Top 5 Goals: NWSL Regular Season Week 14, WICC, and The Women’s Cup

Women’s soccer action hit a fever pitch over the last week, with numerous exciting competitions involving teams from around the world. The NWSL, WICC, and the brand new Women’s Cup all had incredible games with outstanding goals. There were so many stunners to choose from, but only the best five could make the list. So let’s take a look at the best women’s soccer goals from the NWSL, WICC, and The Women’s Cup. 

5. Alexia Putellas – FC Barcelona 

.@alexiaputellas strikes @FCBfemeni into the lead late in the game! ? pic.twitter.com/I0oDWAKJlu

— Women's International Champions Cup (@iccwomen) August 22, 2021

Alexia Putellas stole the show for FC Barcelona in their match against the Houston Dash. It was for third place in the WICC, and with the match tied, Putellas scored a beautiful goal. Putellas picked it up just outside the box with defenders in the area. All she needed was a yard of space that she moved into with a quick touch before putting her foot through the ball. Putellas’ shot soared over the outstretched hands of Jane Campbell, that’s how you strike them from outside the box. 

4. Shea Groom – Houston Dash

Shea Groom doing Shea Groom things ?

1-0 @houstondash ?#WICC2021 pic.twitter.com/Uleu6kdwUK

— Women's International Champions Cup (@iccwomen) August 19, 2021

Shea Groom also had a phenomenal tournament despite the Dash losing both games. Groom netted three times, including this gem of a goal. The attacking star picked it up just outside of the box and immediately drove towards the goal. Once she picked her head up, she knew she had the angle to bend it around the keeper. It was all about the execution. Groom’s body control is awesome as she slows down after going full sprint to get the right connection on the ball, and it was perfect. That ball bent outside of the post as if it was going wide and then bent back in; that’s textbook from Shea Groom.

3. Ashley Sanchez – Washington Spirit

TAKE A BOW ASHLEY SANCHEZ ?#WASvORL | https://t.co/bONPZnnmCJ | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/Ix74RU3vcK

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 22, 2021

Ashley Sanchez and Trinity Rodman are becoming a lethal combination for opposing defenses to stop. It was the two of them who won this game late on against the Orlando Pride on the counter-attack. Sanchez was able to set Rodman up in space where she can drive at defenders. Knowing she didn’t have the best angle to shoot and considering no one was in the box, she pulled it back to Sanchez. Then, Sanchez knows exactly what she wants to do with it. The former UCLA star quickly got onto her right foot, creating the separation she needed before firing her strike into the top corner. Ashlyn Harris was at full stretch, but no keeper in the world could’ve stopped that strike. It was sublime. 

2. Marta – Orlando Pride

MAGIC FROM MARTA ?#WASvORL | https://t.co/bONPZnnmCJ | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/nORHEmj8R8

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 22, 2021

Marta continues to show everyone that age is just a number. No matter what, she’s going to give everything she has for her team. The game was scoreless, but a little Marta magic broke the game open completely. Like Ashley Sanchez’s goal, once she receives the ball, she knows exactly what she wants to do with it. The lefty got onto her favorite left side with a dip of the shoulder and then fired a rocket past Aubrey Bledsoe. Bledsoe was also at full stretch but the accuracy to go with the power was too much as the shot went in off the post. One of the greatest to ever do it still finds ways to keep us entertained in the best way possible. 

1. Yuki Nagasato – Racing Louisville

Yuki scores.
Yuki soars. pic.twitter.com/wrZBP2ZkD7

— Racing Louisville FC (@RacingLouFC) August 22, 2021

After watching this more than 20 times, we are all still trying to figure out how in the world did Yuki score this? The adjustment she makes for striking this before she jumps is absurd. Again, still not sure how in the world she stuck her foot out and volleyed the strike home, but it is amazing to watch. The ball flies off her foot, then off the crossbar and into the goal. This is a wild goal and the kind that we will not see very often. For the degree of difficulty, the style points, and the actual goal itself, Yuki Nagasato’s goal takes the top spot on the list. 

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