Wednesday, July 4, 2018

MLS 2018 Week 19 Midweek

We've got six midweek games this time, beginning on Tuesday with...

The Houston Dynamo hosting Los Angeles FC. Tyler Miller and Joe Willis protect the nets. Los Angeles began in the fifth minute with a Latif Blessing goal, assisted by Adama Diomande and Lee Nguyen. Los Angeles saw yellow cards for Walker Zimmerman in the twenty-second minute and Diomande in the twenty-seventh minute, both for fouls. Houston's Alejandro Fuenmayor took a yellow card for a thirtieth minute foul. The Dynamo took a yellow card for an Oscar Boniek Garcia foul in the fifty-sixth minute. Los Angeles added on in the seventy-second minute with a Mark-Anthony Kaye goal, via Diomande. Tristan Blackmon of Los Angeles had a yellow card for a seventy-fifth minute foul. Houston got on the board with a Mauro Manotas goal in stoppage time, set up by DaMarcus Beasley. The Dynamo tied it on a Philippe Senderos goal two minutes later, made possible by Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto. This made it 2-2, the final, with the man of the match being Senderos.

On Wednesday, the action begins with Minnesota United FC welcoming Toronto FC. Clint Irwin and Bobby Shuttleworth are the veterans in goal. Minnesota led off in the eighth minute with a Darwin Quintero goal. Minnesota added on in the thirteenth minute with a Miguel Ibarra goal, via Francisco Calvo. Collen Warner of Minnesota took a yellow card for a forty-first minute foul. Toronto got on the board with a Justin Morrow goal in the forty-second minute. Minnesota's Calvo received a yellow card for a foul in the forty-ninth minute. Minnesota replied with a Quintero goal in the fifty-second minute, set up by Ibarra. Minnesota extended the lead as Quintero scored in the fifty-seventh minute to complete his hat trick, and he earned a yellow card for excessive celebration. Toronto shot back with a Sebastian Giovinco goal in the seventieth minute, helped along by Nicolas Hasler. Toronto got closer in stoppage time with a Jordan Hamilton goal, guided in by Gregory van der Wiel. This only made it 4-3, the final, with Quintero named man of the match.

Down in Texas, FC Dallas brings in Atlanta United FC. Brad Guzan and Jesse Gonzalez man the nets. Roland Lamah of Dallas had a yellow card for dissent in the fourteenth minute. Dallas started in the twenty-second minute with a Reto Ziegler goal. Atlanta tied it in the forty-fifth minute with a Josef Martinez goal, assisted by Hector Villalba. Atlanta's Franco Escobar took a yellow card for a forty-fifth minute foul. Atlanta took the lead in the seventy-third minute on a Martinez goal, helped along by Miguel Almiron and Julian Gressel. Dallas retied it in the eighty-sixth minute with a Tesho Akindele goal, via Maximiliano Urruti and Ryan Hollingshead. Dallas took the lead with an Akindele goal in the eighty-eighth minute. This made it a 3-2 final, with the man of the match being Martinez.

Northwest to Colorado, as the Rapids host the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei and Tim Howard are the gloved men. Seattle opened in the nineteenth minute with a Will Bruin goal. Colorado tied it in the fortieth minute with a Sam Nicholson goal, assisted by Edgar Castillo and Dominique Badji. Yannick Boli of the Rapids had a yellow card for his forty-third minute foul. Castillo of Colorado received a yellow card for time wasting in the forty-eighth minute. The Sounders retook the lead in the fifty-ninth minute on another Bruin goal, made possible by Victor Rodriguez and Nicolas Lodeiro. The Rapids saw yellow cards for fouls by Nicholson and Badji in the sixty-fifth and sixty-sixth minutes, respectively, and then dissent from Micheal Azira in the seventieth minute and Joe Mason in the eighty-seventh minute. Seattle's Magnus Wolff Eikrem had a yellow card for time wasting in stoppage time. The final held at 2-1 for the Sounders, with Bruin as the man of the match.

