Houston and North Carolina have byes this week; Sky Blue plays twice. [#9.NJ-CHI.#2] Rodríguez for Doyle James. Locked in for the night 🔒 #NJvCHI pic.twitter.com/uftZno6Gsn— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) August 14, 2019 K.Johnson for Davidson (and Wright => LB); Brian for Colaprico. Business Trip in The Garden State.Starting XI for #MKOT, presented by @MagellanCorp. pic.twitter.com/BK1ej44HRI— Chicago Red Stars (@chicagoredstars) August 14, 2019 Sky Blue: Q (=) Kawasumi Lewandowski Richardson / OUT (=) Freeman Tiernan / BACK (CRC) Rodríguez Chicago: Q (=, starting) Brian (=, not) Colaprico Davidson / OUT (=) Jahansouz Mautz Vasconcelos Brian earns her 50th NWSL cap! 𝟱𝟬 for @moeebrian.The 2-time @FIFAWWC Champion is appearing in her 50th @NWSL match tonight.#MKOT pic.twitter.com/EHTyNGkSY7— Chicago Red Stars (@chicagoredstars) August 14, 2019
07' 0-0 Brian dribbles to circle back, passes to Ertz facing away at circle top 10:30 position -- and Kerr promptly starts her back-cut sprint through 1:00 position past E.Johnson momentarily ball-watching. Ertz one-touch crossbody through-ball bounces past Dorsey on the inside at 38m right post, Kerr overtakes her on the outside and collects through 27m arc right, maintains 1/2-step lead to 8m 4-right, slides down and shoots right instep across mouth, Sheridan dives and saves. Ball trickles out to 6-top 1/5 right, Sheridan swims to it. 7’ | Big Save Sheridan 🚫0-0 | #NJvCHI pic.twitter.com/2D3d5TbG93— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) August 14, 2019 21' 0-0 Lloyd fires a perfect through-ball from circle top through arc right, dying perfectly into Hoy's stride, to 10m mid-right -- alas, Gorden makes a perfect recovery run and boxes Hoy out, then slide-blocks her shot. 21’ | So close! 0-0 | #NJvCHI pic.twitter.com/n0s2CU16XE— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) August 14, 2019 33' 0-0 Dydasco square pass left misses Eddy(?) -- with Ertz covering. Brian(?) one-touch pass to Kerr running at the Skroski/E.Johnson seam -- shifted way over to mid-left because Dydasco is up. Kerr traps at 25m mid-left, Ertz follows past Eddy to arc center. Kerr taps square right to arc tangent right, Ertz slides and shoots right roundhouse rising to 1/5 left high, Sheridan flies across and pushes it over. WORLD CLASS from @Kailen_Sheridan! July's TOTM 'keeper is 🔒 in tonight.0-0 | #NJvCHI pic.twitter.com/E4gulEiHfD— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 14, 2019 HT 0-0.
40' 0-0 Sky Blue subs in (1 of 3) #14 Kenie Wright for #28 Imani Dorsey. 56' 0-0 Yellow card on Kenie Wright, for a foul on Wright. 62' 0-0 Yellow card on Yuki Nagasato, for a foul on Lloyd. 64' 0-0 Yellow card on Kathleen Naughton, for a foul on Lloyd. 66' 0-0 Chicago subs in: - (1 of 3) #15 María Guadalupe Sánchez Morales for #33 Katlyn Johnson - (2 of 3) #9 Savannah McCaskill for #13 Morgan Brian. 71' 1-0 Lloyd does a stutter-and-go to elude DiBernardo at midfield left touch, dribbles into a seam at 35m mid-left, pokes a pass down box left for Monaghan slipping in behind Short caught high, held onside by Gorden at arc top left. Monaghan fake-stops at 7m box left to mess up Gorden's feet, cuts to 4m mid-left to make Gorden jump again, cuts back to 6m as Gorden jumps past. Ball sits in a tiny gap between Gorden, Naughton, and Short all closing on it, Monaghan shoots right instep across mouth over Naeher's left hand, into back right high. Monaghan's 1st NWSL goal now only 70 behind Kerr GOAL! That's quite the way to score your first #NWSL ⚽️, @paigeqmonaghan. 🎯1-0 | #NJvCHI pic.twitter.com/hHcLythDtn— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 15, 2019 78' 1-0 Chicago subs in (3 of 3) #24 Danielle Colaprico for #10 Vanessa DiBernardo. That's 100 for Colaprico! It's a night to remember. @dannycolaprico will make her 100th @NWSL appearance in her hometown while representing Chicago.#MKOT | #100Club pic.twitter.com/8ROwodZde2— Chicago Red Stars (@chicagoredstars) August 15, 2019
