Top 5 Goals: FA WSL and W-League Semifinals

April 6, 2021
By Rohtas Wadera

The stakes in women’s soccer leagues around the world have reached an all-time high. With teams in England fighting to stay in the FA WSL or make the Champions League, the matches are intensifying. In the W-League, two teams punched tickets to the Grand Final, where a champion will be crowned next week. This week’s goals were on another level. Let’s take a close look at the best women’s soccer goals from the FA WSL and W-League Semifinals.

5. Fran Kirby – Chelsea

What a run from @frankirby! ?#BarclaysFAWSL pic.twitter.com/170M8FsWro

— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) April 4, 2021

First, watch the high-quality interplay off the throw-in from Chelsea to set up Fran Kirby in space. Once Kirby has the ball, she knows exactly what she wants to do with it. There are three defenders in the vicinity, but no one closed the space. By the time they closed in, it was too late, Kirby had already found the far corner for a calm and collected finish.

4. Lisa De Vanna – Melbourne Victory

We all reacted the same way as @HeyAngieBeard to this @lisadevanna11 finish?

?️: @FOXFOOTBALL #WLeague #BRIvMVC #MVFC pic.twitter.com/GEtoEXkqTY

— Westfield W-League (@WLeague) April 4, 2021

Lisa De Vanna is still a handful for W-League defenses, as seen in this play right here. De Vanna surprised everyone with the shot because most players would aim for the top right corner and go across the keeper. Instead, she powered this toward the near post, and the ball lasered into the top left corner. This strike helped get Melbourne to the Grand Final. Keep an eye on the living legend; she might come through for her team in the final as well.

3. Martha Thomas – West Ham United

What a way to cap off a first-half hat-trick, @mart__thomas! ?

That finish. ?pic.twitter.com/WZr1HYpOjw

— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) April 3, 2021

West Ham needed a big performance, and they got it from Martha Thomas, who recorded a first-half hattrick. The ball came in beautifully over the top, and Thomas found herself one-on-one with the keeper. The Scottish international picked her head up while running onto the ball and had no choice but to go for the chip. It’s beautiful to watch her attempt the chip on her first touch and see the ball bounce perfectly into the goal—great performance from Martha Thomas overall against Reading.

2. Ally Green – Sydney FC

First Dub goal ☑️ Screamer ☑️ A 3-0 lead in a semi-final ☑️

?️: @FOXFOOTBALL #WLeague #SYDvCBR #SydneyIsSkyBlue pic.twitter.com/XAtyagbWdF

— Westfield W-League (@WLeague) April 5, 2021

Ally Green had never scored in the W-League before, but she could not have picked a better time to score her first. Green had a defender on her, but her determination was evident as she would not be denied. Once she saw the opportunity, Green took the rip from a long distance, and the result was an unstoppable shot. This ball dipped and swirled away from the keeper, giving her no chance. This was a deadly dagger that put Sydney FC in the Grand Final and sent Canberra United home packing.

1. Olivia Chance – Brisbane Roar

.@NZ_Football's @LivvyChance with an absolute worldie ?

?️: @FOXFOOTBALL #WLeague #BRIvMVC #ForTheCrest pic.twitter.com/V7EsxTk4Uz

— Westfield W-League (@WLeague) April 4, 2021

This goal from Olivia Chance is simply jaw-dropping. Initially, when the ball left her foot, it didn’t have a ton of power on it. Yet the ball just kept rising and rising, and its trajectory never wavered. Eventually, the seemingly slow-motion shot snuck into the top right corner. The goal of the week gave Brisbane a chance to stay in the W-League semifinals, but it was a consolation goal in the end.