NWSL Quarterfinals Preview: OL Reign vs. Angel City, NC Courage vs. Gotham FC
The NWSL postseason has finally arrived after 22 grueling games and an epic eight-month season. The road to the title starts at Lumen Field, with the first match between the OL Reign and Angel City. It ends in San Diego, the site for the NWSL Championship game. If 90 minutes can’t separate these four teams, there’ll be two 15-minute extra time periods, and if still tied, the always-dramatic penalty shootout will decide a winner. Let’s get into the 2023 NWSL Quarterfinals.
OL Reign vs. Angel City: Friday, October 20 at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT, Paramount+
Two West Coast foes that know each other well will go toe-to-toe as the 4-seed takes on the 5-seed. Both teams are riding high after resounding wins the week prior. The OL Reign finally returned to their scoring ways with a 3-0 win over Chicago, including a brace from Megan Rapinoe. Angel City exploded for five goals against Portland. They took fifth place over Gotham thanks to their goal difference.
The regular season series went to the OL Reign, who won 2-0 in the Challenge Cup in LA and then 4-1 at home. Angel City would pick up a win later in the season at BMO Stadium 2-1 and previously got a 0-0 draw at Lumen Field in the Challenge Cup. The OL Reign is a better team at Lumen Field, and the stadium should be packed as Megan Rapinoe makes her last hurrah. Pinoe’s brace last week indicates she will do whatever it takes to help OL Reign with their first NWSL title.
Angel City is still red hot, and that 5-1 win, with all the emotions involved, should be a good thing. It can be tough to ramp up for a game like this on four days’ notice after Angel City got into the playoffs on the last day of the season.
OL Reign looked like the best team in the league over the first half of the season. But, they’ve been a different team since the World Cup ended (2-2-4). Angel City has also been a different team, but for the better. They’ve come together as a team, and Becki Tweed deserves all the credit in the world for this turnaround. If she doesn’t get the interim head coach tag removed, it would be a travesty. I was originally going to take the OL Reign to win this game at home. But a gut feeling says this Angel City team is on an insane run over their last 11 league games with a 6-4-1 record.
Home teams have wins ten times out of 24 games in the NWSL playoffs; that’s 41% of the time. The Amandine Henry signing by Angel City is one of the best any team has made late in the year. Watch her in the midfield. She gives Angel City an extra bit of skill and class. She’s precise and accurate with almost every pass she makes and gives her teammates the best chance to succeed. I’m rolling with Angel City in an upset here.
North Carolina Courage vs. Gotham FC: Sunday, October 22 at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT, CBS Sports Network
North Carolina and Gotham is a great matchup as North Carolina is great at home, and Gotham is solid on the road. Gotham is a team full of veterans who will not be bothered by a road game in North Carolina. Gotham hasn’t lost to North Carolina this season, with two wins and two draws. They’ll have lots of confidence knowing they haven’t lost to the Courage this season.
However, it is difficult to beat a team three times in one season. The amount of film that Sean Nahas and his staff will have at their disposal to read tendencies and construct a good game plan will be incredibly useful. Gotham has more talent and depth, but North Carolina has proven over and over again that they’re a winning organization.
Gotham hasn’t been playing at their best recently. Even though they jumped out to a 2-0 lead last week against Kansas City, they lost that lead and drew the game 2-2. The key matchups will be on the wings, with Midge Purce and Lynn Williams versus Emily Fox and Ryan Williams.
While you’d give the edge to Gotham’s wingers on paper, the Courage is tied for second in the league in least goals allowed. And, Gotham is second worst in the league in goals scored. Factor in that the Courage are strong at home with just one loss (8-6-1) and are playing Gotham for the fifth time this season, and they’ll finally get this win at WakeMed Soccer Park.
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