Over in Utah, Real Salt Lake welcomes Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and Nick Rimando guard the woodwork. Kansas City struck first in the twentieth minute with a Daniel Salloi goal, via Seth Sinovic and Roger Espinoza. Salt Lake tied it on a twenty-ninth minute goal by Jefferson Savarino. Real took the lead in the thirty-seventh minute with a Corey Baird goal. In the forty-third minute, Salloi of Sporting had a yellow card for dissent. Salt Lake's Sebastian Saucedo received a yellow card for a foul in the forty-fourth minute. Real added on with a Saucedo goal in first half stoppage time, courtesy of Damir Kreilach. Kansas City took yellow cards for fouls by Emiliano Amor in the fifty-ninth minute and Espinoza in the sixtieth minute. Sporting got one back with an Ike Opara goal in the sixty-fourth minute, coming off of Johnny Russell and Espinoza. Opara took a yellow card in the sixty-sixth minute for Kansas City for his foul. Salt Lake's Kreilach took a yellow card for his seventy-seventh minute foul. Sporting went down to ten men in the ninetieth minute as Salloi received a straight red card for violent conduct. In second half stoppage time, Kansas City's Gerso Fernandes took a yellow card for a foul, and a minute later, they went down to nine men as Espinoza took a second yellow card, also for a foul. Ilie Sanchez of Sporting also took a yellow card for a foul about five minutes later, leading to Real icing the win at 4-2 on a Luis Silva penalty kick goal. The man of the match was Saucedo.

Finally, the Los Angeles Galaxy bring in DC United. David Ousted and David Bingham are in the six-yard boxes. Los Angeles kicked off the scoring in the fifth minute with a Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal, passed from Dave Romney. The Galaxy added on in the twenty-fifth minute with a Chris Pontius goal, assisted by Jorgen Skjelvik. DC got on the board in the twenty-sixth minute with a Zoltan Stieber goal, coming off of Luciano Acosta. Christopher Durkin of DC had a yellow card for a twenty-ninth minute foul. Los Angeles saw a yellow card for dissent by Perry Kitchen in the thirtieth minute. DC saw a yellow card for Joseph Mora's eightieth minute foul. DC tied it in the eighty-fifth minute with a Darren Mattocks goal, fueled by Paul Arriola. Baggio Husidic of the Galaxy received a yellow card for his eighty-seventh minute foul. The final held at 2-2, with the man of the match being Mattocks for his equalizer.

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NWSL 2018 Week 15 Midweek

Just a single game on at midweek, as the North Carolina Courage host the Chicago Red Stars, starting two hours late due to a weather delay. Alyssa Naeher and Katelyn Rowland play in goal. North Carolina began in the twentieth minute with a Crystal Dunn goal, passed from Jessica McDonald and created from a turnover by Katie Naughton. In the thirty-second minute, Chicago's Julie Ertz received a yellow card for a foul. The Courage added on in the sixty-seventh minute with a Lynn Williams goal on a second opportunity. North Carolina extended the lead as Debinha scored in the sixty-ninth minute, via Samantha Mewis. The Courage padded the lead as Kristen Hamilton scored, thanks to Williams after she outran Naeher for loose ball in the box. Chicago avoided the shutout in stoppage time with a Yuki Nagasato penalty kick goal, after drawing the kick. The final stayed at 4-1, with Williams the woman of the match. Also strong for the Courage were Merritt Mathias, Denise O'Sullivan, Debinha, Dunn, and McDonald, while the Red Stars' best were Arin Gilliland, Danielle Colaprico, Morgan Brian, and Sam Kerr.

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Sunday, July 1, 2018

NWSL 2018 Week 14

Four games on this weekend, beginning with three on Saturday. The first is...

The Orlando Pride hosting the North Carolina Courage. Katelyn Rowland and Ashlyn Harris protect the nets. North Carolina led off in the thirty-seventh minute with a Debinha goal. The Courage added on with a Merritt Mathias goal in the thirty-ninth minute, set up by Debinha. North Carolina extended the lead as Jessica McDonald scored in the fortieth minute, thanks to Crystal Dunn and Denise O'Sullivan. This stood for a 3-0 win, with the woman of the match being Debinha. Also strong for the Courage were Mathias, O'Sullivan, McDonald, and Dunn. For the Pride, the best performances came from Shelina Zadorsky, Alanna Kennedy, Emily Van Egmond, and Alex Morgan.

