Sunday, July 29, 2018

MLS 2018 Week 22

A new week of games is here, beginning on a busy Saturday with...

The Montreal Impact hosting Atlanta United FC. Brad Guzan and Evan Bush protect the nets. Atlanta's Franco Escobar took a yellow card for a twenty-third minute foul. Atlanta led off in the thirty-first minute with a Josef Martinez goal, assisted by Hector Villalba and Miguel Almiron. Atlanta added on with a fifty-seventh minute goal by Martinez, his second of the game. Michael Parkhurst of Atlanta received a yellow card for his foul in the seventy-seventh minute. Montreal got on the board in the eighty-seventh minute with an Ignacio Piatti goal, passed from Alejandro Silva. This only made it 2-1, with the man of the match being Martinez for his brace.

Stateside, the New York Red Bulls welcome the Columbus Crew SC. Zack Steffan and Luis Robles are the gloved men. Columbus began in the seventh minute with a Jonathan Mensah goal, passed from Patrick Mullins and Pedro Santos. Aurelien Collin of New York had a yellow card for a twenty-first minute foul. The Crew added on in the twenty-fourth minute with a Mullins goal, helped along by Harrison Afful and Milton Valenzuela. Columbus extended the lead as Sean Davis of the Red Bulls committed an own goal in the thirty-first minute. New York got on the board with a Mensah own goal in the fiftieth minute. Valenzuela of the Crew had a yellow card for a foul in the fifty-sixth minute. The Red Bulls got closer in the sixty-ninth minute with a Daniel Royer goal, via Alejandro Romero Gamarra and Tyler Adams. Columbus saw yellow cards for time wasting by Steffen in the seventy-seventh minute and Artur's persistent infringement in the ninetieth minute. The final remained at 3-2, with Mullins the man of the match.

In Canada again, Toronto FC brings in the Chicago Fire. Richard Sanchez and Alexander Bono are the less-experienced keepers. Chicago's Brandt Bronico had a yellow card for a thirtieth minute foul. In the forty-second minute, Toronto's Sebastian Giovinco took a yellow card for an argument. Toronto got going in the fifty-second minute with a Jozy Altidore goal. Toronto's Michael Bradley received a yellow card for a sixty-third minute foul. Toronto added on in the seventy-second minute with a Jonathan Osorio goal, guided in by Giovinco and Victor Vazquez. Toronto extended the lead as Giovinco scored in the eighty-ninth minute, with the help of Ayo Akinola. This produced the 3-0 final, with Giovinco picked as man of the match.

South to DC, where United hosts the Colorado Rapids. Tim Howard and David Ousted play in goal. DC opened in the thirty-third minute with a Wayne Rooney goal, made possible by Luciano Acosta and Zoltan Stieber. Colorado had yellow card for fouls by Danny Wilson in the sixty-sixth minute and Jack McBean in the seventy-fourth minute. The Rapids tied it in the eighty-second minute on a Kellyn Acosta goal, via McBean. DC retook the lead in the ninetieth minute when Niki Jackson committed an own goal. Colorado's Jackson and Jack Price received yellow cards for fouls in stoppage time, and DC held on to win 2-1. The man of the match was Rooney.

Southwest to Kansas City, as Sporting welcomes FC Dallas. Jesse Gonzalez and Tim Melia are the keepers. Carlos Gruezo of Dallas had a yellow card for a fifteenth minute foul. Dallas started in the twenty-third minute with a Michael Barrios goal. Roland Lamah of Dallas received a yellow card for a forty-first minute foul. Ike Opara of Kansas City took a yellow card for a foul in first half stoppage time. Sporting tied it on a Gerso Fernandes goal in the fiftieth minute, helped along by Diego Rubio. Dallas retook the lead on a sixty-second minute goal by Barrios, passed from Lamah. Marquinhos Pedroso of Dallas had a yellow card for a sixty-ninth minute foul. Dallas added on in the seventy-fourth minute as Barrios finished his hat trick, thanks to Maximiliano Urruti. Roger Espinoza of Kansas City took a yellow card for an eighty-seventh minute foul. Sporting got one back in stoppage time on a Daniel Salloi goal, set up by Opara. Urruti of Dallas took a yellow card two minutes later for a foul. Dallas won 3-2, with Barrios the easy man of the match winner for the hat trick.

