In the first four Challenge Cup matches, 12 combined goals went in, while on and off-field moments triggered debate. The second group didn’t have any of that, but it doesn’t mean it was boring. While international stars begin to return to their teams; NWSL supporters saw team dynamics that won’t arrive again until the summer Olympics.
Orlando Pride v. NJ/NY Gotham FC
In the first half, Orlando had the early pressure. What they lacked were good positions to challenge the Gotham defense. Their chances came through shots outside of the penalty box, until the final 15 minutes.
Orlando switched to more direct attacks, and forward Sydney Leroux had the best two chances of the night, but both attempts couldn’t get past goalkeeper DiDi Haracic.
Gotham NJ/NY had over 60% of the possession but lacked offensive creativity. Their best chance at scoring was a 12th-minute penalty kick. Orlando center back Konya Plummer’s arm hit a Gotham cross. Captain Nahomi Kawasumi’s attempt wasn’t powerful or creative enough to challenge Orlando’s, Ashlyn Harris.
They did a good job of keeping Orlando midfielder Marta from attacking though. Gotham’s positioning led to many long-distance Orlando chances.
Gotham thwarted Orlando’s direct attack in the second half. They started getting chances on the net at the 69th minute when midfielder Jennifer Cudjoe shot just over the goal. For ten minutes, Orlando withstood crosses and corner kicks into the box, until the 79th minute.
Forward Ifeoma Onumonu sent a cross into the penalty area and forward Paige Monaghan buried it, going up 1-0. Orlando outshot Gotham on net seven to three, but Monaghan’s finish was the only one needed to earn the New Jersey side three points.
Orlando Pride 0 NJ/NY Gotham FC 1
Washington Spirit v. Racing Louisville FC
Louisville has a love/hate relationship with the 93rd minute. Last week, defender Brooke Hendrix scored the game-tying goal to earn their first point in franchise history. On Thursday, the Washington Spirit’s Ashley Sanchez scored the game-winner, three minutes after regulation.
Racing came out aggressively, like last week. The same pressing midfield that bothered Orlando was on full display. While Washington won the possession game, they didn’t register a shot on goal, compared to Louisville’s two. Washington made adjustments and started breaking through in the final 45 minutes.
Washington came into the match losing 3-2 to NC Courage, last Saturday. Forward Trinity Rodman, scoring five minutes into that loss. On Thursday, Rodman started her first NWSL match and played strong for the 90 minutes she was on the field. Rodman, along with Sanchez and Ashley Hatch gave Louisville problems in the second half.
Within five minutes of the restart, both sides had their best goal-scoring opportunities of the match. In the 48thminute, Hatch got on the end set-piece cross but headed it into the hands of goalkeeper Michelle Betos. Soon after, in the 49th, Louisville found forward Yuki Nagasato on the break, but her attempt hit just wide of the net.
From there, Washington ramped up the offensive pressure. The Spirit had six shots on goal, and four potential shots on goal blocked by the Louisville defense. Louisville seemed content with the road point, and clean sheet, but Washington had different plans.
At midfield, Spirit midfielder Tori Huster made a spectacular turning move to break free from Louisville. She sent a cross into Rodman, whose speed kept the ball in play, quickly converting it into a cross into the box that Sanchez struck past Betos.
Washington Spirit 1 Racing Louisville FC 0
Chicago Red Stars v. Portland Thorns
The story surrounding Chicago is how they can find an offensive rhythm. Young, injury-prone, US international Mallory Pugh joined Chicago in the offseason to recover and get her form back. Before Thursday’s match, Pugh’s name wasn’t on the injury report, causing excitement for Chicago supporters. Her name didn’t get called in the match against Portland, but missed opportunities throughout the 90 minutes show why it’s important that Pugh returns to full health.
Chicago ran the tempo for much of the match. They edged Portland in possession, but on the offensive end of the field; they sent pass after pass into the penalty area. The Red Stars had 12 completed passes into the 18-yard-box. Part of it was a lack of offensive finishing but Portland deserves some credit. Their defensive shape in the box stifled runs into the box. For all the moves made by Chicago, it resulted in just five shots on goal for the full 90 minutes.
Another question for Chicago was how they would adapt to bringing in a third-holding midfielder in Sarah Woldmoe. Woldmoe captained Sky Blue FC, playing every minute of the shortened 2020 season but Chicago already had a strong duo in Moe Gautrat and Danny Colaprico. Head Coach Rory Dames started all three Thursday, moving Gautrat to the No. 10 role and captain Vanessa DiBernardo to the right-wing.
The move worked. DiBernardo, Gautrat, and forward Kealia Watt are dangerous at getting passes into goal-scoring areas. Luckily for Chicago, the Challenge Cup is a preseason tournament. If they can find a way to convert their chances, they’ll cause defenses fits in the regular season.
Portland made the most of their limited opportunities on offense. In the 52nd minute, forward Tyler Lussi almost made an early goal of the year reel with a volley from ten yards outside of the penalty area. It went just over the head of keeper Cassie Miller. Just over 15 minutes later, in the 66th, midfielder Celeste Boureille sent a pass into forward Morgan Weaver, whose shot on goal bounced off the post and into the net. It was Portland’s only shot on goal all evening.
Their 1-0 victory puts them securely at the top of the West Division for the Challenge Cup. They are the only team to win both of their tournament matches in the NWSL.
Chicago Red Stars 0 Portland Thorns 1
OL Reign v. Houston Dash
Tacoma’s OL Reign hosted the Dash in their first match of the Challenge Cup. Their start to the tournament featured both good and bad news. On the good news front, England international goalkeeper Karen Bardsley arrived back from international duty in enough time to get the start. An injury to defender/midfielder Allie Long was the bad news.
Head Coach Farid Benstiti started Long, but during pre-match warmups, she pulled up with an injury. At the time of publishing, the extent of her injury is unknown. In her place, Benstiti started 21-year-old Brazilian youth international Angelina.
Houston, still without offensive weapons in Rachel Daly and Nichelle Prince, played similarly to last Friday’s 0-0 match against Chicago. Offensively, they shot three on target and none after the 46th minute. Forward Katie Stengel gave Houston their best chance to score their first goal of the tournament in the 31stminute. She won possession in midfield and proceeded to dribble through two tackles and past four Reign players before shooting one at Bardsley.
Their defense held strong though throughout. Strong tackling by defender Haley Hanson switched possession three times in Houston’s favor.
For OL Reign, Angelina may have gotten the start late, but was prepared and played well with the Reign midfield. Alongside her was attacking midfielder Sofia Huerta, who contributed with nine crosses and a shot on target.
Both sides look to benefit from international players returning after international friendlies in Europe earlier in the week.
OL Reign 0 Houston Dash 0
Tournament Standings
Now that all 10 NWSL teams have played a tournament match, here is how they look in the standings:
BWS XI
Upcoming Matches
The Challenge Cup is off until Tuesday. Four more matches are scheduled for April 20th and 21st:
Tuesday, April 20 – NJ/NY Gotham FC v. NC Courage – 6:00 pm ET
Tuesday, April 20 – Chicago Red Stars v. Kansas City NWSL – 8:30 pm ET
Wednesday, April 21 – Orlando Pride v. Washington Spirit – 7:00 pm ET
Wednesday, April 21 – Portland Thorns v. OL Reign – 10:00 pm ET
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