NWSL Challenge Cup Roundup Week 5-6

The 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup group stages are starting to take shape, with just one game remaining for teams to stake their claim into the semifinals. Quite a lot happened over the last week, and the stage is set for an epic final weekend to bring us home. So let’s get the results and preview the most significant matches with our NWSL Challenge Cup Roundup.

 

Recent Results:

OL Reign 3 San Diego Wave 1

Kansas City Current 2 Houston Dash 1

North Carolina Courage 4 Orlando Pride 2

Racing Louisville 1 Chicago Red Stars 1

Washington Spirit 3 Gotham FC 1

OL Reign 2 Angel City FC 1

Portland Thorns 3 San Diego Wave 2

OL Reign Advance to Semifinals

 

Thanks to two wins over the expansion teams, San Diego and Angel City,  the OL Reign was the first team to punch their ticket to the semifinals. In their first match against the Wave, the OL Reign blitzed them with three goals within the first 15 minutes.

Bethany Balcer looks like she will get to double-digit goals in the league this year with how she’s playing right now. She’s showing a complete, all-around game with the ability to score from anywhere.

BB8 sneaks through for her second of the season 🤖@bethanybalcer | #BoldTogether pic.twitter.com/4q6ViKOv6N

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 17, 2022

The goal that put the OL Reign into the next round came from the last person you’d expect, Oliva Van der Jagt.

SCENES IN SEATTLE 🤯@oliviavdj | #BoldTogether pic.twitter.com/Wwsdzo58WQ

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 18, 2022

Everyone loves a last-second game-winner. Angel City deserved better based on how much better they were defensively, but the OL Reign team is too deep and too talented. 

 

Racing Louisville Forces Late Draw with Chicago in Dramatic Fashion

Chicago was firmly in the driver’s seat to keep pace with Kansas City for the top spot in the Central. They had a 1-0 lead and were 15 minutes away from being tied on points with KC going into their showdown in the final match.

However, Emina Ekic flipped the script in a big way–netting this firecracker of a free-kick to salvage a draw.

What's better than one angle of @emina_ekic10's goal from last night?

TWO angles of Emina Ekic's goal from last night. 😍 pic.twitter.com/TSFTnxfB90

— Racing Louisville FC (@RacingLouFC) April 17, 2022

Mallory Pugh’s status will be uncertain due to concussion-like symptoms making the last match between Chicago and Kansas City even more enthralling. 

 

Washington Flexes Their Muscles as Defending Champs

Both Gotham and Washington needed to go for it in this match, and early on, it was Gotham who took control. Nahomi Kawasumi did well to accurately find the bottom corner from close range.

GOAL @GothamFC! Nahomi Kawasumi's shot beats Aubrey Kingsbury to the far post and Gotham are up! #NJNYvWAS | 1-0pic.twitter.com/zXjDwvmhIP

— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) April 17, 2022

However, the Spirit’s star players would eventually take over. Ashley Sanchez scored this beauty to tie it up.

GOAL @WashSpirit!!

ASHLEY SANCHEZ, STOP IT!!! 🤯#NJNYvWAS | 1-1 pic.twitter.com/gzqVBZGZSg

— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) April 17, 2022

Then it was Trinity Rodman’s turn to take over; this deadly finish was what gave them the lead they would never give up. 

Trinity Rodman. WOW 🤩

(via @NWSL)pic.twitter.com/0UN3YrAmiH

— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 17, 2022

Rodman added another late in the second half for a brace and tied her with Mallory Pugh for most goals at the Challenge Cup. 

Trinity Rodman’s brace against Gotham ties her with Mal Pugh for the most goals in the 2022 #NWSL Challenge Cup. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/MROjAHm59P

— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) April 18, 2022

After the game, Gotham head coach Scott Parkinson and GM Yael Averbuch West admitted that Washington was simply the better team, and it takes a lot to admit that in today’s day and age. Gotham has to go back to the drawing board; Washington is still in the hunt for the semifinals. 

 

Upcoming Matches:

North Carolina Courage vs. Washington Spirit, April 23, 1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT, CBS

This match is a showdown for the top spot in the East division, and it’s going to be a great one. The Courage jumped out to a 2-0 lead over Washington, but they overcame another slow start to come back and tie 2-2. The scenario is simple: the winner of this game gets a spot in the semifinals, but a draw would still be enough for the Courage. 

If the match were to end in a draw, the Spirit would need a Thorn’s loss, and a Red Stars draw or loss to get the last semifinal spot. This is a battle between two coaches who seamlessly took over amidst controversy and have been incredible since.

The Spirit has the edge because of their talent level, which can win the game at any time, but the Courage continues to be a well-oiled machine; this game could go either way. 

 

Kansas City Current vs. Chicago Red Stars, April 24, 5:00 PM ET/2:00 PM PT, Paramount+

This is Chicago’s chance at revenge from the 2-1 loss in the first week of the Challenge Cup. Not only that, but a win for either team puts them in the semifinals.

Kansas City deserves a semifinal based on how they’ve played until this point, but Chicago still has more weapons and ability than Kansas City does. The Current might play for the draw because that’s all they need to advance, but inviting pressure from Chicago’s offense does not seem like a great idea.

Chicago is still favored, especially if Mallory Pugh is ready to go. Most will expect them to advance but expect Kansas City could make this ugly and get the result they need. 

 

Angel City FC vs. Portland Thorns, April 24, 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT, Paramount+

The Portland Thorns truly control their own destiny when qualifying for the semifinals. A win over Angel City and an OL Reign loss to the Wave would mean they win the group and the Reign take the last semifinal spot. If the Reign win or get a draw and the Thorns win, then the Thorns will get the last semifinal place thanks to their higher point total. 

Going into this match, it seems like a forgone conclusion that the Thorns get the win, but Angel City was much better in their last game and will make things far more challenging in the second matchup. Christen Press or Simone Charley can cause problems up on the front lines. If Angel City can somehow squeak out a result, the Thorns would have to sweat it out based on how the other games go.

Sophia Smith likely won’t let that happen. She and Morgan Weaver are making life really difficult for opposing defenses. This is also the last match of the group stages, so the semifinal scenarios will be very clear by the time this one kicks off. 

 

Featured image via Jonathon Louie

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