I'll add that its also Chesky in the middle...although I do think she has improved on controlling the match since 2017. And she has given some yellows in this match, but maybe could have started giving them out earlier.
88' 0-0 Frenetic burst at the end. Rodríguez spins ccw at arc top box left, swings a cross to 6-top right. Boureille almost arrives in time, but two defenders sweep it clear. Off that restart, Chicago cough it up just above own box top left, Ogle fires a cross through 4m right post, just too far for Lussi. +6'. 90' 0-0 Diagonal pass to Westphal overlapping unmarked through 10m box right to mid-right. Ground cross to Ogle at 9m 1/4 right, her shot deflects off Colaprico(?)'s heels, juuuust wide right low. Right ck to 2m left post, Miller catches in traffic. 90+2' (of +6') 0-0 McCaskill fk at 30m box right, sailed to 5m 1/3 left, Bixby catches high. 90+3' (of +6') 0-0 Smithers steps up to 25m 1/3 left, shoots left foot, Miller fingertips(?) it off crossbar 1/4 right, pops up high and bounces over.
A defensive duel that results in a match that was pretty offensive to watch. The redeeming factor for the last two matches is that the NWSL will now have something to market as a cure for insomnia. At the end defenses seemed to tire so there were a few chances that were flubbed in one way or another.
0-0 final. Although I think Portland should have won this, but couldn't convert numerous chances...which yeah, is a key thing to do in this sport. EDIT: I'll add that for Chicago, Dames should be happy with that experimental, young lineup who gained some valuable experience. And these games don't matter except for seeding in the knockouts, so I like seeing as many players as possible get minutes. The squad rotation is also good for resting others' legs as well.
As a Red Stars fan I don't mind the tie. I'm actually happy Rory played players that normally don't get time. It may pay off for him later in the tournament.
90+5' (of +6') 0-0 Everett spin-and-nutmegs H.Davidson at 10m right touch, crosses to 4m 3-right, Chicago heads clear, Portland called for a foul in the box. 90+7' (of +6') 0-0 Pogarch fk at 35m wide right, cleared above box. Portland work it around the large arc, lose it into near touch. Rushed right throw-in goes backward , Menges measures a long service ... but R1 says that's enough of that. FT 0-0. Both get a point. Portland 16(3)-(0)5 shots(sog), 8-0 shots blocked (huh?), 7-3 corners, 26-12 crosses vs. 12-25 clearances (only that 1 got through ), 0-1 offside, 10-10 fouls, 58% possession.
I just edited my post to say basically the same thing, so I totally agree. There's no better place for these players to get experience.
I predicted that this evening's game would be a higher scoring one (3-2 NCC). May it be so, soccer gods; may it be so.
I was trying to retrieve that particular nfo on the NWSL but it seems like it's nowhere to be seen. I was curious in particular about OL-Sky Blue: can you let me know, please?
I nailed the draw instead, although, once again, I had a 2-2 instead of a 0-0. Getting better for me, though.
For that game, it was Lauren Barnes: Keeping the defense 💪 through the full 9️⃣0️⃣.@OLReign's Lauren Barnes earns tonight's @budweiserusa Woman of the Match 🍻#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/Vyiu7gmfvy— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 1, 2020
The glare issue could be easily fixed by starting the games a half hour later. By minute 30, the entire field is in shade.
Well, yes, there's that. I was just talking about the existing set-up though. And a later start time will make an already late game even later for those on the east coast.
Lineups for tonight: [Starting XI] New faces in the lineup. #NoFinishLine pic.twitter.com/l6PVUNpVBc— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) July 2, 2020 The starting XI for our #NWSLChallengeCup match against @TheNCCourage brought to you by @koonsmotors.#WASvNC pic.twitter.com/Q7F9ljNVpt— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) July 2, 2020
I meant to point this out during the previous game, but got sidetracked by, well, the game. But, I just want to point out that for the NWSL, the comparison should be to Yahoo Sports/go 90 or YouTube. ESPN has aired very few NWSL matches. And in that, I think CBS has been an upgrade in multiple ways.
This game is already being played at a faster pace than the one this morning. I feel good about some goals being scored, at least.
[WAS-NC] 03' 0-0 North Carolina show their version of short-passing, with two consecutive taps-into-full-stride at high speed, racing from midfield to 25m arc right. Perfect diagonal pass pierces Washington's back line, but rolls a bit too fast for Meehan to intercept in mid-left, she veers touch-ward and chases it down. Backpass, Daniels (nee Hinkle) crosses, Washington clears. 03' 0-0 Lavelle collects at own arc top, Washington show off their version: Lavelle promptly sprints to circle center by herself Perfect diagonal pass up wide right for Hatch on Daniels. Sullivan shoots from ~arc top left, Labbé dives (her) right and double-blocks it away. 05' 0-0 Debinha shoots right instep bend from box left, off right 90, it bounces away.
09' 0-0 Lavelle spots Labbé at her 6-top, shoots low and fast from circle top, but it bends just wide right. 10' 0-0 North Carolina pass laterally across circle back. Labbé roams at her arc top for a better view daring her to do it again 12' 0-0 Kurtz knocks ball back to Labbé at arc top center. 12' 0-0 Erceg backpasses to Labbé at arc top left. 13' 0-0 Sullivan backpasses to Bledsoe at her own box top center. Anything you can do, we can do better
16' 0-0 Milliet (mill lay) gets trapped 1-v-2 at 10m right touch, fakes retreating, spins cw and -- her two defenders bump each other down?? Milliet emerges completely alone through 3m box right, strolls to mid-right, floats a cross to right post, Bledsoe catches face-high. Apparently, Milliet is Debinha's apprentice, and has learned to be ... shifty. 19' 0-0 Washington oddly do square passes in and out of their own box sides. NC accept the invitation and press them thereat. Danels steals at box top left! Rushed cross blocked away. 20' 0-0 Daniels shoots from 15m mid-left, blocked by Huster's torso, into near touch.
23' 0-0 Bailey crosses from wide left to near post for Feist, NC clears over endline left? 24' 0-0 Washington left ck, cleared. Lavelle dribbles against Williams' close pressure over 10m, Williams finally wins duel and rips ball away. Wow. 25' 0-0 Daniels kicks upfield, Feist blocks it point-blank, promptly nutmegs Daniels. Daniels promptly spins back to Feist and boxes her out, using arms behind her like wings to keep Feist centered The speed of thought in this game 26' 0-0 Williams dribbles unmarked centerward to 24m arc left, shoots right instep pull but pulls it a bit too much, it stays just wide left. That near-post pull shot against your momentum is a good idea, but it must be on-frame. 28' 0-0 Hatch does a tap-and-chase up right touch, sprints side-by-side with Daniels for 20m+. Daniels finally wins race by leaning self in front and sprawling into the way, forcing Hatch to pull up and complain. Ball into touch off Hatch. 30' 0-0 Huster collects at circle top, counters to about 30m left post, shoots strong right foot, but it swerves just wide left and dents an endboard. 30' 1H hydration break.