Top 5 Goals: She Believes Cup, EURO Qualifiers, W-League

Between the SheBelieves Cup, Euro Qualifiers, and the W-League, there was more than enough action to keep women’s soccer fans satisfied. The USWNT looked great, Scotland handled Cyprus with ease, and the Brisbane Roar continued their nice run of form. Each team is featured on this week’s Top 5 Goals. Let’s take a closer look. 

5. Rose Lavelle – USWNT 

GOAL USA! Rose Lavelle comes off the bench to deliver the breakthrough. 1-0! #SheBelievesCup

(via @FOXSoccer)pic.twitter.com/hPmDukWsAt

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) February 19, 2021

Canada did everything they could to keep the USWNT out in the first match of the SheBelieves Cup. But thanks to a late Rose Lavelle appearance, it was all for naught. Lavelle finally got the breakthrough by reacting quicker than everyone else in the box. She smashed it home to seal a huge victory for the United States. 

4. Megan Rapinoe – USWNT

Come for the @mPinoe goal, stay for the Sloane-inspired celebration ❤️ @alikrieger & @Ashlyn_Harris pic.twitter.com/K56j6WPi4Q

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) February 21, 2021

Megan Rapinoe got back on the scoresheet for the United States against Brazil. Pinoe got a bit of luck as her shot deflected off both the defender and the keeper’s hand. However, the cross was still a thing of beauty, and it’s more about the celebration afterward from Pinoe. Sloane, Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris’ newborn daughter, received a little tribute from Pinoe, and everyone’s hearts burst.

3. Caroline Weir – Scotland

😱 @itscarolineweir 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨! pic.twitter.com/bvcBkLRxWU

— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) February 19, 2021

Caroline Weir’s great run of form for club and country continued as she simply embarrassed the Cyprus defense. Three defenders were forced to eat dirt before Weir was one-on-one with the keeper. The angle was nearly impossible, but Weir watched the keeper go to ground and made the right call by cheekily chipping her. Great goal from a player who is in scary form at the moment. 

2. Emily Gielnik – Brisbane Roar

.@EGielnik getting her inner David Beckham on 🚀

📽️: @FOXFOOTBALL

📺: @Foxtel, @kayosports
📱: My Football Live app https://t.co/wHSpvQaoGC#WLeague #BRIvPER #ForTheCrest #OneGlory pic.twitter.com/w76nuiu4WM

— Liberty A-League (@aleaguewomen) February 21, 2021

The only reason this goal isn’t No. 1 on the list is because of the blunder from the keeper, but that takes nothing away from Emily Gielnik’s expert chip. Anyone who attempts this in a game takes a huge risk of being disciplined by a coach, yet Gielnik took the risk for glory anyway. The keeper does manage to get back but simply can’t corral the ball into her grasp, and it just slips through her fingers. Brisbane continues to push Sydney for the top spot in the W-League thanks to goals like this from Emily Gielnik. 

1. Christen Press – USWNT

WHAT A HIT! 🎯@ChristenPress puts the @USWNT in front vs Brazil with a perfect strike #SheBelieves pic.twitter.com/Px3IkHmWFm

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 21, 2021

Christen Press is truly one of a kind, a unique creator and scorer who should be a definitive starter for the USWNT when healthy. This goal shows just why she should have an undisputed place in the starting 11. All Press needs is one touch inside, but it’s the speed with which she takes on the shot that surprises everyone. Neither the defender nor keeper is ready for a shot to come with such power and accuracy. It’s as if she finds new ways to score each time she’s on the pitch, just a special player, and the USWNT is lucky to have her. 

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