricane Harvey. We begin on Friday with...

The New York Derby, as the Red Bulls host City FC. Sean Johnson and Luis Robles man the nets. Alexander Ring of New York City had a yellow card for his nineteenth minute foul. Kemar Lawrence of New York took a yellow card for a thirty-fifth minute foul. In the forty-third minute, a dive by Rodney Wallace of New York City earned a yellow card. New York City got going in the fifty-sixth minute with a Maximiliano Moralez goal, set up by David Villa. New York tied it in the seventieth minute with a Gonzalo Veron penalty kick goal. The final stood at 1-1, with Moralez the man of the match.

On Saturday, the first of six games is DC United welcoming the New England Revolution. Cody Cropper and Bill Hamid protect the nets. Russell Canouse of DC had a yellow card for a twenty-sixth minute foul. New England saw yellow cards for fouls by Claude Dielna in the sixty-third minute and Kei Kamara in the sixty-fifth minute. DC dented the scoreboard in the seventy-first minute with a Luciano Acosta goal, set up by Kofi Opare and Lloyd Sam. DC's Marcelo Sarvas took a yellow card for an eighty-first minute foul. The final stood at 1-0, with the man of the match being Acosta.

Next up, the Philadelphia Union bring in Atlanta United FC. Brad Guzan and Andre Blake are the gloved men. Alejandro Bedoya of Philadelphia took a yellow card for a tenth minute foul. Atlanta's Josef Martinez received a yellow card for a thirteenth minute foul. The Union led off in the eighteenth minute with a Roland Alberg goal, courtesy of Giliano Wijnaldum. Philadelphia added on with a Bedoya goal in the twenty-third minute, via Jack Eillott and Alberg. Atlanta got on the board in the twenty-sixth minute with a Yamil Asad goal, passed from Martinez and Greg Garza. The Union's C.J. Sapong had a yellow card for his twenty-ninth minute foul. Joshua Yaro of Philadelphia put his team down to ten men when he took a straight red card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity in the fifty-second minute. Atlanta tied the game in stoppage time on a Tyrone Mears goal. The man of the match was Alberg.

Over in Ohio, the Columbus Crew SC host FC Dallas. Jesse Gonzalez and Zack Steffen are in between the posts. Columbus drew first blood in the fiftieth minute with an Ola Kamara goal, via Hector Jimenez and Federico Higuain. Tesho Akindele of Dallas had a yellow card for a seventieth minute foul. The Crew added on in the seventy-first minute with a Jonathan Mensah goal, guided in by Higuain. Dallas got on the board in the seventy-eighth minute with a Walker Zimmerman goal, assisted by Javier Morales. Matt Hedges of Dallas took a yellow card in stoppage time for a foul.

Down in Florida, Orlando City SC welcomes the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Stefan Marinovic is mismatched with Joe Bendik in goal. Orlando City's Tommy Redding began the scoring with an own goal that put Vancouver ahead in the ninth minute. Aaron Maund of the Whitecaps had a yellow card for a twenty-fifth minute foul. Donny Toia of Orlando City took a yellow card for his twenty-seventh minute foul. Vancouver added on in the fifty-third minute with a Brek Shea goal, set up by Erik Hurtado. Orlando City got on the board in the sixty-second minute with a Cyle Larin goal, helped along by Yoshimar Yotun and Cristian Higuita. Orlando City had yellow cards for Redding in the seventy-first minute and Kaka in the seventy-fifth minute, both for fouls. The final stood at 2-1, with the man of the match being Shea.

Northwest to Chicago, where the Fire bring in Minnesota United FC. Bobby Shuttleworth and Matt Lampson play in goal. Minnesota started in the thirty-sixth minute with an Abu Danladi goal, assisted by Ethan Finlay. Minnesota added on with a Danladi goal in the forty-fifth minute, via Jerome Thiesson. Dax McCarty took a yellow card for a sixty-ninth minute foul for Chicago. The Fire got on the board in the seventy-seventh minute with a David Accam goal, made possible by Bastian Schweinsteiger. In the seventy-eighth minute, Minnesota's Danladi received a yellow card for a foul. Chicago's Schweinsteiger took a yellow card for his eighty-fourth minute foul. The final held at 2-1, with Danladi named man of the match.

