In the final NWSL match week until mid-August, Racing jumped to seventh, San Diego shocked the Spirit, and Gotham FC kept Portland's struggles going.
NWSL news: Katie Stengel fires home decider as NJ/NY Gotham FC beat the Thorns at home to tie them on points
For the first time since the end of August 2022, the mighty Portland Thorns have dropped consecutive regular season matches. With the assistance of a dynamic Margaret Purce once again, and rookie Jenna Nighswonger on the left flank, Gotham FC are now even on points with Portland going into the international break.
Due to the defeat that North Carolina suffered at BMO Stadium on Sunday evening, the Thorns needed just a point to return to the top of the table.
The former Thorns shot stopper herself Abby Smith came up with four brilliant saves to deny the most potent attack in the league numerous quality chances. The best of them all came in the 51st minute when Morgan Weaver played a perfectly weighted ball into the middle of the box for Meghan Klingenberg. In what looked at first glance to be the equalizer, Klingenberg was denied by Smith who came off her line to deflect the ball away with her left boot.
While Smith has pitched just four clean sheets in the league, her ability to come up with the big time save was been something special. Last year, she sat on the bench competing in just one league match for the Oregon side. Now, the 29-year-old is piling up consistent player-of-the-week-type performances.
In her first match since signing on loan on July 5, the Liverpool attacker Katie Stengel converted the goal that would ultimately decide the contest. It was Stengel's first NWSL goal since 2019 when she donned a Utah Royals kit.
The proactive Juan Carlos Amorós knew his team needed a spark up top without Lynn Williams for an extended period of time. The weeks that these international stars are not here could very well make a difference.
Gotham did not want to be the club that continued to sink down the table. Securing a player that had nine goals in the 2022-2023 Women's Super League demonstrates the ambition this side has to put themselves in the best position possible late in the campaign to make a run.
NWSL news: Taylor Kornieck equalizes at the death for San Diego at home to put an end to the club's three-game league losing streak
Without question, this match topped the weekend slate of fixtures when it came to excitement. Each side was desperate for a result. Casey Stoney's San Diego Wave had not earned a single point from a league match since June 9 against Racing Louisville. After its second-half comeback against the Kansas City Current, the Washington Spirit were outscored 7-2 in the club's previous two contests before traveling to Snapdragon Stadium.
Ashley Hatch's hustle to not give up on the ball began the match. The American earned the penalty, and then stepped up to slot it into the top-right corner past Shae Yanez. Hatch, who was on the edge of making it to the World Cup with the USWNT, has now converted three goals in her last five games.
San Diego would nearly respond by way of a Taylor Kornieck header just before the halftime whistle. Within the first nine minutes following the intermission, Cheyenne Shorts scored two goals, one for her team, and another for Washington. The Spirit looked as if they were going to ride that bit of luck from an own goal to taking all three points. That was not the case.
When Korineck is on the pitch, the Wave have the opportunity to score on a set piece. At 6-foot-1, the United States international has a head start against anyone in the air. Kelsey Turnbow executed a pinpoint cross into the middle of the opposition's box. Without much resistance, Kornieck accurately placed her header past the outstretched arms of Nicole Barnhart between the posts.
There is no telling how massive of a goal that was for the Wave. While it was not a win, it sure feels like it given the circumstances.
NWSL news: Racing Louisville use Paige Monaghan's stunner to beat Kansas City at home and move into seventh position
Just two points separate Kim Björkegren's Racing Louisville and a playoff spot. In front of their home fans, Racing enjoyed 26 shots compared to the Current's six. Adrianna Franch, who was back in goal for Kansas City for the first time since May 14 was asked to come up with save after save. More often than not, she did, but when Paige Monaghan swung her right boot around just after halftime, she stood no chance.
It was almost as if the soccer gods were trying to reward the former Gotham FC attacker who unselfishly laid the ball off for Kayla Fischer and Kirsten Davis in the final minutes of the first half. The former Louisville defender Addisyn Merrick knew she made to respect Monaghan's speed, but she ended up giving too much space up in front of her. That strike was not only her second goal in as many matches, it put to bed Racing's two-game winless streak in the league.
The only time the Current have beaten an opponent's keeper in the last two contests was by way of a penalty. The last goal from live action came against the Orlando Pride when Cece Kizer scored in first-half stoppage time.
Racing's defense wanted to rewrite their wrongs from last week. Giving up a two-goal lead with under 10 minutes to play is a tough pill to swallow. Katie Lund did not have to do much between the sticks because Louisville controlled the tempo of the game in the middle of the par. Twenty-two tackles for the home side compared to just nine for KC. Racing was constantly distributing play which kept the Current at bay from the 10th minute on.