Way northwest to Vancouver, as the Whitecaps FC brings in Minnesota United FC. Bobby Shuttleworth and Stefan Marinovic are in the six-yard boxes. Vancouver struck first in the thirty-fifth minute with a Yordy Reyna goal, assisted by Alphonso Davies. Michael Boxall of Minnesota took a yellow card for a thirty-ninth minute foul. Minnesota's Eric Miller had a yellow card for a fiftieth minute foul. The Whitecaps added on with a Davies goal in the fifty-sixth minute, made possible by Anthony Blondell. Vancouver extended the lead as Kei Kamara scored in the sixty-fourth minute, thanks to Davies and Reyna. Kendall Waston of the Whitecaps received a yellow card for a seventy-second minute foul. Minnesota got on the board in the eighty-second minute with an Ibson goal, helped along by Darwin Quintero. Minnesota got closer in the eighty-seventh minute on an Abu Danladi goal, fueled by Quintero. Vancouver parried the attack with an eighty-ninth minute Davies goal, set up by Reyna. This made it 4-2, the final, with the man of the match being Davies.

In California, the San Jose Earthquakes host Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Andrew Tarbell are set to start in goal. Salt Lake had yellow cards for fouls by Marcelo Silva in the forty-third minute and Justen Glad in first half stoppage time. San Jose's Shea Salinas had a yellow card for a sixty-seventh minute foul, as did teammate Luis Felipe Fernandes in the seventy-second minute. Real's Brooks Lennon took a yellow card for an eighty-fifth minute foul. The game remained in a 0-0 draw, with the man of the match being Rimando for his three-save clean sheet.

Saturday ends in Portland, with the Timbers welcoming the Houston Dynamo. Joe Willis and Jeff Attinella are the goalies. Portland kicked off the scoring in the seventh minute with a Sebastian Blanco goal, via Alvas Powell. Powell of the Timbers had a yellow card for a ninth minute foul. Houston tied it on a twelfth minute goal by Romell Quioto, assisted by Alberth Elis. In the seventeenth minute, Dairon Asprilla of Portland and the Dynamo's Elis each received yellow cards for dissent. Jared Watts of Houston had a yellow card in the twenty-sixth minute for his foul. Blanco of the Timbers took a yellow card for a thirty-ninth minute foul. Portland took the lead back in the eightieth minute on a Fanendo Adi goal, coming off of Diego Valeri. This produced the 2-1 final score, with the man of the match being Blanco.

On Sunday, the Seattle Sounders FC bring in New York City FC. Sean Johnson and Stefan Frei are the talented keepers. Seattle was first to score in the thirty-sixth minute with a Cristian Roldan goal. The Sounders added on in the fifty-first minute with a Gustav Svensson goal, helped along by Nicolas Lodeiro and Harry Shipp. New York City got on the board in the sixty-eighth minute with a Jesus Medina goal, passed from Jo Inge Berget and Jonathan Lewis. Seattle replied on a Shipp goal in the eighty-sixth minute, made possible by Will Bruin. This made it 3-1, the final, with the man of the match being Shipp.

Finally, the Los Angeles Galaxy host Orlando City SC. Earl Edwards, Jr. and David Bingham are between the sticks. Michael Ciani of Los Angeles had a yellow card for an eighth minute foul. Orlando City drew first blood in the eighteenth minute on a Cristian Higuita goal, via Sacha Kljestan. The Galaxy retied it on a Giovani dos Santos goal, passed from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Dave Romney. Orlando City retook the lead as Los Angeles' Ciani committed an own goal in the forty-fourth minute. The Galaxy tied it again in the forty-seventh minute on an Ibrahimovic goal, coming off of dos Santos. Tony Rocha of Orlando City had a yellow card for a forty-eighth minute foul. Orlando City pulled ahead with a fifty-fourth minute minute Dominic Dwyer goal, assisted by Mohamed El-Munir and Rocha. In the sixty-seventh minute, Los Angeles tied it again on an Ibrahimovic goal set up by Ola Kamara. The Galaxy pulled ahead with Ibrahimovic completing his hat trick in the seventy-first minute, and he earned a yellow card for excessive celebration afterward. The Galaxy won 4-3, with Ibrahimovic as the man of the match.

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Thursday, July 26, 2018

MLS 2018 Week 22 Midweek

We've got five games on at midweek, beginning with three on Wednesday. The first is in...

DC, as United hosts the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and David Ousted are the keepers. New York began in the second minute with a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal, assisted by Alejandro Romero Gamarra. Wright-Phillips took a yellow card for delay of game in the third minute due to his celebration. DC had a yellow card for a Paul Arriola foul in the thirty-second minute. Tyler Adams of the Red Bulls received a yellow card for not retreating in stoppage time. The final held at 1-0, with the man of the match being Wright-Phillips.

