In what was the final NWSL weekend for many before the World Cup, the stars were out to shine as Sophia Smith dominated the headlines.
NWSL news: Sophia Smith propels Thorns to win over Washington in sensational match
You cannot stop Sophia Smith. You can only hope to contain her. Just ask Mark Parson's Washington Spirit.
In the lone NWSL match on Friday, Mike Norris used a world-class display in the final third from the defending NWSL MVP to win the battle of the top two teams in the table 4-2. The Washington D.C. side equalized the match twice, but the quality of the players up front for Portland ended up to me too much to handle. The Thorns were far too efficient in front of the goal, putting up a 35 percent shots-on-target percentage compared to Washington's which was lower than 25 percent.
It is the fourth time in the last five games in which Smith has had six or more shots. Her nine progressive carries caused all sorts of issues for a Spirit backline that has now conceded two or more goals in three successive fixtures across all competitions. Every time Smith found the back of the net in front of her home fans it was nothing short of incredible. With three goals at Providence Park, the Colorado native now has six more goal contributions than any other player in the league.
Three defenders were behind the ball when she received a pass just a few yards from the halfway line in the 11′. She had so much ground to cover, but it didn't matter. Her speed, and willingness to shoot early opened up the scoring for the Thorns. A player with her quality does not have a weaker foot as she struck the ball with her left boot with so much power that not even Audrey Kingsbury stood a chance. Smith continues her streak of goals to four regular season games, becoming just the third player in the history of the league with multiple streaks of four-plus games with a goal.
It was top-class goal after top-class goal on Friday night under the lights. Just days after not getting called into the World Cup squad, Ashley Hatch netted her side's first goal of the contest. Ashley Sanchez evened the score at two apiece just a minute after halftime through a creative spectacular right-footed strike out of the reach of the goalkeeper. Washington is still tied on points with the North Carolina Courage, and OL Reign, but are behind both of them in the table due to goal differential.
In four out of the last seven matches, Norris' side collected three or more goals. Defensively, they have given up the most goals of any team in the top eight. That does not matter when you have players like Smith, Sam Coffey, and Crystal Dunn just to name a few.
NWSL news: NJ/NY Gotham FC secure first triumph after going winless in previous four
There are almost two guarantees whenever NJ/NY Gotham FC play at Red Bull Arena. A Lynn Williams goal, and a lightning delay. Both happened against the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday evening. Juan Carlos Amoros' team has struggled recently in the league after making a statement against OL Reign at Lumen Field.
Gotham had failed to find the back of the net in two out of the three fixtures across all competitions heading into week 13. It was essential that Amoros' team took care of business in the last match before players like Williams, and Kristie Mewis head off to the World Cup.
For the second time so far this season, the New Jersey side defeated the reeling Red Stars by a score of 2 to 1. Chicago challenged a talented squad on the road in the first 45 minutes, creating a few chances while maintaining some possession.
If it was not for Abby Smith coming off of her line in the 4′, the Red Stars would have headed into the dressing room up a goal. Considering the fact that they conceded 12 goals in the last three games combined, Chris Petrucelli's team had to have been confident after the first half. All that changed almost immediately when the whistle blew for the start of the second half.
Just one minute after halftime, the USWMT winger showed why she was picked among the forwards to represent the stars and stripes this summer. From a throw-in, the entire Red Stars defense played spectator as they watched Williams control the ball in the box, and volley it with her left foot and into the back of the net. Off of a turnover by Nealy Martin, Chicago capitalized to even the score line just minutes after play resumed following the lightning delay. A brilliant cross into the danger area by Sarah Griffith set Cari Roccaro up to smash the equalizer into the back of the net.
Allie Long's perfectly placed free kick would be the difference maker for Gotham as Griffith created the opportunity just outside the box. It was exactly two years to the day that Long scored an NWSL goal against the same opponent in the same competition. The veteran midfielder delivered when her side needed her to deliver, continuing her run of only scoring goals against Chicago while in a Gotham kit. The New Jersey side now sit on 21 points in fifth position, two points behind Washington, OL Reign, and North Carolina. For the Red Stars, only gets worse heading into July with two matches before the break against top-seven teams.
NWSL news: Laura Harvey's use dominant defensive display, and two Bethany Balcer goals to take 2-1 win
For the road team, the first half was something else. OL Reign walked into a packed Snapdragon Stadium and completely stymied the San Diego Wave's attack. Casey Stoney's team has no shots on goal in the first 45 minutes and fell victim to a Bethany Balcer header within the first eight minutes. It was not an offensive masterclass in the first half by either side, but when challenged, the Wave could not pass the test.
The urgency from San Diego was lacking as Balcer powered her way through the middle of the backline to find the back of the net. Stoney's team did not wait around to respond, using the link-up for Alex Morgan and Jaedyn Shaw to knot the match at one all. It it was not for Sofia Huerta's cross, and another header by Balcer, the Reign would be regretting not adding an extra goal in the first 45 minutes.
For the second time, San Diego was punished for its poor defense. Three out of Balcer's seven goals in the 2022 regular season were by way of a header. In fact, no player headed goals in the league since 2021 than the Reign striker. The center-backs have to be aware of where No. 8 in white it at all times when Harvey's side are in the final third of the pitch. It is the Michigan native's fifth goal across all competitions this season and two multi-goal matches. With many of her teammates going off to Australia and New Zealand, Balcer is going to have the opportunity to continue this form. Her instincts with the ball in the air helped her side rebound from a disappointing display on the road in the heat of Houston, Texas.
The defending NWSL Shield winners have now won three out of their last five in the league. Just two points separate them and their rivals, Portland at the top of the table. Stoney's team slides down to sixth position, and are winless in their last three following its second straight home defeat. A visit to the last-place Red Stars is a positive sight for San Diego. Even with that, just one shot on target, and defensive lapses like on Saturday night are not going to get the job done against any team in this league.
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