Top 5 Goals: NWSL Challenge Cup Week 3, D1 Arkema, Primera Division

North America, France, and Spain had just three of the ma women’s soccer leagues in action worldwide. So while there was an incredible volume of goals to choose from this week, we had to whittle it down to the best five. Here is our best women’s soccer goals list of the week from the NWSL Challenge Cup, DI Arkema, and Primera Division. Let us know if we missed any or if you have an honorable mention to add to our list.

5. Alex Morgan – San Diego Wave

Twice as nice✨@alexmorgan13 scores her second of the match to restore the lead for San Diego! @sandiegowavefc | #WaveFC pic.twitter.com/RbKmzTEgyE

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 2, 2022

San Diego’s offense was too much for Angel City FC in the So-Cal Clasico. This goal featured one-touch football of the highest quality. First, the back-heel from Taylor Kornieck, then the cross from Christen Westphal, and the finish from Alex Morgan all happened in the blink of an eye. This is how attacking football should be played. Leaving Alex Morgan that wide open isn’t good for any defense. 

4. Christen Press – Angel City FC 

New club, same @ChristenPress ?⚽️
Her first goal for @weareangelcity!

? @NWSL
pic.twitter.com/9Y9kBzyj0L

— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) April 2, 2022

Christen Press is doing everything she can for Angel City FC, taking shot after shot she could not score after the first three games. Finally, she scored her first Angel City goal, and it was a clean strike. The initial cross from Jasmyne Spencer was deflected, but Press’ reactions were on point.

As soon as the ball popped up, she put her foot through the ball on the half-volley, and the power was just too much for Kailen Sheridan to keep it out. Christen Press looked like a ninja in the way she reacted so quickly. This should be the first of many goals for Press in an Angel City FC kit. 

3. Catarina Macario – Lyon

OMG @catarinamacario ? That is a ? goal‼️ @USWNT fans how we feeling?

? @DAZNFootball #WatchWithAta #UWCL pic.twitter.com/qWSDCEnQCK

— ata football (@atafball) March 31, 2022

Catarina Macario is starting to come into her own in Europe, scoring incredible goals left and right. Now that she’s dominating in France, it’s only a matter of time before she comes to the NWSL and does the same. NWSL defenses should start preparing now because she will cause nightmares for them.

The touch and turn she executes in one motion are simply special. Macario makes it look way easier than it is; the finish was just as effortless. 

2. Debinha – North Carolina Courage

Simply magic ?@Debinha7 | #CourageUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/EPCaPeBhJq

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 3, 2022

Debinha continues to astound everyone with her skill. If you give her an inch of daylight, it’s all she needs to find the space for a devastating assist or goal. That’s precisely what happened on this goal.

The wall was set up for Debinaa to have to try and bend the ball up and around the wall. Instead, she went the exact opposite way–going to the same side of the goalie is just as tricky. The keeper expects the ball to come in from the other side, but by the time she realizes it, it’s too late. Debinha picked her spot perfectly and found the side netting, even with the keeper on the same side. She’s just too, too good. 

1. Salma Paralluelo – Villareal

That's what they call a GOOOOOLAAAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Signed by 18-year-old Salma Paralluelo#WatchWithAta #PrimeraIberdrola pic.twitter.com/XmxDZaUEAo

— ata football (@atafball) April 2, 2022

Salma Paralluelo is an 18-year-old starlet you might not have heard of before, but it’s only a matter of time before she’s a star. At 18, she’s already made 30 club appearances and scored 20 goals, which is a great return for a player that young.

Surely, either Barcelona or Real Madrid have been watching this girl, or at least they will now with his stunning strike. Watch where she takes this shot and notice how she quickly gathers her feet to steady herself before whipping her foot around the ball. That’s tremendous technique and skill in a split second, and after that, it is a matter of just watching the ball fly into the goal perfectly.

There aren’t many 18-year-olds capable of doing this in a game, and it’s 100% the top goal on this week’s list. 

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