Top 5 Goals: NWSL, Frauen Bundesliga, and Manchester Derby

What an incredible week of women’s soccer we just witnessed. Cup and league champions were crowned around the world, with other title races heating up and the NWSL providing some enthralling fixtures as well. Here are our best women’s soccer goals of the week!

5. Kelli Hubly – Portland Thorns

Here for the flawless execution & celebration on Kelli Hubly's second career goal pic.twitter.com/NvJPYhuoDX

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 21, 2023

Portland ran rampant against the Chicago Red Stars, scoring three goals within the first 16 minutes.

Kelli Hubly scored first, and what a goal it was. The ball in from Sam Coffey came in with pace near the back post, and nine times out of ten, every player would look to put the ball across the box. Instead, Hubly, without taking a touch, managed to catch it sweetly.

Hubly beat Alyssa Naeher, and pandemonium ensued. Look at Hubly’s reaction; she screams with delirium at what she did, an awesome NWSL moment for the archives. 

4. Alexandra Popp – VFL Wolfsburg

ALEXANDRAAAA POOOOOOOOOOOOP!@VfLWolfsburg_EN complete the comeback in stoppage-time!#WatchWithAta #DieLiga #ataFREE pic.twitter.com/C7lB50EE5U

— ata football (@atafball) May 21, 2023

Wolfsburg was minutes away from letting their title hopes slip away after trailing SV Meppen late in the game.

Alexandra Popp was unstoppable, and this goal would secure a comeback from the dead. Popp’s confidence and technique are top-notch with the match on the line. Popp timed the chip shot to perfection, and the ball floated over the keeper’s head and into the net for the game-winner.

Wolfsburg trails Bayern Munich by two points going into the last game, all thanks to this incredible goal from Alexandra Popp. 

3. Sarah Schulte – SV Meppen

YOU CANNOT WRITE THIS STUFF!

Sarah Schulte puts Meppen in front against Wolfsburg on her special day.#WatchWithAta #DieLiga #ataFREE pic.twitter.com/om4Qkhh0JW

— ata football (@atafball) May 21, 2023

SV Meppen flipped the Frauen Bundesliga on its head as they held a 2-1 lead over Wolfsburg with six minutes to go. Sarah Schulte left the crowd stunned with this superb strike and gave her team the lead 30 minutes into the match.

Wolfsburg left space out on the left wing for Schulte to operate, and she capitalized. Schulte got onto her right foot and whipped the ball into the top corner; the keeper had no chance.

SV Meppen may not have won, but this had to have been one of their best performances of the season.  

2. Hayley Ladd – Manchester United

What a goal from @HayleyLadd! 😲👏#BarclaysWSL @ManUtdWomen pic.twitter.com/QC16Sis6Tp

— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 22, 2023

Hayley Ladd kept Manchester United’s hopes of winning their first FA WSL league alive in the derby against Manchester City.

Left-footed players like Ladd are valuable because they give a team another angle to attack. A right-footed player would not be able to execute this goal as Ladd did based on her angle toward the goal. Watch her as she caresses this ball into the upper side netting of the goal. The second camera angle perfectly shows the ball’s flight from when it left Ladd’s foot to the upper 90.

To score a goal like that in the Manchester Derby is one for the history books. 

1. Jenna Nighswonger – Gotham FC

Jenna Nighswonger from DISTANCE 🚀 pic.twitter.com/8hpTq1ZdQn

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 21, 2023

Jenna Nighswonger‘s rise has been a joy to watch at GSN. We’ve had her on our podcast twice, and each time, she exuded a level of focus that only professional players have. The attacker finally showed her skills during her senior year at Florida State, and Gotham made her a top pick in the draft as a result.

Nighswonger talked about how she’s worked on her long-range shooting and rewarded Gotham by doing so here. Nighswonger didn’t hesitate; she let it rip as soon as she saw her opening. The power overwhelmed Phallon Tullis-Joyce as the ball was past her before she completed her dive.

That’s how to make a statement; Gotham is now top of the table and has put everyone on notice. 

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