88' 1-0 Sky Blue subs in (2 of 3) #5 Julie James Doyle for #11 Raquel Rodríguez. +4'. 90+1' (of +4') 1-1 Naeher fk at circle top(!) box right, driven to 7m 7-left. Ertz backpedals facing ball, heads back to 12m left post. Sánchez heads a bloop to 4m 1/4 left, Nagasato backs up and jumps with Skroski, E.Johnson, and Sheridan coming out -- leaving Kerr wide-open at 6-top right post. Nagasato heads sideways to 5m 2-right, Kerr shoots one-touch low right roundhouse downward across mouth, into back left low. Oh, snap, Monaghan trails by 71 again -- Drama in the Garden State! Who else but @SamKerr1?1-1 | #NJvCHI pic.twitter.com/2yXvR7ARc0— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 15, 2019 90+3' (of +4') 2-1 Lloyd runs a cw curl away from Nagasato to circle center, dinks a forward pass to James Doyle in circle front. Doyle clangs ball past circle top, Ertz slides for it -- and watching this unfold momentarily freezes Short in no-human's land. Doyle wins race vs. Ertz, pokes left outstep pass through 25m arc left, Monaghan veers past Naughton on the outside, in behind Short. Naeher is inexplicably caught out at 10m left post, backpedals to 8m as Monaghan follows ball to 17m mid-left, stands her ground thereat. Monaghan shoots one-touch left instep over Naughton's foot, fast-lobs Naeher diving back to 6-top, perfectly into center back 1/2-high. 70 .@paigeqmonaghan AGAIN for @SkyBlueFC! That's 2️⃣ for the rookie!2-1 | #NJvCHI pic.twitter.com/lkebdkq5U5— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 15, 2019 FT 2-1. Bizarrely, Sky Blue have 6 points from Chicago this year. Just stop Kerr, or outscore her
On that note: Aaanddd...seen on crutches post game: Sam Kerr #NWSL— Dan Lauletta (@TheDanLauletta) August 15, 2019
Quite a game there for Sky Blue vs Chicago. SB has played hard -- even last year when it was an exercise in futility. I became aware of Paige Monaghan during the first game or two of the season when she was a spark plug off the bench-- and playing at left back if I recall correctly. So, now she scores two quality goals -- one with either foot -- and wins a game for a team that always finds a way to lose. That's a storybook ending. It warms my cold, cold heart (thanks, Hank Williams).
[#9.ORL-UTA.#5] Hill for Marta (red, 1 of 2); Ednonds for Pickett; Greening for King (red). The Pride XI battling Utah tonight. 📺 https://t.co/9xpcqumLvR#ORLvUTA | #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/pXR6t4VHYO— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) August 17, 2019 Identical. Let’s go to work, ladies 💪 pic.twitter.com/3ESNmH0j2O— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) August 17, 2019 Orlando: OK (<= Q) Kennedy Morgan / Q none / OUT (OK =>) van Egmond / RED King Marta / 45D (=) Pressley / MAT (=) Leroux Utah: Q none / OUT (Q =>) Laddish (=) Moros O'Hara / SEI (=) Lytle Ratcliffe
16' 0-0 Press does her dump-and-chase speed move past Krieger, to 6m 7-left, shoots left instep across mouth. Harris isn't fooled and blocks down to 6-top left post, falls on the rebound. Krieger did her job (sort of), by channeling Press into a tight-angle shot. 🏎 @ChristenPress kicks it into high gear, but @Ashlyn_Harris is up to the task 🛑0-0 | #ORLvUTA pic.twitter.com/AJXD3iK4Rm— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 17, 2019 20' 0-0 Press does another dump-and-chase to get past Greening, alone to 8m mid-left. Cross drops to 7m 2-right, Stengel steps back to ball and volleys left foot low, over bar. More ♨️ from @ChristenPress! @ksteng12's shot sails just over for 👑0-0 | #ORLvUTA pic.twitter.com/RN9XHjcCR0— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 18, 2019