Out west, the Utah Royals FC welcome Sky Blue FC. Kailen Sheridan and Abby Smith are in goal. Utah began in the seventh minute with a Christen Press goal, via a deflected pass by Katrina Gorry. The Royals added on in the twenty-fifth minute with a Katie Stengel goal, coming off of Press. At the twenty-eight minute mark, Utah extended the lead as Stengel scored again, this time on a free kick taken by Gorry. Sky Blue got on the board in the sixty-second minute with a Carli Lloyd goal, helped along by Imani Dorsey after Shea Groom's initial shot was saved by Smith. Sky Blue's Mandy Freeman had a yellow card for an eighty-ninth minute foul. The Royals saw yellow cards for Erika Tymrak and Gunnhildur Jonsdottir in stoppage time, for a foul and time wasting, respectively. The game ended at 3-1, with the woman of the match being Stengel. Also strong for Utah were Becky Sauerbrunn, Katie Bowen, Gorry, Press, and Tymrak, while Sky Blue's best were Mandy Freeman, Lloyd, and Shea Groom.

Saturday ends in Seattle as the Reign FC bring in the Portland Thorns FC. Adrianna Franch and Lydia Williams are the gloved women. Portland saw a yellow card for a foul by Meghan Klingenberg in the fourteenth minute. Seattle's Lauren Barnes received a yellow card for her thirty-fifth minute foul. The Reign dented the scoreboard in the eighty-ninth minute on a Jodie Taylor goal, via Megan Rapinoe. The woman of the 1-0 match was Taylor, while other good performance for Seattle came from Megan Oyster, Lauren Barnes, Theresa Nielsen, Allie Long, Beverly Yanez, and Taylor, while the Thorns' best were Franch (eight for nine in saves), Ellie Carpenter, Andressinha, Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic, and Hayley Raso.

Finally, the Chicago Red Stars host the Washington Spirit on Sunday. Aubrey Bledsoe and Alyssa Naeher tend the nets. Washington's Estelle Johnson took a yellow card for a thirtieth minute foul. Chicago started in the thirty-fourth minute with a Casey Short goal, made possible by Danielle Colaprico on a corner kick. The Red Stars added on in the sixtieth minute with a Yuki Nagasato goal, assisted by Sam Kerr. Chicago's Alyssa Mautz received a yellow card in the sixty-fifth minute for a foul. In the eighty-fifth minute, Ashley Hatch received a yellow card for the Spirit for her foul. The Red Stars held on to win 2-0, with the woman of the match being Nagasato. Also strong for Chicago were Julie Ertz, Short, Colaprico, Michele Vasconcelos, and Kerr, while the Spirit's best were Caprice Dydasco, Hatch, and Tori Huster.

NWSL Team of the Week
GK Adrianna Franch
RB Theresa Nielsen
CB Megan Oyster
CB Shelina Zadorsky
LB Ellie Carpenter
DM Andressinha
AM Debinha
AM Katrina Gorry
AM Sofia Huerta
FW Katie Stengel
FW Christen Press

MLS 2018 Week 18

We've got a full weekend of games going this time, beginning on Friday with...

Minnesota United FC hosting FC Dallas. Jesse Gonzalez and Bobby Shuttleworth protect the nets. Michael Boxall of Minnesota had a yellow card for a handball in the eleventh minute. Matt Hedges of Dallas took a yellow card for his twenty-sixth minute foul. Dallas got going in the fifty-ninth minute with a Roland Lamah goal, via Santiago Mosquera. Dallas' Reggie Cannon received a yellow card for time wasting in the seventy-ninth minute. Mason Toye of Minnesota had a yellow card for an eighty-ninth minute foul. The final held at 1-0, with Lamah as the man of the match.

On Saturday, the Seattle Sounders FC welcome the Portland Timbers. Jeff Attinella faces a lesser foe in Bryan Meredith in goal. Portland dented the scoreboard in the forty-eighth minute with a Larrys Mabiala goal, via Diego Valeri. Seattle tied it on a Victor Rodriguez goal in the fifty-first minute, assisted by Nicolas Lodeiro. The Timbers retook the lead with a Samuel Armenteros goal, passed from Valeri in the fifty-seventh minute. The Sounders tied it again with a Chad Marshall goal in the sixty-eighth minute, coming off of Lodeiro. Portland pulled ahead with a Mabiala goal in the seventy-fourth minute, set up by Valeri. Nouhou of Seattle had a yellow card for an eighty-fifth minute foul. Zarek Valentin of the Timbers took a yellow card for a foul in the eighty-seventh minute. The Sounders saw yellow cards for Clint Dempsey in the eighty-ninth minute and Kim Kee-hee in the ninetieth minute, both for fouls. The final held at 3-2, with Valeri as the man of the match.

