Top 5 Goals: NWSL Matchweek 4 + Women’s FA Cup Semifinals

April 16, 2024
By Rohtas Wadera

After a hiatus due to the international break, we’re back to bring the best of the best from the world of women’s club soccer. The NWSL continues to deliver amazing games week after week and the drama of the Women’s FA Cup only adds to excitement surrounding the sport. Without further ado, here are the Top 5 Goals from the NWSL Matchweek 4 and the Women’s FA Cup Semifinals.

5. Rachel Williams – Manchester United

A beautiful ball in from Toone and Williams is there to head it home!#AdobeWomensFACup pic.twitter.com/EUU1Pgqc6W

— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) April 14, 2024

Manchester United made history thanks to Rachel Williams’ goal over Chelsea. Ella Toone put an enticing cross into the box that was waiting to be headed home. Williams beat her defender to the spot and attacked the ball in the air to give Manchester United a 2-0 lead. The Red Devils would go on to win 2-1 to go to the FA Cup Final for the first time in the club’s history.

4. Temwa Chawinga – Kansas City Current

POETRY. IN. MOTION. 🤌@biazaneratto on the counter to Chawinga with the finish!@NWSL | #KCBABY pic.twitter.com/wI23yzDvAM

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) April 14, 2024

Two signings from the offseason that went completely under the radar were Temwa Chawinga and Bia Zaneratto. The two have wasted no time in developing chemistry. The Current team leads the league in goals scored, and Chawinga and Zaneratto are a big reason why.

Zaneratto won the ball back and found herself in space. As soon as she did, watch how Chawinga immediately took off. Chawinga was deep in her own half and at least 5-8 yards behind Zaneratto. Chawinga turned on the jets and ran past five Gotham FC players to get open, and Bia hit her in stride. Chawinga kept her composure and finished well. The Current are looking like the team to beat to start this season.

3. Brittany Ratcliffe – Washington Spirit

.@brit_ratcliffe lifts the @WashSpirit in front late on! 😤 pic.twitter.com/wDw94oIf2T

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 13, 2024

It’s great to see Brittany Ratcliffe get another opportunity to show what she can do in Washington. NWSL fans might remember her scoring the insane long-ranger winner for the Utah Royals, handing the North Carolina Courage their only loss of the season in 2018.

When given a chance, Ratcliffe can score, and that’s exactly what she did here. She glided past defenders and entered some space just outside the box. Still, she needed to get her foot around the ball and loop it into the far corner; she made that look way easier than it was. That’s a left-footed finish, too, showing Ratcliffe can do it with both feet. She’s a true baller who deserves more attention.

2. Jutta Rantala- Leicester City

Incredible strike from Rantala! #AdobeWomensFACup @LCFC_Women pic.twitter.com/zJfX1ucuOo

— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) April 14, 2024

Jutta Ranala is a Finnish international who has been playing professional football since she was 14. A decade’s worth of professional experience by the age of 24 is rare, and she’s entering her physical prime as a player as well. Leicester City’s scouting department deserves the credit for finding Rantala.

Rantala’s move was similar to Brittany Ratcliffe’s, where she cut onto her left foot and set herself up to curl the ball into the far corner. Instead, Rantala fooled the keeper and went to the same side as her. It was a matter of inches, but Rantala did just enough to find the back of the net beautifully.

1. Alex Loera – Bay FC

Alex Loera's blast gives @wearebayfc the lead!

What a game on NWSL+!

Sign up for free now! >> https://t.co/y6cLvHupJ4 pic.twitter.com/gokBzXfS9w

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 15, 2024

Alex Loera is back home in the Bay and she has got to be loving every minute of it. The Santa Clara alum helped seal the first-ever home win in Bay FC’s history with this firecracker of a strike. The ball bounced up to her outside of the box, and she ripped it past the keeper with her left foot.

The technique on display is impeccable. Notice the knee over the ball and the follow-through on the strike. To score your first goal for your hometown club in front of friends and family has got to be a special moment for Alex Loera.