29' 0-0 LaBonta switches from behind midfield mid-right to Press at circle top mid-left -- and Rodriguez starts her front-cut sprint past Krieger through 38m circle left. Press one-touch right instep half-volley to box top arc left over Rodriguez's shoulder, it bounces perfectly in her stride. Rodriguez collects at 17m 6-left, keeps body in front of Krieger sprawling down behind her, rides off a two-handed shove in the back, alone to 8m 3-left. Harris comes out past 6-top, Rodriguez chips left foot over Harris's right foot, off left post 2/3 high, ball bounces through spot to arc center. Stengel collects and goes to box top 1/4 left, tries left instep pull but doesn't pull enough, floats it to 1/3 left and Harris catches. ⚡️ quick from A-Rod to get free, and her shot is off the post! 😯0-0 | #ORLvUTA pic.twitter.com/qZiZHGmjws— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 18, 2019 35' 0-0 Kennedy longball from own 30m mid-right over circle top left for Ubogagu two steps ahead of Scott + Sauerbrunn caught high. Ubogagu touches at 25m mid-left, pump-fakes at 11m 6-left, goes to 7m 6-left, shoots left foot across mouth low. Barnhart slides out through 4m 4-left, blocks ball gently off Ubogagu's head and over endline left. ❌ @nbarnhart with a BIG stop of Ubogagu on the counter to keep this one scoreless! ❌0-0 | #ORLvUTA pic.twitter.com/51IOu50HTK— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 18, 2019
HT 0-0. Orlando 4(1)-(5)8 shots(sog), 2-3 corners, 6-6 crosses, 1-1 offside, 48% possession. Utah are able to attack quickly, as Press can receive deep and dribble, or pass into Rodriguez's runs. Orlando don't have enough speed in the back to play a high line and cover both of them.
60' 0-1 Both teams trade numerous just-in-time interceptions. Finally Stengel receives at 30m mid-left, passes square right to LaBonta moving into a seam at 24m center. LaBonta chips over Orlando's high line to 8m 1/4 left, Press gets behind Krieger and volleys right instep across mouth. Harris dives left and gets her left hand under it, ball deflects up into roof 1/4 right. Orlando is losing it in midfield .@ChristenPress is on 🔥 this month! She's opened the scoring for @UtahRoyalsFC 👑0-1 | #ORLvUTA pic.twitter.com/YHQIz2Bs2f— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 18, 2019 65' 0-1 Emslie harasses Sauerbrunn facing own goal at 25m mid-left, Sauerbrunn volleys a backpass -- but it goes high and drops at 12m mid-left. Emslie chases looking upward, Barnhart comes out and swings right roundhouse to clear, neither see each other, Emslie runs through Barnhart's leg / gets kneed in the gut. Both go down. Foul on ... Emslie, for running into Barnhart Yeah. All ball. 🙄#ORLvUTA pic.twitter.com/hWo0mpSaWv— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) August 18, 2019 67' 0-1 Utah subs in (1 of 3) #66 Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir for #24 Katie Stengel. 68' 0-1 Orlando subs in (1 of 3) #13 Alex Morgan for #6 Chioma Ubogagu. 72' 0-1 Orlando subs in (2 of 3) #17 Dani Weatherholt for #25 Joanna Boyles.
77' 0-2 Vero slows up through circle top mid-right, drifts toward 33m center -- then threads a perfect pass through arc top right for Rodriguez back-cutting Zadorsky frozen and not even turning to chase. Rodriguez leads Edmonds to 13m arc right, chips right instep rising across mouth. Harris swings right glove upward and deflects ball into a higher arc but doesn't push it off line, it drops perfectly into back left low. That's one off each glove for Harris GOAL! @AmyRodriguez8 grabs her 8️⃣th of the year for 👑!0-2 | #ORLvUTA pic.twitter.com/CUXZjoXR8S— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 18, 2019 80' 0-2 Viggiano crosses from 6m wide left to 6-top 1/3 left, ball grazes Kennedy's head and continues to 5m mid-right. Emslie slides and volleys, shanks it over straight over endline right. 81' 0-2 Orlando subs in (3 of 3) #20 Abby Elinsky for #23 Marisa Viggiano. 87' 0-2 Utah subs in (2 of 3) #13 Makenzy Doniak for #23 Christen Press.