Down in Texas, the Houston Dynamo welcome the Philadelphia Union. Andre Blake and Joe Willis are set to start in goal. Houston led off in the tenth minute with a Mauro Manotas goal, passed from Oscar Boniek Garcia. Philadelphia tied it on a thirty-fourth minute goal by Alejandro Bedoya, assisted by Borek Dockal. In first half stoppage time, Keegan Rosenberry of the Union had a yellow card for a foul. Mark McKenzie of Philadelphia received a yellow card for a fifty-third minute foul. The Dynamo went down to ten men in the fifty-ninth minute on a straight red card for violent conduct by Tomas Martinez. The Union's C.J. Sapong took a yellow card for his sixty-fifth minute foul. Philadelphia pulled ahead on a Cory Burke goal in the seventieth minute, made possible by Dockal. In second half stoppage time, Darwin Ceren and Alejandro Fuenmayor of Houston received yellow cards for fouls, the latter leading to Fabrice-Jean Picault scoring a penalty kick goal to ice the Union win at 3-1. The man of the match was Dockal for his two assists.

Wednesday ends in San Jose, with the Earthquakes hosting the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei and Andrew Tarbell are the gloved men. San Jose's Luis Felipe Fernandes had a yellow card for a thirty-eighth minute foul. Seattle got going in the sixty-second minute with a Raul Ruidiaz goal, made possible by Cristian Roldan. This stood for a 1-0 win, with Ruidiaz tabbed as man of the match.

On Thursday, Orlando City SC brings in New York City FC. Sean Johnson faces a lesser foe in Earl Edwards, Jr. in goal. New York City opened in the fortieth minute with a Maximiliano Moralez goal. Dominic Dwyer of Orlando City had a yellow card for a forty-fourth minute foul. New York City added on in first half stoppage time with an Anton Tinnerholm goal, assisted by Moralez. Thomas McNamara of New York City had a yellow card for a fifty-eighth minute foul. Orlando City's Cristian Higuita received a yellow card for his sixty-second minute foul. Orlando City went down to ten men in the eighty-third minute when Shane O'Neill received a straight red card for violent conduct. New York City saw yellow cards for time wasting by Johnson in the eighty-fifth minute and a foul by Alexander Ring in second half stoppage time. The final held at 2-0, with Moralez named man of the match.

Finally, Los Angeles FC hosts the Los Angeles Galaxy in El Trafico. David Bingham and Tyler Miller man the nets. LAFC started in the seventh minute with a Carlos Vela goal, passed from Adama Diomande. LAFC added on in the twentieth minute with a Lee Nguyen goal. The Galaxy saw yellow card for persistent infringement by Romain Alessandrini in the thirty-seventh minute. The Galaxy's Giovani dos Santos had a yellow card for his foul in the fifty-first minute, and another one to Jorgen Skjelvik in the seventy-first minute for his foul. The Galaxy got on the board in the eighty-second minute with an Alessandrini goal, made possible by Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Galaxy tied it on an eighty-sixth minute Ola Kamara goal. Sebastian Lletget of the Galaxy had a yellow card for a foul in the eighty-ninth minute. This stood for a 2-2 draw, with the man of the match being Kamara.

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Sunday, July 22, 2018

MLS 2018 Week 21

Ten games on this weekend, nine of them on Saturday. We begin with...

Atlanta United FC hosting DC United. David Ousted and Brad Guzan man the nets. DC began in the eighth minute with a Zoltan Stieber goal, assisted by Paul Arriola. Atlanta tied it on a thirtieth minute Josef Martinez goal, passed from Hector Villalba and Miguel Almiron. DC saw yellow cards for persistent infringement in the forty-ninth minute by Arriola and a Wayne Rooney foul in the fiftieth minute. Atlanta took the lead in the fifty-fourth minute on another Martinez goal. Atlanta added on as Martinez completed the hat trick in the seventy-third minute. Christopher Durkin of DC received a yellow card for a foul in the seventy-eighth minute. The final held at 3-1, with the man of the match being Martinez.

Northwest to Seattle, as the Sounders FC welcome the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Stefan Marinovic and Stefan Frei are the similarly named goalies. Seattle opened in the fifth minute with a Nicolas Lodeiro penalty kick goal. Vancouver's Doneil Henry had a yellow card for a sixteenth minute foul. The Sounders saw a yellow card for a Nouhou foul in the seventeenth minute. Seattle added on in the thirty-first minute with a Lodeiro goal, made possible by Victor Rodriguez. The Whitecaps received yellow cards for a Kendall Waston foul in the sixty-third minute, and dissents by Kei Kamara in the seventy-fourth minute and Efrain Juarez in the seventy-seventh minute. Juarez's dissent was particularly vulgar in the mind of the official, earning him a straight red card and ejection to put Vancouver down to ten men. Seattle won 2-0, with Lodeiro the man of the match.