In the southeast, Atlanta United FC brings in Orlando City SC. Joe Bendik and Brad Guzan man the nets. Atlanta began in the third minute with a Josef Martinez goal, assisted by Julian Gressel. Will Johnson of Orlando City had a yellow card for a nineteenth minute foul. Atlanta added on in the fifty-fifth minute with a Miguel Almiron goal, passed from Martinez and Hector Villalba. Atlanta extended the lead as Ezequiel Barco scored in the fifty-seventh minute. Atlanta padded the lead as Almiron scored his second of the game in the seventy-eighth minute, thanks to Mikey Ambrose. This made it 4-0, the final, with Almiron as the man of the match.

Up in Canada, the Montral Impact host Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and Evan Bush are the gloved men. Ken Krolicki of Montreal had a yellow card for a nineteenth minute foul. The Impact saw a yellow card for time wasting by Chris Duvall in the forty-sixth minute. Montreal cracked the scoresheet in the fifty-fourth minute with an Ignacio Piatti goal. Kansas City saw yellow cards for Yohan Croizet in the sixty-eighth minute and Ike Opara in the sixty-ninth minute, both for fouls. The Impact added on with an Alejandro Silva penalty kick goal. This produced the 2-0 final score, with Piatti named man of the match.

Back stateside, the Columbus Crew SC welcome Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Jon Kempin are the goalies. Columbus led off in the sixth minute with a Gyasi Zardes penalty kick goal. The Crew added on in the twenty-third minute with an Eduardo Sosa goal, via Pedro Santos and Harrison Afful. Salt Lake's Sunny had a yellow card for a foul in first half stoppage time. Kyle Beckerman of Real took a yellow card for a fifty-sixth minute foul. Sosa of Columbus received a yellow card for his sixty-sixth minute foul. Salt Lake got on the board with an Albert Rusnak goal in the seventy-fourth minute, passed from Joao Plata. Jefferson Savarino of Real took a yellow card for a foul in second half stoppage time. The game ended at 2-1 Crew, with Sosa the man of the match.

East to New England, where the Revolution bring in DC United. David Ousted and Matt Turner protect the nets. New England started in the eighteenth minute with a Cristian Penilla goal, via Krisztian Nemeth and Diego Fagundez. Antonio Mlinar Delamea took a yellow card for a foul in the twenty-seventh minute for the Revolution. Luis Caicedo of New England had a yellow card for a forty-first minute foul. DC's Yamil Asad tied it in the forty-third minute with a goal set up by Zoltan Stieber. New England retook the lead in first half stoppage time with a Teal Bunbury goal, coming off of Jalil Anibaba. DC tied it again on an Asad penalty kick goal in the seventy-third minute. DC's Darren Mattocks took a yellow card for dissent in the seventy-seventh minute, as did teammate Oniel Fisher a minute later. New England regained the lead on a Penilla penalty kick goal in the seventy-eighth minute. The Revolution won 3-2, with the man of the match being Penilla for his brace.

West to Chicago, where the Fire host New York City FC. Sean Johnson and Richard Sanchez are between the sticks. Chicago opened in the sixth minute with a Nemanja Nikolic goal, via Dax McCarty. Brandt Bronico of the Fire had a yellow card for a tenth minute foul. Alexander Ring of New York City took a yellow card for a twenty-eighth minute foul. New York City tied it in the thirty-sixth minute with an Ismael Tajouri-Shradi goal, set up by Maximiliano Moralez. New York City pulled ahead in the fortieth minute with a Jo Inge Berget goal, passed from Anton Tinnerholm and Tajouri-Shradi. Chicago retied it in the forty-seventh minute on an Aleksandar Katai goal, assisted by McCarty. The Fire pulled ahead on a Katai goal in the fifty-second minute, helped along by Elliot Collier. Chicago saw yellow cards for time wasting by Sanchez in the eighty-ninth minute and a stoppage time foul by Alan Gordon. The Fire won 3-2, with Katai as the man of the match for his winning brace.