90+1' (of +4') 0-2 Vero lags a pass inside-out from circle top mid-right down box right, Scott runs on behind Orlando's high line, to box top mid-right. Square pass left to Rodriguez unmarked at 16m center, box top mid-left, Rodriguez touches to 10m left post, shoots across mouth, Harris blocks down to 7m, Krieger pokes it away. A-Rod searching for her second of the game, but @Ashlyn_Harris won't have it. 🛑0-2 | #ORLvUTA pic.twitter.com/ecompjy8pv— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 18, 2019 90+2' (of +4') 0-2 Utah subs in (3 of 3) #15 Erika Tymrak for #8 Amy Rodriguez. FT 0-2. Orlando 12(1)-(9)15 shots(sog), 4-6 corners, 17-11 crosses, 1-2 offsides, 6-3 fouls, 45% possession. Utah have quietly developed into a deadly midfield full of bulldogs (Scott, LaBonta, Jónsdóttir) and passers (Vero, LaBonta), speed up top (Press, Rodriguez), and a decent backline. I think Orlando never had control in midfield, and so Utah's attacks had more quality, with time to pick out killer passes, and open runners to pass to. Orlando's were more of the hoof-a-cross variety, and Utah's backline won all the headers.
[#1.POR-WAS.#7] Carpenter for Ball; Klingenberg for Reynolds; Raso for Charley; Purce for Foord. Our starting XI for tonight. #BAONPDX #PORvWAS pic.twitter.com/MylhDJ9dWf— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) August 18, 2019 Thomas for Matthews; P.Nielsen for Harrison (and Sullivan => RM); Huster for Bailey. The XI for our match against the Thorns.#PORvWAS // #CatchTheSpirit pic.twitter.com/RBNL4b3VrP— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) August 18, 2019 Portland: OK (<= Q) Carpenter / Q (OK =>, starting) Franch / OUT (OK =>) Andressinha Boureille Seiler (=) Pogarch Salem Washington: OK (<= OUT) Logarzo P.Nielsen) / Q (OK =>) Feist Matthews / OUT (=) McGrady Pugh / MAT (=) Eubanks
05' 1-0 Menges passes forward to Purce facing away at circle left -- and Sinclair jogs a slow post route through circle top left, already 2 steps ahead of P.Nielsen and approaching Staab holding her onside. Purce backpass, scripted play: Menges one-touch longball up wide left, Sinclair uncloaks and cruises past Staab, leads 3 defenders to 4m wide left. Portland's canonical swimlanes attack: Brynjarsdóttir trails through arc top, Raso trails unmarked through box top mid-right -- as LB Kellond-Knight is left-shifted into right post lane. Sinclair bends a cross outswinging through 6m 1/4 left, Staab outjumps Brynjarsdóttir for a header. Both miss, ball continues across and ricochets off Kellond-Knight not expecting that, rolls out to 15m arc right. Raso veers back to ball, shoots one-touch left instep bend, around Kellond-Knight stepping up on her back and partially screening Bledsoe -- and perfectly into back left edge 1/4 high. Portland have the legs to launch 3-4 parallel runs on these speed attacks, and now they're at the level of trick-play-scripting the pass before the pass, finding ways to inject a mobile pivot behind a high back line. How do you let Sinclair beat your backline for pace? Well, she jogs like there's no threat in it, and -- trick play, pow! That finish from @HayleyRaso 👌. #BAONPDX #PORvWAS pic.twitter.com/j3dNIugqTW— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) August 18, 2019 18' 1-0 Heath accelerates past Sullivan through midfield mid-left, Sullivan falls and cartwheels(!), Heath roams to 35m center. Perfect diagonal pass onto Raso's foot through box top mid-right (again outflanking Kellond-Knight playing way inside in 6-right lane), Raso touches to 7m 7-right, shoots right instep rising to right 90, Bledsoe stretches left hand and slaps it wide right. 18' - Another incredible save courtesy of Aubrey Bledsoe!#PORvWAS // #CatchTheSpirit pic.twitter.com/MyBLA5XZN3— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) August 18, 2019