Saturday ends with Real Salt Lake hosting the Colorado Rapids. Tim Howard and Nick Rimando are the American keepers. Justen Glad of Salt Lake had a yellow card for a thirty-second minute foul. Real opened in the forty-first minute with a Joao Plata goal, assisted by Albert Rusnak. In the fiftieth minute, Real added on with a Luis Silva goal, and he received a yellow card for delaying the game after the goal. Salt Lake went down to ten men in the fifty-seventh minute as Danilo Acosta took a straight red card for his foul. Colorado went down to ten men as well after Alan Gordon had a yellow card for dissent in the seventy-third minute, followed by a second yellow card for a seventy-seventh minute foul. The Rapids got on the board in the eighty-second minute with a Joshua Gatt goal, via Micheal Azira. Salt Lake replied two minutes into stoppage time on a Silva goal, made possible by Brooks Lennon. Kevin Doyle of Colorado had a yellow card two minutes later for a foul. Real iced it at 4-1 with a Lennon goal two minutes after that, with the help of Sebastian Saucedo and Luke Mulholland. The man of the match was Silva.

Sunday brings three derbies, the first seeing the Montreal Impact welcome Toronto FC. Alexander Bono and Evan Bush draw the starts in goal. Toronto was first to score in the forty-first minute with a Sebastian Giovinco goal. Blerim Dzemaili took a yellow card for dissent for Montreal in first half stoppage time. Toronto added on in the fifty-second minute with a Jozy Altidore goal, via Marco Delgado and Victor Vazquez. Victor Cabrera of the Impact had a yellow card for his seventy-fourth minute foul. Toronto saw a yellow card for an Eriq Zavaleta foul in the seventy-eighth minute. Montreal's Laurent Ciman took a yellow card for an eighty-ninth minute foul. The Impact got on the board in second half stoppage time with an Ignacio Piatti goal, helped along by Dzemaili. Toronto iced it at 3-1 a minute later with a Giovinco goal, passed from Steven Beitashour. Giovinco was named man of the match.

Out in California, the Los Angeles Galaxy bring in the San Jose Earthquakes. Andrew Tarbell and Jon Kempin are the backups in goal. Fatai Alashe of San Jose had a yellow card for his twentieth minute foul. Bradley Diallo of Los Angeles took a yellow card for a forty-fifth minute foul. In first half stoppage time, San Jose cracked the scoresheet on a Valeri Qazaishvili goal, made possible by Shea Salinas. The Galaxy went down to ten men in the fifty-seventh minute as Nathan Smith took a straight red card for violent conduct. The Earthquakes added on in the eightieth minute with a Marco Urena goal, via Jackson Yueill. The Earthquakes saw a yellow card for an eighty-seventh minute Danny Hoesen foul. San Jose iced it at 3-0 as Chris Wondolowski scored in second half stoppage time. Qazaishvili is the man of the match.

Finally, the Seattle Sounders FC host the Portland Timbers. Jeff Attinella is mismatched with Stefan Frei in goal. Seattle struck first in the eighteenth minute with a Cristian Roldan goal. Portland's Sebastian Blanco took a yellow card for a twentieth minute foul. The Timbers tied it in first half stoppage time with a Diego Valeri penalty kick goal. Lawrence Olum of Portland had a yellow card for time wasting in the seventieth minute. The Sounders went down to ten men in second half stoppage time when Nouhou took a straight red card for violent conduct. The score held at 1-1, with Roldan the man of the match.

NWSL 2017: Week 19

Just four games on this weekend, with the postponement of the Houston Dash v. North Carolina Courage game due to Hurricane Harvey. All four were played on Saturday, beginning with...