Back east, the New York Red Bulls bring in the New England Revolution. Matt Turner and Luis Robles are the gloved men. New York saw yellow cards for fouls by Aaron Long in the thirtieth minute and Alejandro Romero Gamarra in the forty-first minute. New England took yellow cards for fouls by Antonio Mlinar Delamea and Luis Caicedo in the fifty-seventh and fifty-ninth minutes, respectively. The Red Bulls got going in the sixty-ninth minute on a Daniel Royer goal, passed from Marc Rzatkowski. New York added on in the eightieth minute with a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal, coming off of Romero Gamarra. The final held from here at 2-0, with Royer named man of the match.

Along to Philadelphia, where the Union host the Los Angeles Galaxy. David Bingham and Andre Blake draw the starts in goal. Philadelphia led off in the twenty-ninth minute with a C.J. Sapong goal, via Borek Dockal. Fabrice-Jean Picault of the Union took a yellow card for dissent in the thirty-first minute. Los Angeles got on the board in the forty-eighth minute with an Ola Kamara goal, helped along by Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Galaxy took the lead in the sixty-third minute on an Ibrahimovic goal, guided in by Romain Alessandrini and Jonathan dos Santos. Michael Ciani of Los Angeles had a yellow card for a sixty-fourth minute foul. In the seventy-ninth minute, Philadelphia's Haris Medunjanin received a yellow card for a foul. The Galaxy's Alessandrini had a yellow card for an eightieth minute foul. Los Angeles added on in the eighty-second minute with a Ciani goal, courtesy of Alessandrini. This produced the 3-1 final, with Ibrahimovic picked as man of the match.

West to Chicago, as the Fire welcome Toronto FC. Alexander Bono and Richard Sanchez are in goal. Toronto had a yellow card for a foul by Chris Mavinga in the forty-first minute. Jorge Corrales of Chicago took a yellow card for a foul in first half stoppage time. Toronto dented the scoreboard in the forty-seventh minute on a Sebastian Giovinco goal, assisted by Michael Bradley. Justin Morrow of Toronto had a yellow card for his sixty-first minute foul. The Fire retied it in the sixty-second minute on a Nemanja Nikolic goal, passed from Raheem Edwards and Aleksandar Katai. Toronto regained the lead with a Jonathan Osorio goal in the sixty-fifth minute. This made it 2-1, the final, with Osorio's winner earning him man of the match honors.

Backtracking to Ohio, where the Columbus Crew SC brings in Orlando City SC after a noticeable weather delay. Earl Edwards, Jr. is mismatched with Zack Steffen in goal. Orlando City started in the sixteenth minute with a Sacha Kljestan goal. In the twenty-sixth minute, Jonathan Mensah of Columbus and Chris Schuler of Orlando City each received yellow cards for their misbehavior. Kljestan of Orlando city had a yellow card for a forty-third minute foul. The Crew tied it in the fifty-first minute with a Gyasi Zardes goal, helped along by Niko Hansen and Harrison Afful. Orlando City retook the lead on a Stefano Pinho goal in the fifty-eighth minute, via Kljestan and Yoshimar Yotun. In the eighty-fourth minute, Columbus' Pedro Santos had a yellow card for dissent, as did Orlando City's Mohamed El-Munir in the eighty-seventh minute. The Crew tied it on a Zardes penalty kick goal in the eighty-eighth minute. Columbus pulled ahead in stoppage time with a Wil Trapp goal, fueled by Mike Grella. A minute later, Orlando City's Yotun received a yellow card for dissent, and two minutes after that, the Crew's Josh Williams got booked for a foul. The game ended 3-2 in favor of Columbus, with Zardes picked as man of the match.

A battle for Texas is next, with the Houston Dynamo hosting FC Dallas. Jesse Gonzalez and Joe Willis are set to start in goal. Dallas struck first in the first minute with a Matt Hedges goal, assisted by Santiago Mosquera. Houston tied it on an eighth minute with a Mauro Manotas goal, via Romell Quioto and Jared Watts. The Dynamo had yellow cards for fouls by Adolfo Machado in the sixtieth minute and Memo Rodriguez in the eighty-seventh minute. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with the man of the match being Manotas.

Up in Utah, Real Salt Lake welcomes the Colorado Rapids in the Rocky Mountain Derby. Tim Howard and Nick Rimando are the respected keepers. Colorado saw a yellow card for a ninth minute Kortne Ford foul. Salt Lake kicked off the scoring in the eleventh minute on a Damir Kreilach goal, via Joao Plata. Jack McBean of the Rapids had a yellow card for a fourteenth minute foul. Real added on in the seventeenth minute with a Plata goal, set up by Jefferson Savarino and Albert Rusnak. The game entered a weather delay around the twenty-fourth minute. Colorado got on the board in the thirty-third minute with a McBean penalty kick goal. Salt Lake had yellow cards for Corey Baird's dissent in the fifty-ninth minute and Justen Glad's foul in the seventy-third minute. The Rapids tied it in the eighty-eighth minute with a Dillon Serna goal. The final remained at 2-2, with Plata the man of the match.

