Top 5 Goals: NWSL Matchday 14 & U20 Women’s World Cup

The NWSL is reaching the business end of regular season as teams jostle for a spot in the playoffs with a couple of games remaining. Simultaneously, the U-20 World Cup has also kicked off, and matches in the group stages have not disappointed. So let’s jump right into the best women’s soccer goals of the week from the NWSL Matchday 14 and the U-20 Women’s World Cup.  

5. Rose Lavelle – OL Reign

She's BACK and she's DANGEROUS! 🌹@roselavelle | @OLReign pic.twitter.com/y8qVv0ZQhb

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 14, 2022

Rose Lavelle is not the kind of player you give goal-scoring chances to, but that sums up how Gotham FC’s season has been going for them. The defender completely whiffs on clearing the ball, allowing Rose Lavelle to be in on goal in a one-on-one situation. Her left foot, along with the angle, allows her to shoot to the far post, and Rose did so emphatically with a great finish. 

4. Morgan Weaver – Portland Thorns

IN EXTRA TIME, FOR THE LEAD, MORGAN WEAVER!
This #WASvPOR game is not over, yet!@ThornsFC | #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/6KMBiylBYj

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 11, 2022

Sophia Smith gets a lot of the attention, but Morgan Weaver has been having a great year for Portland too. If she even gets a sniff of the goal, there’s a good chance she’s scoring, and that’s exactly what happened here. Weaver does well in cutting onto her left foot, showing that she can use both feet.

The strike was low and driven with power. By the time the keeper even attempted to dive, the ball was in the net. The work that Morgan Weaver is putting in is clearly paying off, and she’s only going to get better. 

3. Claire Lavogez – Kansas City Current

.@ClaireLavogez with a 𝙎𝙏𝙐𝙉𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂 run and strike to put @TheKCCurrent ahead late on! 🚀#NCvKC | #TealRising pic.twitter.com/0w8JjGVUDu

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 14, 2022

The new signing from France has come in and already had a huge impact on Kansas City, who are in the top six. In a seven-goal thriller against North Carolina, Lavogez settled the score with this beautiful strike from long range. There was no dip or curve on this strike–just a rocket struck so cleanly it had no choice but to fly into the top corner.

What a way to secure three points for her club. Kansas City is looking much more dangerous with Claire Lavogez on their side. 

2. Dana Foederer – Netherlands

OH MY GOODNESS 😳

This BEAUTIFUL strike from Foederer gives the Netherlands a 2-0 lead 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/1a1b9044Ep

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 15, 2022

This was an absolutely stunning goal and definitely one of the best of the tournament. Unfortunately, the keeper takes one step to her left, which puts her an inch out of position. To be fair, most keepers would do this because they’re more than likely expecting a cross than a shot.

Well, Dana Foederer went for goal anyway, and it’s jaw-dropping watching the trajectory of the ball as it ends up in the net. This goal has shades of Ronaldinho against David Seaman at the 2002 World Cup. Although that was a free kick, the angle is similar. Holland at the U-20 level got their revenge against the USYNT with a big win. 

1. Alexandra Pinell – Costa Rica

that’s not a goal that’s a GOLAZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/5GirLC7tVt

— Tower of Power aka André’s #1 fan (@CourtneyStith) August 11, 2022

While goal No. 2 on the list would take the top spot on most weeks, it loses to what has to be one of the goals of the year. The commentator mentions that this is from 35 yards away, but to be honest, it might even be closer to 40 from where Alexandra Pinell struck this ball.

The audacity from Pinell is at an all-time high to even go for this from that far out. That takes another level of confidence to pull this off. For her to do it as the host nation in front of those screaming fans is a moment to savor forever, easily one of the moments of the year. 

_

GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS