The Women’s Cup 2022 Recap

Along with the Women’s ICC, The Women’s Cup 2022 wrapped up this past weekend in an exciting final between two NWSL teams. 

This is the second year The Women’s Cup has taken place. Last year, Racing Louisville won the tournament after beating Bayern Munich in a nail-biting game that went to a whopping 11-shot PK shoot-out. 

This year was just as exciting since six teams were vying for the championship instead of last year’s four. Here’s what went down in case you missed it:

 

Quarterfinals

In the quarterfinals, AC Milan took down Tokyo Verdy Beleza 3-1, and Club América took down Tottenham 2-1. 

AC Milan was up three-nil until the last three minutes of the match when Tokyo came back and scored one. 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GAME 🙌​@acmilan vs @tokyo_beleza

(3-1)

⚽ 18’ Valentina Piemonte (18) – AC Milan
⚽​ 64' Kosovare Asllani (9) – AC Milan
⚽​ 81’ Kosovare Asllani (9) – AC Milan
⚽​ 82’ Risa Shimizu (2) – Tokyo Verdy Beleza pic.twitter.com/3J3I8MUgtl

— The Women's Cup (@thewomenscup) August 15, 2022

Club América surprised  Tottenham by taking the lead in only the tenth minute and scoring again less than five minutes later. Kiana Palacios was in the right place at the right time for America’s first goal.

👀 Águilas, les dejamos el 𝐆𝐎𝐋 de @KianaPalacios a nivel de cancha ✨ #EstoEsAmérica pic.twitter.com/5E7616nWFp

— Club América Femenil (@AmericaFemenil) August 14, 2022

Tottenham only managed to get one back in the second half. 

 

Tokyo Verdy Beleza 2 vs. Tottenham Hotspur 1 (5th Place)

Tokyo opened the fifth place match by scoring in the first half. Tottenham equalized in the second, but a late goal by Tokyo put them ahead 2-1. 

⚽ 19' Riko Ueki (9) @tokyo_beleza
⚽ 55' Rosella Ayane (23) @SpursWomen
⚽ 81' Azusa Iwashimizu (33) @tokyo_beleza

— The Women's Cup (@thewomenscup) August 17, 2022

 

Semifinals 

In the semifinals, both NWSL teams left victorious. Nadia Nadim scored the first goal for Racing, and then the team’s newest signing, Wang Shuang, scored her first goal off what looked like an awkward bounce. Both goals were in the first half, and AC Milan just couldn’t do the uphill climb after that.

Here's a look at the Wang Shuang goal tonight for @RacingLouFC … seems she's going to make a big difference for the club. pic.twitter.com/nNn55alhbo

— Kent Spencer (@WHAS11Kent) August 18, 2022

 

In the other semifinal, OL Reign took on Club América. The first half was scoreless, although Club América had a couple of good looks. In the second half, Kiana Palacios came out of nowhere to slot in the match’s first goal. 

Así fue el 𝐆𝐎𝐋 de @KianaPalacios a nivel de cancha ¡DALE AME! 🦅✨ pic.twitter.com/ygJyweb3Lx

— Club América Femenil (@AmericaFemenil) August 17, 2022

As the end of the first half neared, OL Reign’s Tziarra King struck the ball perfectly into the top corner of the net to equalize.

TZIARRA KING. WHAT A GOAL. 💥@OLReign are right back in it. Game on 🍿 pic.twitter.com/nCuMXSZ1u7

— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) August 17, 2022

Then, just a few minutes later, Olivia van der Jagt put OL Reign ahead. She tapped the ball into the goal after Club America failed to clear it. 

 

Club América 5 vs. AC Milan 4 (3rd Place)

The third place match was another uncommon yet exciting pairing, between Club América from Mexico and AC Milan from Italy. This game was a roller coaster, to say the least, with nine goals scored. 

Club America opened the scoring in the third minute, but AC Milan quickly answered with a beautiful freekick. AC Milan had the lead at halftime, but thanks to a goal by Kiana Palacios and a hattrick by Alison González, Club America ended up taking the lead in stoppage time, making the final score 5-4.

🙌​ 3rd PLACE MATCH 🙌​@AmericaFemenil (5-4) @acmilan

⚽ 4’ Martínez (9)
⚽ 38’ Tucceri Cimini (27)
⚽ 43’ Bergamaschi (7)
⚽ 57’ Palacios (7)
⚽ 72’ Gonzalez (10)
⚽ 74’ Gonzalez (10)
⚽ 84’ Thomas (19)
⚽ 88’ Piemonte (18)
⚽ 90’ Gonzalez (10)🧢 pic.twitter.com/UPT75gqPMX

— The Women's Cup (@thewomenscup) August 21, 2022

 

OL Reign 2 vs. Racing Louisville 1 (Final)

Kirsten Davis scored Racing’s lone goal in the first half after a whipping cross from Jaelin Howell came and caused chaos in the box. The goal made Davis the first player for Louisville to score in the NWSL Challenge Cup, NWSL regular season, and The Women’s Cup. 

🙌​ CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 🙌​@OLReign became #TheWomensCup 2022 champion after securing a 2-1 victory over @RacingLouFC

⚽ 65’ Jordyn Huitema (9) – @OLReign
⚽ 59’ Olivia Athens (12) – @OLReign
⚽ 33’ Kirsten Davis (22) – @RacingLouFC pic.twitter.com/rKo0biIMfW

— The Women's Cup (@thewomenscup) August 21, 2022

However, the goal wasn’t enough for Louisville as OL Reign took it to them in the second half. Olivia Athens scored the equalizer, and less than ten minutes later, Jordyn Huitema put OL Reign ahead. The ball that Jimena López played to Huitema was just outstanding, and Huitema calmly slotted the ball home.

Jordyn Huitema gets the winner as OL Reign are crowned the 2022 Women's Cup champions (🎥 @AttackingThird)pic.twitter.com/rnfYyzTwd3

— AllForXI (@AllForXI) August 21, 2022

The former champions just couldn’t make it back, and OL Reign was named The Women’s Cup 2022 champions!

 

Featured image via @OLReign on Twitter

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