Saturday's last game to kick off sees the Portland Timbers bring in the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Jeff Attinella are the veteran keepers. Samuel Piette of Montreal had a yellow card for a nineteenth minute foul. The Impact drew first blood in the twenty-third minute on a Saphir Taider goal, assisted by Alejandro Silva. Portland tied it on a thirty-ninth minute Samuel Armenteros goal. Montreal took the lead back with a Matteo Mancosu goal in the forty-first minute, via Ignacio Piatti. The Timbers tied it in the sixty-fifth minute with a Diego Valeri goal. The final stayed at 2-2, with Valeri as the man of the match.

Finally, on Sunday, Minnesota United FC hosts Los Angeles FC. Tyler Miller and Bobby Shuttleworth are the keepers. Minnesota cracked the scoresheet in the twenty-fifth minute with a Rasmus Schuller goal, assisted by Darwin Quintero and Ibson. Los Angeles tied it in the twenty-sixth minute with a Benny Feilhaber goal, passed from Latif Blessing. Minnesota retook the lead in the forty-fifth minute on a Christian Ramirez goal, helped along by Eric Miller. Minnesota added on in first half stoppage time with a Quintero goal, set up by Miller. Minnesota extended the lead as Miguel Ibarra scored in the fifty-sixth minute, thanks to Ramirez and Quintero. Minnesota padded the lead on a fifty-eighth minute goal by Ramirez, made possible by Ibarra and Schuller. Jordan Harvey of Los Angeles took a yellow card for an eighty-fifth minute foul. Minnesota ended up winning 5-1, with Ramirez named man of the match.

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NWSL 2018 Week 17

Four games on for the last full week prior to the Tournament of Nations. We begin on Friday with...

Utah Royals FC hosting the North Carolina Courage. Katelyn Rowland and Nicole Barnhart protect the nets. The game ended 0-0, with no disciplinary action at all. The woman of the match was Barnhart (four-save clean sheet), with other strong performances for Utah coming from Becca Moros, Rachel Corsie, Katie Bowen, and Desiree Scott. For the Courage, the best players were Abby Erceg, Kaleigh Kurtz, Heather O'Reilly, and Denise O'Sullivan.

On Saturday, the Orlando Pride welcome the Seattle Reign FC. Lydia Williams faces former teammate Haley Kopmeyer in goal. Orlando began in the twenty-first minute with a Toni Pressley goal on recycled service. Seattle tied it in the seventieth minute with a Jodie Taylor goal, made possible by Nahomi Kawasumi. The Reign's Lauren Barnes took a yellow card for a foul in stoppage time. The game ended 1-1, with the woman of the match being Taylor. Also strong for the Reign were Kawasumi, Jess Fishlock, Theresa Nielsen, Megan Oyster, and Barnes. For the Pride, their best were Kopmeyer (six for seven in saves), Marta, Dani Weatherholt, Pressley, and Ali Krieger.

Up in New Jersey, Sky Blue FC brings in the Portland Thorns FC. Britt Eckerstrom and Caroline Casey are the backups in goal. Portland led off in the fourth minute with a Hayley Raso goal, via Christine Sinclair. The Thorns added on in the seventh minute with an Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic goal. Sky Blue got on the board with a twenty-seventh minute goal by Imani Dorsey, passed from Savannah McCaskill. Portland's Sinclair received a yellow card for an eightieth minute foul. The Thorns held on for a 2-1 win, with the woman of the match being Raso, while honorable mentions go to Crnogorcevic, Meghan Klingenberg, Ellie Carpenter, and Eckerstrom (four for five in saves). Sky Blue's best were Erica Skroski, Dorsey, Shea Groom, and McCaskill. 

Finally, after a postponement yesterday, the Washington Spirit host the Houston Dash on Sunday morning. Jane Campbell and Aubrey Bledsoe are the keepers. Houston struck first in the third minute with a Rachel Daly goal, assisted by Sofia Huerta. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the woman of the match being Campbell for her nine-save clean sheet. Also strong for the Dash were Daly, Huerta, and Clare Polkinghorne, while the Spirit's best were Tori Huster, Caprice Dydasco, Taylor Smith, Estefania Banini, and Ashley Hatch. Due to the NWSL's lack of preparedness, this is a best guess at performances based on Twitter analysis from fans and journalists.

