Early start on a Friday afternoon this week! (in 1 hr) Injuries, we've had a few: http://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/injuries NNWSLR: The FIFA MWC-20 kicks off tonight, at 01:00 EDT.
Allie Long not starting for Portland? What's with that? Never mind. I see she has a hamstring....Questionable. Boston could win this game. Portland is decimated by injuries.
Well, first impression is that the video is like a Van Gogh painting....Very artistic. A little too much glare, but much better than previous videos in Boston. Good show!
Man, if Leon had just been two steps back, that could've been an easy header goal... BOS doing well early here!
oooof, hard hit in the box between Franch and Leon, Leon down for a while. Neither player in the wrong, looks like nothing largely hurt, just a really hard hit.
wooooboy, Nadiam forcing Smith to massively jump and stretch for that save! That's a #SOW contender right there
Lavelle -> Leon -> Dowie -> net! BOS draw first blood. But it's been a nicely-paced, fairly open game so far; I'm expecting more goals.
[BOS-POR] 38' 1-0 Portland right throw-in in own 1/3, promptly pressured by Leon and poked centrally to Lavelle at arc top mid-left. Lavelle quickly chips short inside-out over box left into deep mid-left for Leon to chase to endline. Leon turns back, crosses quickly to 6-top right post. Dowie boxes out Menges, jumps in front of her and nods a soft header down into back right low, with Franch stuck guarding the entire goalmouth. The ball hums like a dragonfly around Lavelle!
Second minute of stoppage and the ball dangerous in POR's box as three or four different BOS players have a chance at it...
I see lots of good passing and very much above average first touches in the game. It is pretty enjoyable to watch. Dowie is a piranha fish around goal.
This is the most important game for the Boston Breakers of the NWSL era (up to date). And probably more important than any regular season game they ever played in WPS (2009-2011). Nice crowd, playing the most popular team of the league on their home field, and after suffering three straight horrible seasons (and never making the playoffs in their first 4 seasons in this league) this is a HUGE game for them. The Breakers are currently 2-2-1 this year. They were 2-1 after their first 3 games, but suffered a loss and a heart-breaking draw in their last two games. At 2-2-1 (7 points in their first 5 games), this is a "pivotal" game for them this season. Yes, there are 24 games. But this game is going to go a long way on tipping the pendulum on which direction they are going to move in from here. Are they going to to get back in the winning column, or are they going to suffer a 3rd straight game in which they don't get a victory?
48' 2-0 King right throw-in at circle top, heaved down wide right to Dowie chasing to endline, and off the right edge of the screen. Backpass, King pings it forward to Leon, one-touch backheel diagonally toward right corner flag, Dowie spins to chase it again. Dowie re-emerges on-screen, drag-and-spin separates from Klingenberg, spin-ccw back toward endline, drives a cross to 6m right post. R.White front-cuts hapless Menges again, leaps and nods a header into back right 1/2 high. King arrives late to the standing dogpile and gets the highest jump-upon -- it's kind of nice to see her have a team with some firepower for once.
I don't care how legit every PK call POR gets is, (this one certainly was legit, though no fault on Oyster's part, Horan basically kicked the ball right into her arm,) but this many PKs really puts a huge asterisk on the team.
I don't get excited for individual players and it's been years since I've been personally more invested in a USWNT individual player versus the team as a whole but Lavelle will make me change that. It's a joy to watch what she can do with the ball. Her lithe frame and playing style reminds me of Angel Di Maria. As a Reign fan I can't help but notice the parallels between this Portland team and the 2016 Reign. Basically what I see is a team with a LOT of returning aging players that struggles to score and is missing that spark. There's also the nagging injuries to main players that keep them out for 3-6 games at a time. Most people will say it's too early to make a call but people said that about Seattle last year as well. And this year all the team are a LOT more competitive. Boston, Orlandom SBFC, nor Houston are easy wins. Who knows what impact Pugh will have in Washington but they too should be competitive. Chicago is yet to show up for the season and FCKC is ALWAYS a tough match up no matter if they haven't scored a goal since 2013. One minute you think the season is still early and the next you are fighting for a playoff spot.
Welp, forearm protruding, and it affected the flight of the ball. Oyster's reflex was not the right shape: the arm should go lengthwise flat against the ribs (palm facing forward, as in a triptych ), not raising the hand to the level of the eyes.