FC Kansas City hosting the Orlando Pride. Ashlyn Harris and Nicole Barnhart are the veterans keepers. Orlando led off in the sixteenth minute with a Chioma Ubogagu goal, after a shot from Monica deflected to her. Kansas City tied it in the forty-second minute on a Lo'eau LaBonta goal, coming off of Shea Groom. Camila of the Pride had a yellow card for a forty-fifth minute foul. Orlando took the lead back in the eighty-seventh minute on an Alex Morgan goal, via Marta. This made it 2-1, the final, with the woman of the match being Marta, while Ubogagu, Morgan, and Alanna Kennedy showed well for the Pride. Kansas City's best were Yael Averbuch, LaBonta, and Sydney Leroux.

Northwest to a Cascadia derby with the Seattle Reign FC welcoming the Portland Thorns FC. Adrianna Franch and Haley Kopmeyer protect the nets. Portland struck first in the forty-ninth minute with a Hayley Raso goal, after a bad sequence between Kopmeyer and Kristen McNabb. The Reign saw yellow cards for McNabb in the sixtieth minute and Lauren Barnes in the sixty-eighth minute. The Thorns' Dagny Brynjarsdottir had a yellow card for a seventy-seventh minute foul. Portland added on in the eighty-sixth minute with another Raso goal, coming on a rebound after Kopmeyer made the initial save. In the ninetieth minute, the Thorns saw a yellow card for a Meghan Klingenberg foul, leading to Seattle getting on the board with a Jess Fishlock penalty kick goal. In stoppage time, Raso took a yellow card for a foul for the Thorns. Portland won 2-1, with the woman of the match being Raso. Other strong Thorns performances came from Lindsey Horan and Christine Sinclair, while the Reign's best were Rachel Corsie, Rumi Utsugi, and Merritt Mathias.

Back east, the Washington Spirit bring in the Chicago Red Stars. Alyssa Naeher faces a lesser foe in Didi Haracic in goal. Chicago opened in the twenty-third minute with a Kristie Mewis goal, set up by Danielle Colaprico. In the seventieth minute, the Red Stars' Colaprico took a yellow card for a foul. In the eighty-first minute, Washington tied it on a Cheyna Williams goal, assisted by Mallory Pugh on a free kick. Chicago took the lead back in the eighty-seventh minute with a Christen Press goal, made possible by Julie Ertz. In stoppage time, the Spirit's Estelle Johnson took a yellow card for a foul. The final held at 2-1, with the woman of the match being Ertz. Other good Red Stars were Arin Gilliland, Casey Short, and Mewis, while the Spirit's best were Johnson, Alyssa Kleiner, Pugh, and Williams.

Finally, Sky Blue FC hosts the Boston Breakers. Abby Smith and Kailen Sheridan are the young keepers. Sky Blue started in the fifth minute with a Sam Kerr goal, set up by Nikki Stanton. In the fifty-seventh minute, Stanton took a yellow card for a foul for Sky Blue. In the sixtieth minute, Adriana Leon took a yellow card for Boston for her foul. In stoppage time, the Breakers' Julie King received a yellow card for a foul. The final held at 1-0, with the woman of the match being Kerr. Sky Blue also got good games from Domi Richardson, Stanton, and Daphne Corboz, while the Breakers' best were King, Leon, and Ifeoma Onumonu.

NWSL Team of the Week
GK Kailen Sheridan
RB Merritt Mathias
CB Rachel Corsie
CB Domi Richardson
LB Alyssa Kleiner
DM Julie Ertz
DM Nikki Stanton
AM Kristie Mewis
AM Marta
FW Hayley Raso
FW Sam Kerr

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

MLS Midweek: August 23, 2017

Seven games grace the schedule on Wednesday, beginning in...