NWSL Team of the Week
GK Jane Campbell
RB Theresa Nielsen
CB Abby Erceg
CB Megan Oyster
LB Becca Moros
DM Toni Pressley
AM Imani Dorsey
AM Shea Groom
AM Nahomi Kawasumi
FW Hayley Raso
FW Rachel Daly

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

MLS 2018 Week 21 Midweek

Just one MLS game on at midweek, although a handful of teams are playing in cup competitions. Minnesota United FC hosts the New England Revolution, with Matt Turner facing former Revs keeper Bobby Shuttleworth in goal. Minnesota started in the fifth minute with a Christian Ramirez goal. Minnesota had yellow cards for a handball by Francisco Calvo in the thirtieth minute and a forty-fifth minute Collen Warner foul. Minnesota added on in first half stoppage time with a Darwin Quintero goal. New England got on the board in the fifty-second minute with a Diego Fagundez penalty kick goal. In the fifty-fifth minute, Jalil Anibaba of the Revolution and Minnesota's Quintero each took yellow cards for fouls. Miguel Ibarra of Minnesota had a yellow card for time wasting in the sixty-second minute. New England saw yellow cards for fouls by Kelyn Rowe in the seventy-fifth minute and Juan Agudelo in the eighty-third minute. Michael Boxall of Minnesota received a yellow card for time wasting in the ninetieth minute. The final held at 2-1 Minnesota, with Shuttleworth the man of the match for going six for seven in saves.

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Sunday, July 15, 2018

NWSL 2018 Week 16

Four games again this weekend, beginning with...

Sky Blue FC hosting the North Carolina Courage. Katelyn Rowland and Kailen Sheridan are the goalies. North Carolina opened in the fifteenth minute with an Abby Erceg goal, assisted by Kristen Hamilton and Merritt Mathias on recycled service after a corner kick. The Courage added on in the fifty-sixth minute with a Lynn Williams goal, helped along by Hamilton. North Carolina extended the lead as Williams scored again in the seventy-second minute, thanks to Debinha. Sky Blue's Carli Lloyd took a yellow card for her eighty-fifth minute foul. The Courage iced it at 4-0 in the eighty-ninth minute when Williams capitalized on an error by Sky Blue keeper Sheridan to complete her hat trick into a virtually empty net. Williams was the woman of the match, with the Courage also getting great showings from Erceg, Hamilton, Debinha, and McCall Zerboni. Sky Blue's best were Mandy Freeman, Sarah Killion, Carli Lloyd, and Savannah McCaskill.

West to Utah, where the Royals FC welcome the Orlando Pride. Ashlyn Harris and Abby Smith are the American keepers. Utah started in the eighth minute with an Amy Rodriguez goal, assisted by Rachel Corsie and Katie Bowen. Orlando saw a yellow card for a twenty-fourth minute foul by Rachel Hill. The Pride tied it in first half stoppage time on an Alex Morgan penalty kick goal after Gunnhildur Jonsdottir fouled Alanna Kennedy in the box. Orlando pulled ahead in the fifty-second minute with a Kristen Edmonds goal, set up by Ali Krieger after bad goalkeeping by Smith. The Pride's Kennedy received a sixty-eighth minute yellow card for fouling Smith, forcing the Royals keeper from the game. Nicole Barnhart relieved Smith in goal. Orlando's Chioma Ubogagu received a yellow card for not retreating in the seventy-fifth minute. At the eighty-nine minute mark, Camila of the Pride took a yellow card for a foul. The final held at 2-1 for Orlando, with the woman of the match being Hill. Also strong for the Pride were Shelina Zadorsky, Krieger, Kennedy, and Edmonds. The Royals' best were Katie Bowen, Corsie, and Rodriguez.

Saturday's last game has the Chicago Red Stars bringing in the Seattle Reign FC. Michelle Betos and Alyssa Naeher protect the nets. Seattle saw a yellow card for a thirty-fifth minute foul by Jess Fishlock. Chicago got going in the eighty-seventh minute with a Sam Kerr goal after bad distribution by Betos, with an assist from Yuki Nagasato. This made it 1-0, with Kerr as the woman of the match. Also strong for the Red Stars were Casey Short, Julie Ertz, Morgan Brian, and Nagasato, while the Reign's best were Theresa Nielsen, Fishlock, Rapinoe, and Betos (five for six in saves).

Finally, the Portland Thorns FC host the Houston Dash on Sunday night. Jane Campbell and Adrianna Franch are the young keepers. Portland began in the sixteenth minute with a Lindsey Horan goal, set up by Emily Sonnett. The Thorns added on in the thirty-first minute with another Horan goal, on a rebound from an Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic header initially saved by Campbell. Houston got on the board with a Kealia Ohai goal in the thirty-seventh minute on a second attempt created by Taylor Comeau's cross that Franch couldn't handle. Portland replied with a Crnogorcevic goal in the forty-eighth minute, made possible by Hayley Raso. This produced the 3-1 final score, with the woman of the match being Horan. Also strong for the Thorns were Ellie Carpenter, Sonnett, Celeste Boureille, Tobin Heath, and Crnogorcevic. For the Dash, the best performances came from Comeau, Linda Motlhalo, Ohai, and Rachel Daly.

