What to Watch For in the NWSL, Matchday 19
Four games remain in what has been an incredible NWSL season. All 12 teams have everything to play for. None of the playoff spots have been clinched, and there’s only a six-point gap between first and eighth place, meaning any missteps down the stretch could cost any team in the top six. The margin for error is small, making each and every game as high stakes as they could be. It’s a race to the finish that you don’t want to miss out on. Let’s breakdown what to watch for in Matchday 19 of the NWSL.
Racing Louisville vs. Houston Dash: Friday, September 15 at 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT, Paramount+
Racing Louisville is on the outside looking in as they sit in seventh, but they’ve been playing their best soccer as of late. Expect this team to come out ready to perform after losing the Challenge Cup last weekend. Houston hasn’t won a game in the league since June 3, over three months ago.
Everything points to Louisville getting back on track with a win. A win on a Friday would put pressure on the Washington Spirit, sitting in sixth. Louisville is strong at home, and Houston doesn’t score enough to win games. These teams played each other to a 0-0 draw to start the season, but with Louisville’s home-field advantage, they have the edge to get a win. Thembi Kgatlana with Savannah DeMelo are must-see TV, and you won’t want to miss them in action.
Gotham FC vs. Washington Spirit: Saturday, September 16 at 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT, Paramount+
Fifth place takes on sixth place as both teams have a chance to put separation between each other with a win. Both teams haven’t been playing their best down the stretch. Gotham has just one win, three draws, and a loss in their last five. However, they refused to give up in their last match against the Courage, coming back from 3-1 to salvage a 3-3 draw.
Washington seems to be a sinking ship at the moment, and they haven’t been able to fix it yet. Their last win in the NWSL was June 18; they have three losses and three draws since then. Their last game against Chicago was especially alarming, with a 2-0 loss. If you’re looking to make the playoffs, let alone compete for a title, those are games you cannot afford to lose at this stage in the season.
In spite of the Spirit having their stars back, 21 shots with eight of them on target and scoring none of them against Chicago won’t cut it. It’s hard to say that Washington will magically find a spark and turn it around. Gotham should be able to get the win at home, but a draw could also be on the cards. Midge Purce and Trinity Rodman are game-breakers who can impact the match in an instant. They’re the biggest thing to look for from an entertainment perspective.
San Diego Wave vs. Kansas City Current: Saturday, September 16 at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT, Paramount+
The Wave have steadied themselves after a small rough patch during the World Cup. They’ve now won three games in a row and are taking on last-place Kansas City. Kansas City lost a heartbreaker in the Challenge Cup Semifinals last week. The question is, can they pick themselves back up and compete against the team in first place when they’re at the bottom of the table?
The Wave already beat KC 2-0 this season, and the Current have a road record of two wins, five losses, and one draw. It’s going to take something special from the Current to pull off the upset here. Alex Morgan and company should have no issues getting a win as they push to win the NWSL Shield.
In terms of what to watch for, it might sound crazy to watch a defender, but Naomi Girma is incredibly smooth, poised, and technical on the ball. There’s a reason everyone has been raving about her: watch how she controls the game with her skills.
Portland Thorns vs. OL Reign: Saturday, September 16 at 10:30 PM ET/7:30 PM PT, Paramount+
The Cascadia Rivalry is without a doubt the biggest in the NWSL, and this matchup has even more meaning. Megan Rapinoe makes her farewell to Portland, a fan base that loves to root against her while still having a tremendous amount of respect and admiration at the same time. That’s probably the biggest thing to watch going into this match.
With that being said, Portland will be happy to send the OL Reign further down the table, as a loss would give Louisville and Angel City a chance to be level on points with a win. The rivalry this season is dead even. The Thorns won on the road in the NWSL 2-0, and the OL Reign got their revenge in the Challenge Cup in Portland with a 1-0 win. Their last matchup in the Challenge Cup was a 0-0 draw, making this anyone’s game.
The Reign’s problem isn’t the star power. It’s the fact that they’re slow starters, and they’ve lost their finishing boots. In their last seven games in all competitions, they’ve scored a measly three goals. Their defense has been solid, but if they give up a goal, then they decide to pick up their intensity and possess the ball in the other team’s half, trying to score.
The good news for them is Portland isn’t in great form and is without Sophia Smith. One win in their last five league games isn’t a good sign for them, either. Morgan Weaver has done well scoring, but their defense hasn’t held up as strong as it usually does. This game is likely headed for a draw, as both teams may want to hold their position in the standings.
Chicago Red Stars vs. Angel City: Sunday, September 17 at 6:00 PM ET/3:00 PM PT, CBS Sports Network
Angel City’s unbeaten run under Becki Tweed has been something to behold. Since their last loss on June 10, they haven’t lost in their last ten games in all competitions, with six wins and four draws. On the other hand, Chicago is coming off one of the biggest wins of the season with a 2-0 win against the Washington Spirit. Chicago has a nice mix of young players and veterans who are figuring out how to play together, and they’ve shown the ability to score. It’s their defense that’s been the problem, with 39 goals allowed, most in the league by a wide margin.
It would be a stunner to see Chicago end Angel City’s unbeaten run, but the beauty of the NWSL is how much parity there is. The Red Stars might end up putting on a show with their new owners at home, keeping an eye on how they perform as a team. Angel City’s defense has held up strong during this run. I lean towards a draw, but this is a huge opportunity for Angel City as well. A win would put them one step closer to the top six in a game that they should win if they want to prove they are a playoff team. I can see why this is the nationally televised game on CBS Sports Network, be sure to tune in.
Orlando Pride vs. North Carolina Courage: Sunday, September 17 at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT, Paramount+
The last matchup of the weekend is interesting for a few reasons. Can Orlando stop their skid and keep themselves in the playoff race? They’re only four points out of the playoff spots, and they have a home game against the North Carolina Courage. In a different situation, I’d say the Courage are heavily favored. However, they are fresh off winning the Challenge Cup, which was a pretty big emotional high.
They’re an elite organization and are fully capable of refocusing, but it’s only human nature to relax just a little bit after a big win. This might be the best chance Orlando has to get a result against the Courage because the other matchups this season haven’t been pretty. Orlando did muster a 1-1 draw, but the other two games were 3-0 and 5-0. Hopefully, Orlando makes use of the three games of film they have against North Carolina to create a winning game plan against North Carolina.
Messiah Bright will surely be involved as she’s running away with Rookie of the Year honors. On the flip side, Kerolin is a joy to watch and will be the player that the Courage tries to feed to get the win.
Featured image via @NWSL on Instagram
_
GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS
Girls Soccer Network
Your source for girls soccer news