Out in California, Los Angeles FC welcomes the Philadelphia Union. Andre Blake and Tyler Miller guard the woodwork. Los Angeles struck first in the twenty-fifth minute with an Adama Diomande goal, set up by Latif Blessing. Los Angeles saw a yellow card for a thirty-ninth minute Steven Beitashour foul. Los Angeles added on with a Diomande goal in the forty-third minute, guided in by Mark-Anthony Kaye and Benny Feilhaber. Philadelphia got on the board with a Fabrice-Jean Picault goal in the forty-fifth minute. Los Angeles replied with a Diomande goal in the fifty-fifth minute, completing his hat trick with the help of Blessing and Aaron Kovar. Los Angeles' Lee Nguyen took a yellow card for persistent infringement in the eighty-fifth minute. Los Angeles extended the lead as Blessing scored in stoppage time. The final was 4-1, with Diomande earning man of the match honors.

Saturday ends with the Cali Clasico, as the San Jose Earthquakes bring in the Los Angeles Galaxy. David Bingham faces his former teammate Andrew Tarbell in goal. Los Angeles was first to score in the first minute with a Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal, assisted by Chris Pontius. San Jose tied it on a Chris Wondolowski goal in the fifteenth minute. The Galaxy reclaimed the lead with a Romain Alessandrini goal in the twentieth minute. Los Angeles added on as Ibrahimovic scored in the twenty-fifth minute. The Earthquakes got one back in the thirty-ninth minute with a Valeri Qazaishvili goal. Jimmy Ockford of San Jose had a yellow card for his forty-eighth minute foul. The Earthquakes tied it on a Wondolowski penalty kick goal in the sixty-ninth minute. The Galaxy received yellow cards for fouls by Bradford Jamieson in the seventy-eighth minute, Alessandrini in the eighty-second minute, and Ibrahimovic in the ninetieth minute. The final held at 3-3, with Ibrahimovic being the man of the match.

On Sunday, Toronto FC hosts the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Alexander Bono draw the starts in goal. New York drew first blood in the fourth minute with a Kemar Lawrence goal, via Aaron Long. Eriq Zavaleta of Toronto had a yellow card for a twenty-seventh minute foul. Tim Parker of the Red Bulls took a yellow card for his thirty-fifth minute foul. New York saw yellow cards for Tyler Adams' foul in the fifty-fourth minute and dissent by Marc Rzatkowski in the seventy-seventh minute. The final stayed at 1-0, with the man of the match being Robles for his eight-save clean sheet.

Finally, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC hosts the Colorado Rapids. Tim Howard and Brian Rowe play in goal. Colorado saw yellow cards for Jack Price's sixteenth minute foul and Edgar Castillo's foul in the thirty-third minute. The Rapids kicked off the scoring when Vancouver's Marcel de Jong committed an own goal in the forty-third minute. Colorado saw yellow cards for fouls by Danny Wilson in the forty-eighth minute, Johan Blomberg in the eightieth minute, and Deklan Wynne in the eighty-second minute. de Jong's bad day got worse for the Whitecaps when he took a yellow card for a foul in stoppage time. The final stood at 1-0, with Howard's ten-save clean sheet making him the man of the match.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

NWSL 2018 Week 14 Midweek

Three games on at midweek this time around, beginning with...

The Orlando Pride hosting the Houston Dash. Jane Campbell and Ashlyn Harris protect the nets. Orlando began in the twenty-second minute with an Alex Morgan goal, via Shelina Zadorsky, although Houston believed it to be offside. Allysha Chapman of Houston took a yellow card for a seventy-fifth minute foul. The Dash tied it in the seventy-ninth minute with a Kealia Ohai goal, set up by Linda Motlhalo. Houston took the lead on a Sofia Huerta penalty kick after an Ohai cross hit the Pride's Monica in the hand. Orlando's Carson Pickett received a yellow card for a ninetieth minute foul, as did teammates Monica and Christine Nairn in stoppage time, and Sydney Leroux a few minutes later. The Dash won 2-1, with the woman of the match being Ohai. Also starring for Houston were Campbell (five for six in saves), Amber Brooks, Chapman, and Huerta, while the Pride's best were Zadorsky, Nairn, Alanna Kennedy, and Morgan.