NWSL Team of the Week
GK Katelyn Rowland
LB Taylor Comeau
CB Abby Erceg
CB Emily Sonnett
RB Katie Bowen
DM Lindsey Horan
AM Debinha
AM Kealia Ohai
AM Carli Lloyd
FW Lynn Williams
FW Rachel Daly

MLS 2018 Week 20

A full set of games hits this weekend with the World Cup in the books on Sunday. Saturday's nine games begin with...

New York City FC hosting the Columbus Crew SC. Zack Steffen and Sean Johnson play in goal. Columbus had yellow cards for Jonathan Mensah in the twentieth minute for his foul and a dive from Gyasi Zardes in the thirty-sixth minute. New York City got going in the eightieth minute with a Jesus Medina goal, via Jonathan Lewis. Mike Grella of the Crew took a yellow card for dissent in the eighty-second minute. New York City added on with an Anton Tinnerholm goal in the ninetieth minute. Eduardo Sosa of Columbus took a straight red card in stoppage time for violent conduct. The game ended 2-0, with Johnson the man of the match for his five-save clean sheet.

Also in the New York area, the Red Bulls welcome Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and Luis Robles are the talented keepers. New York started in the fourth minute with a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal, assisted by Alejandro Romero Gamarra. Kansas City tied it with an eighth minute Johnny Russell goal, via Graham Zusi and Jaylin Lindsey. Yohan Croizet of Sporting received a yellow card for a seventeenth minute foul. The Red Bulls saw a yellow card for an Alex Muyl foul in the thirty-first minute. Kansas City took the lead in the fifty-first minute on a Roger Espinoza goal, passed from Zusi. New York retied it in the seventy-second minute with a Marc Rzatkowski goal, made possible by Tyler Adams. The Red Bulls pulled ahead in the seventy-ninth minute on another Rzatkowski goal, guided in by Sean Davis. This stood for a 3-2 win, with Rzatkowski named man of the match for his brace off the bench.

In Canada, the Montreal Impact bring in the San Jose Earthquakes. Andrew Tarbell and Evan Bush man the nets. Montreal opened in the eighth minute with a Saphir Taider goal, coming off of Ignacio Piatti and Matteo Mancosu. Anibal Godoy of San Jose had a yellow card for a twenty-sixth minute foul. The Impact's Ken Krolicki took a yellow card for a foul in the thirty-seventh minute. The Earthquakes saw a yellow card for a Nick Lima foul in the fifty-ninth minute. Montreal added on in the seventy-fourth minute with a Piatti goal, assisted by Alejandro Silva. The Impact's Silva received a yellow card for his eighty-fifth minute foul. San Jose's Chris Wondolowski had a yellow card in the ninetieth minute for a foul. The game ended 2-0, with Piatti named man of the match.

Back stateside, the New England Revolution host the Los Angeles Galaxy. David Bingham and Matt Turner protect the nets. New England went down to ten men in the twenty-third minute when Cristian Penilla received a straight red card for violent conduct. Los Angeles' Romain Alessandrini also received a yellow card for his foul. The Revolution began in the twenty-eighth minute on a Diego Fagundez goal, helped along by Luis Caicedo. The Galaxy tied it with a Chris Pontius goal in the thirty-eighth minute, coming off of Ashley Cole and Jorgan Skjelvik. Perry Kitchen of Los Angeles took a yellow card for his forty-second minute foul. New England regained the lead on a forty-fifth minute Caicedo goal, courtesy of Andrew Farrell and Fagundez. The Revolution's Antonio Mlinar Delamea was booked in the fifty-seventh minute on a yellow card foul. The Galaxy's Cole had a yellow card for his fifty-ninth minute foul. New England's Wilfried Zahibo and Caicedo received yellow cards for fouls in the seventy-first and eighty-fourth minutes, respectively. Los Angeles went down to ten men when Cole picked up a second yellow card for an eighty-fifth minute foul, evening the playing strength. The Galaxy tied it again in stoppage time on a Dave Romney goal, made possible by Alessandrini. Los Angeles pulled ahead a minute later with a Pontius goal, also fueled by Alessandrini. This produced the 3-2 final, with Alessandrini as the man of the match for the two quick assists.

Down in DC, United welcome the Vancouver Whitecaps FC as the former opens a new field. Brian Rowe faces former Whitecap David Ousted in goal. Paul Arriola received a yellow card for a twelfth minute foul for DC. DC led off in the twenty-seventh minute with a Yamil Asad goal, via Zoltan Stieber. Frederic Brillant of DC had a yellow card for a thirty-first minute foul. Vancouver saw a yellow card for an Efrain Juarez foul in the thirty-eighth minute. The Whitecaps' Felipe took a yellow card for dissent in the sixty-second minute. DC added on with an Arriola goal in the sixty-ninth minute, made possible by Stieber and Asad. DC extended the lead as Arriola scored again in the eightieth minute, with the help of Wayne Rooney. Vancouver got one back in stoppage time with an Alphonso Davies goal, creating the 3-1 final. Arriola was the man of the match.

