Top 5 Goals: NWSL, Women’s Champions League, Serie A Femminile

The wait is finally over, and the NWSL is back with a bang. Add that to the other leagues around the world, and you have a jam-packed women’s soccer calendar that is at its peak. Not to mention this week’s list of best women’s soccer goals features a slew of young stars who represent the next generation of women’s soccer. When more than half of the list is teenage stars, women’s soccer is in an amazing place in the imminent future. Here are the best women’s soccer goals this week from the NWSL, Women’s Champions League, and the Serie A Femminile

5. Jaedyn Shaw – San Diego Wave

Jaedyn Shaw with the rocket for San Diego 🚀

(via @NWSL)pic.twitter.com/se3GAlR3CG

— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 26, 2023

Jaedyn Shaw debuted for the Wave last year and wholeheartedly surpassed expectations. After seeing her body of work from 2022, expectations will be higher for her in 2023.

Well, Shaw opened her goal-scoring account impressively with this strike. Shaw took a quick touch to bring the ball down and then struck it cleanly on the volley. The ball flew into the back of the net to help give the Wave the lead at the time. Shaw might be 18, but that was a goal of a seasoned player in the heat of the moment. The sky’s the limit for Shaw. 

4. Valery Vigilucci – AC Milan

WHAT. A . TOUCH. FROM. VIGILUCCI!

It's @acmilan with the early breakthrough.#WatchWithAta #SerieAFemminile pic.twitter.com/xiPKDIbIdX

— ata football (@atafball) March 26, 2023

This was a great moment of improvisation from Valery Vigilucci, the Italian international. Going against her former team, Vigilucci scored a gem of a goal with just one touch.

Based on her teammate’s line drive cross, Vigilucci had to decide whether to take the ball down first or try to strike it one time. Most players would choose to take the ball down, but Vigilucci took the shot in one fluid motion, which is impressive considering how the ball came at her with pace.

Unfortunately for Vigilucci and AC Milan, they would squander a 3-0 lead, taking a little bit away from an amazing goal. 

3. Guro Reiten – Chelsea

This play, that finish… gourmet written all over!

Watch the @UWCL live on the @DAZNFootball YouTube channel.#WatchWithAta #UWCL

📹 @DAZNFootball pic.twitter.com/T98NBcUu4A

— ata football (@atafball) March 22, 2023

Not only was this goal amazing, but the implications it has for Chelsea’s season are huge. Their main goal as a club has been to win the Champions League over the last few seasons. So for them to be taking down Lyon, the team that has won the competition eight times, in the quarterfinal instead of the final is a big deal.

This goal gave them a one-goal advantage heading into the second leg. Erin Cuthbert is criminally underrated for her ability to create, and she made this goal happen. A cheeky nutmeg helped Cuthbert enter space and find a wide-open Guro Reiten. Cuthbert put the perfect weight on the pass, which allowed Reiten to run onto it and caress the ball into the far corner.

It is a world-class goal from a world-class team. Knocking out Lyon at this stage would be huge for Chelsea if they can pull it off. 

2. Trinity Rodman – Washington Spirit

WATCH THE WHOLE TRIN GOAL CUZ IT'S AMAZING! pic.twitter.com/QjgGlxrGZ1

— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) March 26, 2023

This goal was all Trinity Rodman, and it would be the difference in the match, securing three points for the Washington Spirit.

Once Rodman received the throw-in, her turn off the back of the defender was lighting quick. At that point, it was over. She’s that fast–not a single OL Reign player can get anywhere close to her.

Defenders have to be worried about over-committing because Rodman can literally just kick it into space around the defender and beat them with her pace.

Once she lined up the shot, the goal was inevitable as Rodman fired it home past the keeper. This could be a sign of bigger things to come for Rodman this season.

1. Alyssa Thompson – Angel City

The NWSL’s #1 draft pick Alyssa Thompson less than 11 minutes into her pro debut 🚀

(via @NWSL)pic.twitter.com/elwXgO9Oj7

— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 27, 2023

First on our list of best women’s soccer goals this week is from another young star. We’ve already mentioned Jaedyn Shaw and Trinity Rodman and witnessed their rise to stardom. Next up is Alyssa Thompson, who Angel City took with the No. 1 pick in the NWSL Draft.

Through two games, she’s already proven to live up to the hype. After scoring in their friendly against Club América, Thompson followed that up with this banger in their NWSL home opener against Gotham. Again, these young stars are focused and ready to take over.

Thompson didn’t hesitate to shoot when she easily could’ve taken another touch or two beforehand. Abby Smith got a hand to it, but there was too much pace and power on the strike to keep out. Angel City fans have much to be excited about, as Alyssa Thompson will only get better from here. 

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