Top 5 Goals: International Break, NWSL + European Halloween Action

The conclusion of the international break, along with the NWSL regular season, gave us some incredible moments. We witnessed Carli Lloyd’s final game for the Stars and Stripes and her last regular-season game with Gotham FC. Not only that, Europe featured some incredible quality in Spain and France. So, let’s delve deeper into this week’s edition of the best women’s soccer goals from the international break, NWSL, and action from women’s soccer in Europe. 

5. Trinity Rodman – Washington Spirit

A SCARY good goal ???#WASvHOU | https://t.co/0LtSAUK1Jw | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/4SN5NHbAcn

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 31, 2021

Trinity Rodman is a lock to win Rookie of the Year, and it’s not even close. Before going over her finish, the pass over the top from Sam Staab is immaculate. The ball bounced perfectly over the Dash’s defense and into the path of Rodman. It did not seem as though Abby Dahlkemper was in a bad position, but the through ball plus Rodman’s pace is just too good. Once the keeper didn’t come out to cut off the angle, Rodman calmly slotted it home to send the Houston Dash home without a playoff spot again. 

4. Catarina Macario – Lyon

An exorcism was performed and the ghosts gave us the footage of this goal ?

A goal and an assist for @USWNT's @catarinamacario today, she was really haunting the Soyaux defence (how many halloween jokes in one tweet is too many, asking for a friend)https://t.co/GPfoIIxgtD pic.twitter.com/0zAQZsm0AE

— ata football (@atafball) October 31, 2021

Catarina Macario is starting to shine overseas, which is a great look for the USWNT in terms of her progress. This goal had shades of her days at Stanford, where she weaves in and out of pressure with ease before striking from a long distance with devastating effectiveness. Three different defenders could not stop Macario from smashing the ball, and the keeper was unsuccessful despite getting a hand to it. Macario’s growth is a great sight to see and one that will inspire hope for USWNT fans going forward. 

3. Megan Rapinoe – USWNT

Goodness, Pinoe. That was CLEAN. pic.twitter.com/6M2YCEgVY9

— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) October 27, 2021

Carli Lloyd’s last game for the USWNT ended in style with a 6-0 win. Megan Rapinoe probably had the best goal of the lot with this strike. The defender is seemingly in a good position, and the ball came in with minimal pace as it bounced along the turf. Yet, Pinoe made the most of the awkward angle. Her body is facing away from the goal, but she has the technique and power to wrap her leg and foot around the ball enough to smash it off the bar and in. Her greatness knows no bounds, as clearly reiterated in this highlight. 

2. Sanni Franssi – Real Sociedad

Just 9 minutes in and this game is already living up to expectations ⚡

What a goal to level things up from @RealSociedadFEM #WatchWithAta #PrimeraIberdrola pic.twitter.com/rWFJ7tsohP

— ata football (@atafball) October 31, 2021

The Finnish striker has been a key player for her club and her country over the last couple of seasons. In a tough match against Barcelona, this goal was the only consolation to take from it. Barcelona made a rare mistake, and Sanni Franssi was ready to pounce on the opportunity. Franssi still had a lot to do with the defender running back to block the goal. The striker had one place to put it, and she chipped it right into the corner from long distance beautifully. Certainly a top-class goal worthy of the celebration from her and her teammates. 

1. Kealia Watt – Chicago Red Stars

You know Watt it is when @KealiaOhai's around ?#ORLvCHI | https://t.co/iecT7II54a | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/DdzDaDbQ89

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 30, 2021

Chicago solidified their playoff standing thanks to this vintage Kealia Watt goal. Time and time again, we see her on the wing looking to cut inside and curl the ball into the far corner. In this play, she did it to perfection, to the point where you can actually see the ball bend quite a bit. The Red Stars were able to find their stride over the second half of the season and are playing some of their best soccer at the moment, especially Kealia Watt. Watt’s curled strike takes the top spot on this week’s edition of Top 5 Goals. 

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