In Texas, FC Dallas brings in the Chicago Fire. Richard Sanchez and Jesse Gonzalez are in the six-yard boxes. Dallas struck first in the twenty-seventh minute with a Carlos Gruezo goal, assisted by Reggie Cannon. Drew Conner of Chicago had a yellow card for a thirty-ninth minute foul. In the sixty-third minute, Dallas' Cannon took a yellow card for his foul. The Fire went down to ten men in the seventieth minute when Conner received a second yellow card for a foul. Dallas added on in the seventy-fourth minute with a Kellyn Acosta goal, helped along by Victor Ulloa. Dallas extended the lead as Reto Ziegler scored in the eighty-first minute on a penalty kick. Chicago got on the board with a Brandt Bronico goal in the eighty-sixth minute. The final held at 3-1 with the man of the match being Acosta.

Northward, as Minnesota United FC hosts Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Bobby Shuttleworth are the experienced goalies. Rasmus Schuller of Minnesota had a twenty-first minute foul that earned a yellow card. Salt Lake saw a yellow card for a thirty-fourth minute foul by Marcelo Silva. Minnesota's Collen Warner had a yellow card for his foul in the forty-seventh minute. Minnesota dented the scoreboard in the fifty-first minute with an Ibson goal, via Darwin Quintero and Francisco Calvo. Minnesota added on in the sixty-second minute with a Quintero goal, assisted by Calvo. Minnesota extended the lead as Miguel Ibarra scored in the sixty-eighth minute, thanks to Quintero. Real got on the board with a Joao Plata goal in the seventy-seventh minute, with an assist from Albert Rusnak. Salt Lake got closer in the eighty-fifth minute with another Plata goal, helped along by Brooks Lennon. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the man of the match being Quintero.

Southeast to Florida, where Orlando City SC welcomes Toronto FC. Alexander Bono and Joe Bendik are between the sticks. Orlando City's Chris Schuler took a yellow card for a sixth minute foul. Orlando City was first to score in the thirty-fourth minute with a Schuler goal. Orlando City added on with a Dominic Dwyer goal in the forty-eighth minute, made possible by Chris Mueller. Toronto had yellow cards for fouls by Jay Chapman in the fifty-fifth minute, Michael Bradley in the sixty-seventh minute, and Eriq Zavaleta in the eighty-second minute. Toronto got on the board with a Nick Hagglund goal in stoppage time, set up by Sebastian Giovinco. This produced the 2-1 final score, with the man of the match being Dwyer.

Saturday ends with the Colorado Rapids bringing in the Houston Dynamo. Joe Willis and Tim Howard are set to start in goal. Colorado's Tommy Smith received a yellow card for a twenty-seventh minute foul. Houston's Darwin Ceren had a yellow card for his eighty-fifth minute foul. The game ended in a 0-0 draw, with the man of the match honors going to Willis for his three-save clean sheet.

On Sunday, Atlanta United FC hosts the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei and Brad Guzan are the keepers. Atlanta's Leandro Gonzalez Pirez took a yellow card for a fifteenth minute foul. Jordan McCrary of Seattle had a yellow card for his twenty-sixth minute foul. Franco Escobar of Atlanta received a yellow card for dissent after a VAR call awarded the Sounders a penalty kick for a handball, which Nicolas Lodeiro converted to kick off the scoring in the forty-fifth minute. Atlanta tied it in the forty-eighth minute with a Josef Martinez goal, assisted by Julian Gressel. Atlanta's Michael Parkhurst had a yellow card for a fifty-sixth minute foul. In the sixty-third minute, Seattle went down to ten men when McCrary took a second yellow card for a foul. The Sounders' Lodeiro received a yellow card for his handball in stoppage time. The game ended at 1-1, with Frei (six for seven in saves) earning man of the match honors.

Finally, Los Angeles FC hosts the Portland Timbers. Jeff Attinella and Tyler Miller are the former backups in goal. Benny Feilhaber of Los Angeles had a yellow card for a forty-third minute foul. Portland's Diego Chara took a yellow card for a foul in first half stoppage time. In the eighty-fourth minute, Sebastian Blanco of the Timbers received a yellow card for a foul, while Los Angeles' Lee Nguyen was ejected on a straight red card for violent conduct. Walker Zimmerman of Los Angeles took a yellow card in second half stoppage time for a foul. The game ended in a 0-0 draw, with Miller the man of the match for a six-save clean sheet.

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