Columbus, where the Crew SC host the Los Angeles Galaxy. Jon Kempin and Zack Steffen are the goalies. Ashley Cole of Los Angeles took a straight red card for an eighteenth minute foul, putting the visitors down to ten men. The Galaxy had a yellow card for a thirty-fifth minute Jonathan dos Santos foul. Columbus began in the forty-fifth minute with an Ola Kamara goal, passed from Pedro Santos. The Crew had yellow cards for Wil Trapp in the fifty-sixth minute, Santos in the fifty-ninth minute, and Cristian Martinez in the eighty-first minute, all for fouls. Columbus added on in the ninetieth minute with a Justin Meram goal, assisted by Kekuta Manneh and Mohammed Abu. The game ended at 2-0, with the man of the match being Kamara.

Next up, DC United welcomes Atlanta United FC. Brad Guzan and Bill Hamid protect the nets. Atlanta's Anton Walkes took a yellow card for dissent in the twelfth minute. DC had yellow cards for an eighteenth minute foul by Luciano Acosta and a twenty-fourth minute foul by Deshorn Brown. DC got a gift in the forty-sixth minute as Atlanta's Michael Parkhurst committed an own goal. Marcelo Sarvas of DC had a yellow card for a foul in the fifty-third minute. Carlos Carmona of Atlanta received a yellow card for a seventy-eighth minute foul. In stoppage time, Patrick Mullins of DC took a yellow card for time wasting. The final held at 1-0, with Hamid the man of the match for his two-save clean sheet.

Down in Texas, FC Dallas brings in the Houston Dynamo. Tyler Deric and Jesse Gonzalez are the gloved men. Houston led off in the first minute with a Vicente Sanchez goal, coming off of Erick Torres. In the twenty-fifth minute, the Dynamo took yellow cards for fouls by Boniek Garcia and Torres. Dallas tied it in the forty-fifth minute on a Tesho Akindele goal, made possible by Michael Barrios. Dallas' Hernan Grana took a yellow card for a foul in the first minute of first half stoppage time. A minute later, Dallas had the lead on a goal by Maynor Figueroa, assisted by Atiba Harris. Akindele took a yellow card in the eighth minute of added time for a foul. Dallas added on in the fifty-first minute with a Maximiliano Urruti goal, passed from Barrios. Dallas' Barrios took a yellow card for time wasting in the sixty-third minute. Houston got one back in the seventy-first minute with a Torres goal, via Romell Quioto. The Dynamo's Kevin Garcia had a yellow card for an eightieth minute foul. Houston tied it on a Torres goal in the eighty-sixth minute. The final stood at 3-3, with Torres named man of the match for his brace and assist.

In Canada, Toronto FC hosts the Philadelphia Union. Andre Blake and Alexander Bono man the nets. Toronto opened in the tenth minute with a Sebastian Giovinco goal. Philadelphia had a yellow card in the twenty-eighth minute for a foul by Fabinho. Toronto added on in the thirtieth minute with a Nicolas Hasler goal, passed from Victor Vazquez. Toronto extended the lead as Jozy Altidore scored in the fifty-seventh minute, with the help of Vazquez. Toronto's Hasler had a yellow card for a sixty-seventh minute foul. The final stood at 3-0, with the man of the match being Vazquez for his pair of assists.

In Utah, Real Salt Lake welcomes the San Jose Earthquakes. Andrew Tarbell is mismatched with Nick Rimando in goal. Luke Mulholland of Salt Lake took a yellow card for a twenty-fourth minute foul. Real started in the twenty-ninth minute with a Luis Silva goal, via Albert Rusnak. San Jose saw yellow cards for a Francois Affolter foul in the thirty-first minute and a handball by Anibal Godoy in the thirty-third minute. Kyle Beckerman of Salt Lake received a yellow card for a sixtieth minute foul. The Earthquakes went down to ten men in the sixty-first minute on a second yellow card to Godoy for a foul. Real added on in the sixty-eighth minute with a Jefferson Savarino goal, assisted by Rusnak. Salt Lake extended the lead as Rusnak scored in the eightieth minute, thanks to Joao Plata. Real iced it at 4-0 with a Yura Movsisyan goal in stoppage time. Rusnak was the man of the match.

