Top 5 Goals: World Cup Week 3 and NWSL Challenge Cup

All eyes have been on the World Cup over the last month, but we can’t forget about our domestic cup either. The NWSL Challenge Cup has also featured some exciting matches with plenty of great goals being scored. We’ve got a nice mix from both competitions this week. Let’s dive into the Top 5 Goals from the World Cup week three action and the NWSL Challenge Cup. 

5. Aitana Bonmati – Spain

Aitana Bonmatí finds her second of the match after some beautiful footwork in the area 😍🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/comtqquS1e

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 5, 2023

Spain is easy on the eye with their style of play. While they do possess the ball a lot, the ball still moves quickly, and everyone’s footwork is on par to match it. Aitana Bonmati has some of the best footwork you’ll see. Watch how she faked out the entire Swiss defense with a slight hesitation and quick Cruyff turn. By the time anyone else could react, the keeper was on the ground, and all Bonmati had to do was stroke the ball in the net with great composure as bodies were flying around everywhere. It’s a great skill that Bonmati makes appear as if it was nothing. 

4. Penelope Hocking – Chicago Red Stars

Lesson learned.

Don't give Penelope Hocking that much time & space. pic.twitter.com/clVyYj5l5s

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 6, 2023

Chicago’s season might not be going as planned, but the rebuild has led to the discovery of some great young talent. Penelope Hocking developed a reputation as one of the best goal scorers at the college level in recent memory, and she’s carried that to the pros.

Hocking exposed the Dash’s defense with a nice run into space, but her decisiveness is what’s impressive here. Many other players would’ve waited to try and get closer to the goal for an even better angle by taking a few more touches. Hocking was ready and fired the shot into the top corner instead.

This was an impressive finish from the rookie, who is poised to score goals for the Red Stars for a long time. 

3. Scarlett Camberos – Angel City

Buckle up because this goal was FIRE 🔥

Scarlett Camberos scores her first NWSL goal for #AngelCityFC pic.twitter.com/v3htHPguue

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 5, 2023

The signing of Scarlett Camberos might not have been talked about enough since Angel City brought her in. The team needed to find solid attacking players with Christen Press out, and Camberos was one of them.

Camberos found space on the wing and put her foot through it. While it may have been an intended cross, the goal is the far better result, and it’s sure to be a huge confidence boost for her and Angel City.

2. Mariana Speckmaier – Washington Spirit

The Washington Spirit hit a STUNNER to win it in stoppage time 😱

(via @NWSL)pic.twitter.com/4APFVGDejv

— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 5, 2023

Orlando and Washington were on the verge of a 0-0 draw, but a late counterattack at the end of the game would nix that. Mariana Speckmaier was signed as a replacement player for the World Cup, but this goal might be enough to keep her with the team. Speckmaier took the space she was given and let it rip from long range.

When the keeper doesn’t even take a courtesy dive at the ball, you know it was a clean strike. The ball nestled perfectly into the top corner leaving the Pride stunned.

1. Marta Cox – Panama

Marta Cox not only scored the Goal of the Day against France, but she scored THE BEST GOAL OF THE TOURNAMENT SO FAR! 💪 pic.twitter.com/wEZh9MvZ0v

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 2, 2023

This is the goal of the tournament, and it should definitely be a nominee for the FIFA Puskas Award at the end of the season for the best goal of the year. Marta Cox must be 40 to 45 yards out when taking this free kick. It’s far enough to where her entire team is waiting for a cross inside of the box, and 99 times out of 100, it would be a ball into the box.

Yet, Marta Cox had the confidence and audacity to hit it from this far out. From 40+ yards out to the top corner, there’s not a keeper in the world that saves it. Panama might not have advanced to the knockout round, but they have the kind of goal at a World Cup that should inspire a generation.  

_

GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS