Top 5 Goals: NWSL and European Action

Between the NWSL regular season coming to a close soon and the other European leagues in action, there’s been plenty of women’s soccer to enjoy. This week’s list features some belters from both close and long-range as well as solo spectaculars and goals from free-kicks. Here’s a closer look at the best women’s soccer goals from the NWSL and European women’s soccer leagues.

5. Ebony Salmon – Racing Louisville

A Flying Salmon Stunner™️#LOUvORL | https://t.co/0LtSAUK1Jw | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/TBjGCdBTC5

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 17, 2021

Orlando really dropped the ball by allowing Louisville back into the game with this mistake on defense. Thanks to Louisville’s pressure, they could force a deflection, and the ball found its way to Ebony Salmon. The Brit still had a ton of work to do, but her execution was spot on. Salmon picked her head up and knew she wanted to bend it into the far corner. The keeper had no chance of getting to it—a clean strike from a player who has taken the league by storm this season. 

4. Sara Medina – Villareal 

Villarreal saw what Bilbao were doing in the first half and said, oh we're scoring worldies today?

ok ⚡#WatchWithAta #PrimeraIberdrola pic.twitter.com/w28IRRX0Pj

— ata football (@atafball) October 17, 2021

Villareal was trailing Athletic Bilbao in their match after 45 minutes, but Sara Medina helped bring her side back into the match with this scintillating strike. The ball must’ve been placed about 25 yards from goal, and the angle was such that a shot was likely the best option. Everyone had their eyes glued to see if Medina could put it in the one spot that the keeper couldn’t reach, and that’s exactly what she did. An inch-perfect strike and a beautiful free-kick from a young Spanish player who definitely has a future in the sport. 

3. Kealia Watt – Chicago Red Stars

MY GOODNESS, @KealiaOhai ?#CHIvORL | https://t.co/iecT7II54a | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/mYAUyTznK2

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 14, 2021

Chicago has been sitting on the edge of the last playoff spot for the majority of the season. Therefore their matchup against Orlando, another team on the outside looking in, would be huge in determining how the playoff standings unfold. Kealia Watt provided the match’s only goal, and it was a stunner. The ball fell to her on the right side of the box but was still at least 10 yards away from the goal. The defender closed in on her quickly, but that wasn’t going to stop Watt from trying. The striker put her foot through the ball nicely, and the volley smashed off the crossbar and in. Very few players could score from a spot like that, but Kealia Watt made it look easy. 

2. Darian Jenkins – Kansas City

Sheesh, @darian_jenks ???#KCvHOU | https://t.co/0LtSAUK1Jw | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/Fw33n5lG5g

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 14, 2021

Kansas City has definitely started to play better soccer as of late since trading away Amy Rodriguez. In fact, their 3-0 win over Houston was easily their best result of the season and showed they are trending in the right direction. Darian Jenkins provided the spark her team needed early on, thanks to this goal. Jenkins has the ball on the edge of the 18-yard-box and has an angle to curl it into the far corner, but the execution still has to be there. Well, Jenkins could not have struck it any sweeter; watch how the ball nestles nicely into the far corner. For all the work Darian Jenkins has been putting in, it’s clearly paying off. 

1. Selma Bacha – Lyon 

What a goal to break the deadlock in Lyon ?#WatchWithAta #D1Arkema pic.twitter.com/B9LrNtzVrP

— ata football (@atafball) October 17, 2021

Selma Bacha is one of the best young players that France has at the moment. At age 20, she’s yet to appear for the senior national team but has made almost 50 appearances for Lyon. This goal Bacha scored is brilliant because of how she did it all on her own. When Bacha initially secured possession, she had her back to goal near midfield. No one from the opposing team picked her up, and she just kept dribbling. Three defenders tried to get in front of her but to no avail. Finally, Bacha dispatched her finish into the far corner with ease. A 40+ yard solo run while taking on an entire backline and scoring? This definitely takes the top spot this week. 

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