Back to Canada, where the Vancouver Whitecaps FC bring in the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei and David Ousted tend the nets. Seattle struck first in the nineteenth minute with a Nicolas Lodeiro penalty kick goal. In the thirty-first minute, the Sounders' Nouhou and Vancouver's Fredy Montero received yellow cards, for an argument and a foul, respectively. Kendall Waston of the Whitecaps had a yellow card for a thirty-second minute foul. Tony Alfaro of Seattle took a yellow card for a foul in the forty-fifty minute. Vancouver went down to ten men as Tony Tchani took yellow cards for fouls in the fifty-second and sixtieth minutes. The Whitecaps tied it on a sixty-fourth minute Mnotero goal, set up by Alphonso Davies. The final held at 1-1, with the man of the match being Ousted for going seven of eight in saves.

Finally, the Portland Timbers host the Colorado Rapids. Tim Howard and Jeff Attinella make the starts in goal. Portland was first to score in the twenty-first minute with a Diego Valeri goal, via Vytautas Andriuskevicius and Darren Mattocks. The Timbers added on in the twenty-third minute with a Darlington Nagbe goal, passed from Andriuskevicius and Sebastian Blanco. Colorado got on the board in the twenty-eighth minute with a Mohammed Saeid goal. Diego Chara of Portland took a yellow card for a fortieth minute foul. The Timbers saw a yellow card for David Guzman in the seventy-third minute for persistent infringement. The final stood at 2-1, with the man of the match being Andriuskevicius for his two assists.

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Sunday, August 20, 2017

MLS 2017: Week 24

Ten games on in MLS this weekend, beginning with one on Friday in...

Portland, as the Timbers host the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles faces a lesser foe in Jeff Attinella in goal. New York had a yellow card for a Fidel Escobar foul in the twenty-seventh minute. Portland's Zarek Valentin received a yellow card for time wasting in the twenty-eighth minute. The Timbers got going in the sixty-fifth minute with a Diego Valeri goal, via Diego Chara. The Red Bulls had a yellow card for a Derrick Etienne foul in the sixty-seventh minute. Portland went down to ten men in the eightieth minute with a straight red card to Larrys Mabiala for violent conduct. Sacha Kljestan of New York had a yellow card for an eighty-fifth minute foul. The Timbers added on in stoppage time with a Darren Mattocks goal, coming off of Valeri. The final stood at 2-0, with Valeri the man of the match.

On Saturday, the first game is in Montreal, with the Impact welcoming Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Evan Bush protect the nets. Montreal began in the eleventh minute with an Ignacio Piatti goal, via Blerim Dzemaili and Anthony Jackson-Hamel. Salt Lake tied it on a twenty-sixth minute Luis Silva goal, passed from Albert Rusnak. The Impact retook the lead with a twenty-ninth minute goal by Piatti, made possible by Jackson-Hamel and Michael Salazar. Real had yellow cards for a dive by Brooks Lennon in the thirty-ninth minute and Sunny's foul in first half stoppage time. Montreal added on with a Jackson-Hamel goal in the forty-seventh minute, coming off of Louis Beland-Goyette. Chris Wingert of Salt Lake took a yellow card for a fifty-seventh minute foul. The Impact's Bush took a yellow card for time wasting in the sixty-second minute. Real took yellow cards for Tony Beltran's sixty-sixth minute foul, a dive by Silva in the seventy-eighth minute, and a foul by David Horst in the eighty-fifth minute. The game remained 3-1, with Piatti the man of the match for his brace.

Down in Florida, Orlando City SC bring in the Columbus Crew SC. Zack Steffen and Joe Bendik play in goal. Lalas Abubakar of Columbus had a yellow card for a sixteenth minute foul. Orlando City saw a yellow card for a Yoshimar Yotun foul in the twenty-eighth minute. The Crew led off in the thirty-fifth minute with an Abubakar goal, via Waylon Francis. Cristian Martinez of Columbus received a yellow card for a fifty-fifth minute foul. Orlando City tied it on a Giles Barnes goal in the sixty-seventh minute, set up by Cristian Higuita. The Crew went down to ten men after Harrison Afful received a straight red card for violent conduct in the seventy-seventh minute. Columbus saw yellow cards for fouls by Mohammed Abu in the eighty-first minute and Justin Meram in the eighty-eighth minute. The final stood at 1-1, with the man of the match being Steffen for his seven-of-eight saves performance in goal.

Back north, the Chicago Fire host Toronto FC. Alexander Bono and Matt Lampson are the goalies. Michael Bradley of Toronto had a yellow card for a fifth minute foul. Toronto started in the fourteenth minute with a Marco Delgado goal. Chicago tied it on a fifty-fourth minute goal by David Accam. Toronto retook the lead in the sixty-third minute with a Nicolas Hasler goal, passed from Victor Vazquez. Eriq Zavaleta of Toronto had a yellow card for time wasting in the seventy-fifth minute. Toronto iced it at 3-1 in the ninetieth minute with a Sebastian Giovinco goal, made possible by Tosaint Ricketts. The man of the match was Giovinco.

In Missouri, Sporting Kansas City welcomes FC Dallas. Jesse Gonzalez and Tim Melia are the gloved men. Kansas City opened in the forty-second minute with a Diego Rubio goal, assisted by Graham Zusi. Ilie Sanchez of Sporting had a yellow card for a forty-eighth minute foul. Dallas saw a yellow card for an eightieth minute foul by Maynor Figueroa. Kansas City capped it at 2-0 with a Gerso Fernandes goal in stoppage time, set up by Zusi. The man of the match was Zusi for his pair of assists.

West to Colorado, where the Rapids bring in DC United. Bill Hamid and Tim Howard are the solid keepers. DC received an early gift in the twenty-seventh minute, when Colorado's Jared Watts committed an own goal. Things got worse for Watts in the seventy-eighth minute, as the Rapids player took a yellow card for a foul. DC had yellow cards given to Luciano Acosta in the seventy-ninth minute and Nick DeLeon in the eighty-fifth minute, both for fouls. The result was a 1-0 win to DC, with Hamid the man of the match for his four-save clean sheet.

Northwest to Vancouver, where the Whitecaps FC host the Houston Dynamo. Tyler Deric and David Ousted protect the nets. Vancouver struck first in the seventeenth minute with a Fredy Montero penalty kick goal. Jordan Harvey of the Whitecaps took a yellow card for a thirty-first minute foul. Vancouver added on in the thirty-second minute with a Yordy Reyna goal, passed from Montero. Jakob Nerwinski of the Whitecaps took a yellow card for a forty-first minute foul. Adolfo Machado of Houston received a yellow card for his forty-sixth minute foul. The Dynamo got on the board with a Romell Quioto goal, helped along by Mauro Manotas. In the seventy-first minute, Vancouver's Montero had a yellow card for a foul. Boniek Garcia of Houston took a yellow card for his seventy-third minute foul. The Whitecaps' Ousted had a yellow card for time wasting in the seventy-ninth minute. The Dynamo saw yellow cards for fouls by Juan Cabezas in the eighty-third minute and A.J. DeLaGarza in stoppage time. The Whitecaps won 2-1, with Montero named man of the match.