Northwest to Utah, where the Royals FC welcome the Seattle Reign FC. Michelle Betos and Abby Smith are the keepers. Seattle's Steph Catley took a yellow card for a foul in the fifty-ninth minute. The game ended in a 0-0 draw, with the co-women of the match being Betos (six-save clean sheet) and Smith (three-save clean sheet). Starring for the Reign were Megan Rapinoe, Kristen McNabb, and Megan Oyster, while the Royals' best were Becky Sauerbrunn, Katrina Gorry, Diana Matheson, and Christen Press.

Finally, the Portland Thorns FC bring in Sky Blue FC. Kailen Sheridan and Adrianna Franch are set to start in goal. In the forty-first minute, Sky Blue's Janine Beckie received a yellow card for a foul. Portland led off in the forty-fifth minute with a Lindsey Horan goal, assisted by Christine Sinclair and Meghan Klingenberg. Sky Blue tied it in the seventy-seventh minute with a Carli Lloyd penalty kick goal, on an opportunity she earned against Celeste Boureille. The Thorns' Angela Salem received a yellow card in stoppage time for a foul. Sky Blue's Mandy Freeman took a yellow card for a foul a minute later. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Lloyd as the woman of the match. Also good for Sky Blue were Domi Richardson, Sarah Killion, and Shea Groom, while the Thorns' best were Klingenberg, Andressinha, Sinclair, and Horan.

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Sunday, June 24, 2018

MLS 2018 Week 17

Ten games on this weekend, as the World Cup break for the league is done. The first eight on Saturday begin with...

The Philadelphia Union hosting the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Brian Rowe and Andre Blake man the nets. Philadelphia began in the twenty-fourth minute with a Borek Dockal goal, passed from Ilsinho. Fabrice-Jean Picault of the Union had a yellow card for a thirty-first minute foul. Philadelphia added on in the seventy-first minute with a Dockal goal, set up by Alejandro Bedoya. Vancouver went down to ten men in the seventy-second minute for Jose Aja's denial of a goal scoring opportunity, and the Union extended the lead as Ilsinho made the penalty kick in the seventy-fourth minute. The Whitecaps had yellow cards for dissent by Yordy Reyna in the eighty-second minute, an Anthony Blondell foul in the eighty-third minute, and then Reyna got ejected for his foul in stoppage time. Philadelphia iced it at 4-0 with a Picault penalty kick goal stemming from that foul. The man of the match was Dockal.

Next up, the New York Red Bulls welcome FC Dallas. Jesse Gonzalez and Luis Robles protect the nets. New York started in the twenty-third minute with a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal, via Tyler Adams. The Red Bulls went down to ten men in the twenty-seventh minute as Daniel Royer took a straight red card for violent conduct. New York added on in the thirty-ninth minute with an Aaron Long goal, helped along by Sean Davis. The Red Bulls extended the lead in the forty-eighth minute as Kemar Lawrence scored, thanks to Alejandro Romero Gamarra. Dallas had a yellow card for Reto Ziegler's persistent infringement in the seventy-second minute, and they then went to ten men as Ziegler picked up a straight red card in the ninetieth minute. New York held on to win 3-0, with the man of the match being Robles for his six-save clean sheet while playing most of the game shorthanded.

Down in Florida, Orlando City SC brings in the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Joe Bendik are the keepers. Montreal led off in the thirteenth minute with an own goal by Orlando City's Lamine Sane. Sacha Kljestan of Orlando City had a yellow card for his fifty-eighth minute foul. The Impact added on in the eighty-fourth minute with an Ignacio Piatti goal, via Alejandro Silva and Saphir Taider. This stood for a 2-0 win, with the man of the match being Piatti.