19' 2-0 After that save, Heath right ck, tight inswing to 2m 3-right chest-high. Sonnett cuts from 6-top, hop-volleys right instep high, down past Kellond-Knight to Bledsoe's feet at 1/4 right low, bounces in. 🗣️Two! 🗣️Goals! 🗣️Beyond! #BAONPDX #PORvWAS pic.twitter.com/Wm78k2WoXh— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) August 18, 2019 That lil flick 😏 @emilysonnett. #BAONPDX #PORvWAS pic.twitter.com/H6wbCgPYuA— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) August 18, 2019 HT 2-0. 20,895! Tonight's attendance is 20,895. Thank you Rose City. #BAONPDX #PORvWAS pic.twitter.com/XrWfCUuMOA— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) August 18, 2019
58' 2-0 Kellond-Knight fouls Raso down at ~30m arc left. Yellow card on Kellond-Knight. 61' 2-0 Portland subs in (1 of 3) #2 Katherine Reynolds for #15 Ellie Carpenter. 63' 3-0 Heath right ck, inswings to 4m center. Horan leans into P.Nielsen's back, reads the flight better and veers left to ball, jumps and sideheads off the right side of Sullivan's head. Ball bounces out to Sinclair unmarked at 8m 1/4 right, she chest-traps and lets ball bounce. Right instep drop-kick rises gently over traffic, into back right edge 4/5 high. Bad luck that the ball bounced directly to Sinclair -- but maybe stop Horan in the first place, and win that first header cleanly. Doing what she does best. @sincy12 adds another ⚽️🥅 for @ThornsFC.3-0 | #PORvWAS pic.twitter.com/bTIrppUGix— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 18, 2019 ~~ 3-0 Washington subs in: 63' (1 of 3) #6 Chloe Logarzo for #9 Meggie Dougherty Howard 64' (2 of 3) #19 Dorian Bailey for #28 Elise Kellond-Knight.
68' 3-1 Lavelle chases ball leftward along box top, collects at wide left and turns at 14m left touch. Backpass to Sullivan at 25m mid-left, Horan defends her but cedes about 5m of cushion. Sullivan backs Horan down, cuts inside to arc top 6-left, shoots right instep across mouth over Franch's dive, golaaaaaaaaaaaazo into right 90 My goodness, @sunshine_sully! 😱3-1 | #PORvWAS pic.twitter.com/7UChhHVkA5— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 18, 2019 71' 3-1 Portland subs in (2 of 3) #9 Caitlin Foord for #23 Margaret Purce. 83' 3-1 Portland subs in (3 of 3) #27 Elizabeth Ball for #11 Dagný Brynjarsdóttir. FT 3-1.
Lol, why "King" and not "Queen"? Looks like Washington criminally underrated Sinclair in this game? On a different note, is it just my impression that Brynjarsdóttir coming back from maternity leave was quite huge reinforcements for Portland this season? I know it can sound like a strange thing to say about a player who already had a long and successful career as Christen Press had, but in these last post-WWC games I've got the feeling that she's playing more smoothly and relaxed, as if the performance of the NT and especially her personal one in France had "unlocked" something or had somehow put a weight off her shoulders...
[#8.NJ-REI.#4] Rodríguez for James Doyle; K.Wright for Dorsey. Let’s do this ⚽️ #SBFC #NJvRFC pic.twitter.com/B2O50Kef32— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) August 18, 2019 Yanez for Quinn; Theresa for Jiménez Delgado. Our starting XI at @SkyBlueFC. Watch on ESPNews.#SKYvRFC #BeBold #ShePlaysHere pic.twitter.com/WEWLqFv1oz— Seattle Reign FC (@reignfc) August 18, 2019 Sky Blue: Q (=) Kawasumi Lewandowski Richardson / OUT (=) Freeman Tiernan Reign FC: Q none / OUT (=) Cox McNabb Rapinoe Utsugi / 45D (=) Ld.Williams / SEI (=) Betos Fishlock J.Johnson T.Smith Spencer Watson
Killion reaches 100 caps! Congrats @skillion16 on 💯! #SBFC pic.twitter.com/ypMiqhAvzg— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) August 18, 2019 03' 0-0 Theresa longball from circle back wide right bounces perfectly into J.Taylor's stride, 1/2 step ahead of E.Johnson through box top mid-right. J.Taylor touches to 8m mid-right, shoots right instep bend , outswings wide left low. This fan is between the 1st trombone and the drummer 1163136399970881537 is not a valid tweet id