Saturday ends in San Jose, where the Earthquakes welcome the Philadelphia Union. John McCarthy and Andrew Tarbell are the backups in goal. San Jose was first to score in the third minute with a Valeri Qazaishvili goal, via Tommy Thompson. The Earthquakes saw yellow cards for fouls by Florian Jungwirth in the thirteenth minute and Anibal Godoy in the thirty-fourth minute. Philadelphia tied it in the thirty-fifth minute with a Jack Elliott goal. The Union took the lead in the fifty-fifth minute on a Roland Alberg goal. San Jose's Thompson had a yellow card for a seventy-third minute foul. Philadelphia saw a yellow card for a seventy-fourth minute Alejandro Bedoya foul. In the eighty-third minute, the Earthquakes' Chris Wondolowski received a yellow card for dissent. The Union's Raymon Gaddis took a yellow card for time wasting in stoppage time. San Jose tied it on a Wondolowski penalty kick goal four minutes later. The game ended 2-2, with the man of the match being Qazaishvili.

On Sunday, New York City FC brings in the New England Revolution. Cody Cropper and Sean Johnson are in the six-yard boxes. New England's Benjamin Angoua had a yellow card for a fifty-third minute foul. The Revolution dented the scoreboard in the fifty-seventh minute on a Teal Bunbury goal. New York City's Frederic Brillant had a yellow card for a handball in the fifty-ninth minute. New York City saw a yellow card for an RJ Allen foul in the seventy-fifth minute. New York City tied it in the seventy-seventh minute on a David Villa goal. Yangel Herrera of New York City received a yellow card for an eighty-ninth minute foul. New York City won 2-1 in stoppage time on a Jonathan Lewis goal, made possible by Ben Sweat and Villa. The man of the match was Villa.

Finally, the Seattle Sounders FC host Minnesota United FC. Bobby Shuttleworth and Stefan Frei are the starting keepers. Minnesota drew first blood in the twenty-first minute with an Ethan Finlay goal, made possible by Ibson. Abu Danladi of Minnesota had a yellow card for a foul in the twenty-fifth minute. Seattle tied it on a thirty-first minute goal by Chad Marshall, via Nicolas Lodeiro. In stoppage time, Minnesota's Jermaine Taylor took a yellow card for a handball, leading to Clint Dempsey putting the Sounders ahead on a penalty kick goal. The final held at 2-1, with Marshall the man of the match.

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NWSL 2017: Week 18

A new week of games is here, beginning with four on Saturday. First up...

The North Carolina Courage host the Washington Spirit. Stephanie Labbe and Katelyn Rowland draw the starts in goal. North Carolina got going in the forty-sixth minute with an Ashley Hatch goal, assisted by Kristen Hamilton. Washington had a yellow card for a Caprice Dydasco foul in the fifty-fifth minute. In the eighty-fourth minute, the Courage lead doubled on a corner kick, which the Spirit's Cali Farquharson headed off of teammate Kassey Kallman's face and into the net for an own goal. North Carolina's Abby Dahlkemper received a yellow card for her foul in stoppage time. The final held at 2-0, with the woman of the match being Hatch. Also good for the Courage were Rowland (three-save clean sheet), McCall Zerboni, and Hamilton. The Spirit's best were Shelina Zadorsky, Meggie Dougherty Howard, and Cheyna Williams.

Up in Boston, the Breakers welcome the Orlando Pride. Ashlyn Harris and Abby Smith play goal. Orlando began in the eighth minute with an Alex Morgan goal. Alanna Kennedy of the Pride had a yellow card for a twenty-fourth minute foul. Boston saw a yellow card for Katie Stengel's foul in the fifty-second minute. Orlando's Steph Catley received a yellow card for a fifty-eighth minute foul. The Breakers had a yellow card for Morgan Andrews in the seventy-first minute for a foul. The Pride added on in the seventy-third minute with a Morgan goal, set up by Ali Krieger. Boston's Julie King in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Three minutes later, Boston got on the board with an Amanda Da Costa penalty kick goal, the last kick of the game and her career to make it a 2-1 result. Morgan was the woman of the match, with help from Pride teammates like Krieger, Dani Weatherholt, and Marta. The Breakers' best were Amanda Frisbie, Angela Salem, and Megan Oyster.