Northwest to Missouri, as Sporting Kansas City hosts the Houston Dynamo. Joe Willis and Tim Melia are between the sticks. Houston opened in the second minute with a Mauro Manotas goal, via Tomas Martinez. Eric Alexander of the Dynamo took a yellow card for a twenty-second minute foul. In the twenty-seventh minute, Roger Espinoza of Kansas City had a yellow card for his foul. Houston added on in the forty-fifth minute with a Manotas goal, guided in by DaMarcus Beasley and Romell Quioto. The Dynamo keeper Willis took a yellow card for time wasting in the fifty-fifth minute. Kansas City got on the board in the fifty-ninth minute with a Daniel Salloi goal, courtesy of Johnny Russell. Sporting tied it on an eighty-fifth minute Diego Rubio goal, fueled by Salloi and Russell. Houston went down to ten men in the eighty-seventh minute as Alexander took a second yellow card for a foul. Sporting pulled ahead with a Khiry Shelton goal in the eighty-eighth minute, set up by Salloi and Rubio. Alejandro Fuenmayor of Houston had a yellow card for a foul in stoppage time. Sporting won 3-2, with the man of the match being Salloi.

West to Colorado, with the Rapids welcoming Minnesota United FC. Bobby Shuttleworth and Tim Howard are the gloved men. Minnesota struck first in the twentieth minute with a Miguel Ibarra goal. Colorado tied it in the fiftieth minute with an Edgar Castillo goal, via Enzo Martinez. Minnesota retook the lead with a Christian Ramirez goal, courtesy of Ibarra and Darwin Quintero. Shuttleworth of Minnesota had a yellow card for time wasting in the seventy-second minute. The Rapids retied it in the seventy-fourth minute on a Joe Mason goal, assisted by Shkelzen Gashi and Danny Wilson. In the seventy-seventh minute, Mason took a yellow card for Colorado, but Minnesota went down to ten men as Ibarra had a red card for violent conduct. The Rapids won 3-2 at the death on a Tommy Smith goal, made possible by Gashi. The man of the match honors went to Gashi for his critical assists.

In Utah, Real Salt Lake brings in the San Jose Earthquakes. Andrew Tarbell and Nick Rimando are in the six-yard boxes. Salt Lake saw a yellow card for a Damir Kreilach foul in the twelfth minute. Real got going in the fifty-fourth minute with a Kreilach goal, via Corey Baird and Albert Rusnak. San Jose tied it on a Danny Hoesen goal in the sixty-fourth minute. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with the man of the match being Tarbell for his seven-of-eight saves performance in goal.

Up in Seattle, the Sounders FC host the Chicago Fire. Richard Sanchez and Stefei Frei guard the woodwork. Chicago was first to score in the ninth minute with an Aleksandar Katai goal, assisted by Brandt Bronico. Seattle tied it on a Clint Dempsey goal in the twenty-second minute, via Will Bruin and Harry Shipp. The Fire saw a yellow card for time wasting by Bastian Schweinsteiger in the forty-fourth minute. Chicago also received yellow cards for Jonathan Campbell's sixty-first minute foul and a dive by Elliot Collier in the eighty-fifth minute. The Sounders' Cristian Roldan and Nouhou had yellow cards for fouls in the eighty-seventh minute and stoppage time, respectively. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with the man of the match being Katai.

Saturday ends with Los Angeles FC welcoming the Columbus Crew SC. Jon Kempin and Tyler Miller are the former backups in goal. Los Angeles cracked the scoresheet in the fourth minute with a Laurent Ciman goal. Los Angeles added on in the eighth minute with an Adama Diomande goal, passed from Lee Nguyen and Benny Feilhaber. Eduard Atuesta of Los Angeles had a yellow card for a twenty-fourth minute foul. Columbus saw a yellow card for persistent infringement by Lalas Abubakar in the thirty-fourth minute. The Crew received yellow cards for a Pedro Santos foul in the sixty-first minute, Federico Higuain's dissent in the sixty-ninth minute, and a seventieth minute foul by Milton Valenzuela. The final score stayed at 2-0, with the man of the match being Ciman.

On Sunday, Atlanta United FC brings in the Portland Timbers. Jeff Attinella and Brad Guzan are set to start in goal. Portland had a yellow card for a twenty-fourth minute foul by Diego Chara. Franco Escobar of Atlanta took a yellow card for his foul in the thirty-second minute. The Timbers dented the scoreboard right after that with a Larrys Mabiala goal. Mabiala took a yellow card for his forty-fourth minute foul for Portland. Atlanta tied it in the fifty-sixth minute with a Julian Gressel goal. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Attinella named man of the match for his nine-of-ten saves performance.

Finally, New York City FC hosts Toronto FC. Alexander Bono and Sean Johnson are the keepers. Ager Aketxe of Toronto had a yellow card for his twenty-seventh minute foul. Toronto kicked off the scoring in the thirty-seventh minute with a Victor Vazquez goal, set up by Auro. New York City tied it in the fifty-first minute with a Jo Inge Berget goal, via Jesus Medina. New York City took the lead with a Berget goal, coming off of Maximiliano Moralez. The final stayed at 2-1, with the man of the match being Berget.

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Saturday, June 23, 2018

NWSL 2018 Week 13

Four games on this weekend across the league, with the first one on Friday in...

Houston, as the Dash host the Portland Thorns FC. Adrianna Franch returns to action and faces Jane Campbell in goal. Portland opened in the ninth minute on a Tobin Heath goal, set up by Christine Sinclair with an excellent dummy by Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic. Houston tied it in the twelfth minute on a Sofia Huerta goal after the Thorns' Emily Sonnett and Franch failed to deal with a Kyah Simon cross. Portland retook the lead in the thirty-third minute on a Crnogorcevic goal, heading in a rebound off her initial shot that evaded multiple Dash defenders. The Thorns added on in the eighty-third minute with a Sinclair goal, set up by Tyler Lussi and Meghan Klingenberg. In the eighty-fifth minute, Simon took a yellow card for a foul. The final held at 3-1, with Sinclair as the woman of the match. Also good for the Thorns were Klingenberg, Celeste Boureille, Heath, and Crnogorcevic, while the Dash's best were Ohai, Huerta, and Simon.

On Saturday, the Seattle Reign FC welcome the North Carolina Courage. Katelyn Rowland and Lydia Williams make the starts in goal. Seattle started in the eighteenth minute with a Megan Oyster goal after Megan Rapinoe's free kick rebounded off of the keeper Rowland. North Carolina tied it with a Lynn Williams goal, set up by Jaelene Hinkle. The Courage took the lead in the thirty-third minute with a Crystal Dunn goal, via Williams. North Carolina added on in the forty-eighth minute with a Merritt Mathias goal. The Courage extended the lead as Dunn scored again, thanks to Williams. The final held at 4-1, with the woman of the match being Dunn for her brace. Also good for the Courage were Williams, Mathias, and Abby Erceg, while the Reign's best were Oyster, Rumi Utsugi, Rapinoe, and Elizabeth Addo.

Back east, the Washington Spirit bring in the Orlando Pride. Ashlyn Harris and Aubrey Bledsoe are the former teammates in goal. Orlando led off in the eleventh minute with an Alanna Kennedy midfield goal. Washington's Caprice Dydasco had a yellow card for a foul in the eighteenth minute. The Spirit saw a yellow card for a Meggie Dougherty Howard foul in stoppage time. The final stood at 1-0, with Kennedy as the woman of the match. Also strong for the Pride were Carson Pickett, Christine Nairn, Emily Van Egmond, and Chioma Ubogagu, while the Spirit's best were Taylor Smith, Andi Sullivan, Rebecca Quinn, and Francisca Ordega.

Finally, the Chicago Red Stars host the Utah Royals FC. Abby Smith and Alyssa Naeher are the American goalies. Chicago got going in the sixty-second minute with a Katie Naughton goal, assisted by Danielle Colaprico. The Red Stars added on with a Vanessa DiBernardo goal in the seventieth minute, set up by Sam Kerr. Chicago's Yuki Nagasato received a yellow card for an eighty-seventh minute foul. The Red Stars took the 2-0 win, with the woman of the match being Kerr, while Naughton, Julie Ertz, Arin Gilliland, and Nagasato also played well for Chicago. The Royals' best were Becky Sauerbrunn, Katrina Gorry, and Amy Rodriguez.

NWSL Team of the Week
GK Ashlyn Harris
RB Merritt Mathias
CB Katie Naughton
CB Megan Oyster
LB Meghan Klingenberg
DM Alanna Kennedy
DM Christine Nairn
AM Crystal Dunn
AM Christine Sinclair
AM Yuki Nagasato
FW Lynn Williams