Backtracking to New Jersey, where Sky Blue FC hosts the Seattle Reign FC. Haley Kopmeyer and Kailen Sheridan are the gloved women. Seattle led off in the third minute with a Katie Johnson goal, via Christine Nairn. The Reign added on in the eighteenth minute on a Jess Fishlock goal after Sheridan's clearance of Nahomi Kawasumi's corner kick. Seattle extended the lead as Kawasumi scored in first half stoppage time, with the help of Nairn. Sky Blue got on the board in the forty-eighth minute with a Sam Kerr goal in the forty-eighth minute. Sky Blue pulled closer in the sixty-eighth minute with another Kerr goal, coming off of Daphne Corboz. Sky Blue tied it as Kerr completed her hat trick, thanks to Sarah Killion. Sky Blue's Maya Hayes had a yellow card for an eighty-first minute foul. The Reign regained the lead on a Kiersten Dallstream goal in the eighty-fifth minute. Sky Blue pulled even again in stoppage time on a Hayes goal, made possible by Domi Richardson. Sky Blue took the lead after Kerr missed a penalty kick, but on the ensuing corner kick, Kerr converted the service from Taylor Lytle. This made it 5-4, the final, with the woman of the match being Kerr. Sky Blue also got great efforts from Kayla Mills, Corboz, and Lytle, while the Reign's top players were Nairn, Kawasumi, Rumi Utsugi, and Rebekah Stott.

Westward to Portland, as the Thorns FC bring in the Houston Dash. Jane Campbell and Adrianna Franch protect the nets. Portland started in the fourteenth minute with a Lindsey Horan goal, assisted by Meghan Klingenberg. The Thorns' Dagny Brynjarsdottir took a yellow card in the thirty-second minute for a foul. Portland added on with an Amandine Henry goal, coming off of Nadia Nadim in the forty-eighth minute. Houston's Janine Beckie took a yellow card for a foul in the sixtieth minute. In the seventieth minute, Christine Sinclair took a yellow card for a foul. The Dash saw yellow cards for Rachel Daly in the seventy-third minute, Cari Roccaro in the seventy-fourth minute, and Cami Levin in the seventy-sixth minute, all for fouls. In the seventy-ninth minute, Houston's Daly took a straight red card for hands to the face of Emily Sonnett, and the Thorns' Emily Sonnett took a yellow card for simulation on the play. The final held at 2-0, with the woman of the match being Horan. Also strong for the Thorns were Klingenberg, Henry, Sinclair, and Hayley Raso. Houston's best were Poliana, Amber Brooks, and Beckie.

On Sunday, the week ends with the Chicago Red Stars hosting FC Kansas City. Nicole Barnhart and Alyssa Naeher are the keepers. Kansas City opened in the twenty-third minute with a Sydney Leroux goal, coming off of Shea Groom. In the twenty-sixth minute, Chicago's Casey Short took a yellow card for a foul. Kansas City added on with a Katie Bowen goal in the twenty-ninth minute, set up by Groom. Kansas City's Groom took a yellow card for a foul in the box in the forty-fifth minute. The Red Stars got on the board in the sixty-third minute with a Julie Ertz goal, passed from Yuki Nagasato. Kansas City replied in the eightieth minute on a Maegan Kelly goal, courtesy of Lo'eau LaBonta. In stoppage time, Naeher took a yellow card for a foul well outside of the box. The final held at 3-1, with the woman of the match being Groom. Kansas City also got good games from Barnhart (six for seven in saves), Brittany Taylor, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Leroux, while Chicago's best were Arin Gilliland, Ertz, and Nagasato.

NWSL Team of the Week
GK Nicole Barnhart
RB Brittany Taylor
CB Becky Sauerbrunn
CB Amber Brooks
LB Meghan Klingenberg
DM Lindsey Horan
AM Christine Nairn
AM Shea Groom
FW Sam Kerr
FW Alex Morgan
FW Sydney Leroux