FootyPop: World Champion Esther Gonzalez Scores a Brace, Makes Herself at Home on Gotham FC

This week was jam-packed with NWSL, NCAA, and international league action. In the NWSL, we saw a couple of upsets and some great goals. In the NCAA, Drake University had an unbelievable goal, and we’re ready for another weekend of action. Plus, the USWNT is gearing up for its September friendlies against South Africa!

 

High of the Weekend 

Esther González making her mark on her Gotham debut 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HHNndZEUq6

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) September 17, 2023

World Champion Esther Gonzalez is making herself right at home at Gotham FC. 

She scored a brace in just her second appearance for the team, becoming the second player since 2015 to score a brace within their first two league appearances!

Having a World Cup winner in the NWSL is amazing for the league, and even better to see her performing well.

 

Low of the Weekend

In what world is this not a penalty and red card, or even foul? Completely reckless and the leg going in for the tackle doesn't even get a ball when I cut her? Just glad I saw her coming and didn't plant on that leg or I'd 100% not be walking today. pic.twitter.com/ruQ2rXtcK3

— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) September 17, 2023

Many are complaining about the reffing on Saturday’s San Diego vs. Kansas City match. This foul was one instance of a miss-call that should have clearly led to a PK. Not to mention, it was a flat-out dangerous tackle, which could have left a player seriously injured. 

 

News of the Weekend 

🚨Montse Tomé on the players' decision to attend the call

"I trust that the players are professionals, they come from being world champions, they love the profession, being in the Spanish team is a privilege, and I know that they will be with us tomorrow"

As per @LaiaBonals,… pic.twitter.com/0Pq7fFVJo3

— ata football (@atafball) September 18, 2023

The new Spain women’s national team coach, Montse Tome, called up fifteen World Cup-winning players for the September international window. However, the players have not yet announced that they will be ending their strike against the Spain national team. Tome left Hermoso off of the roster in order to “protect her.” Twenty players that Tome called up signed the letter demanding reform in the Spanish federation, including new leadership. Rubiales and Vilda have stepped down, but players state that their demands have not yet been met. 

This is insane… how can you threaten your own player like this…😳
call them to the national team, when they said they want clear changes before they come back!

this is soooo disrespectful…
clearly they don’t care… and they dont allow them to make their own decision 😔

— Ana Crnogorcevic (@AnaCrnogorcevic) September 18, 2023

Others are saying it was premature for Tome to call up these players and even disrespectful of their demands and wants. So, only time will tell if these players will answer the national team’s call.

 

Fail of the Weekend

BONKERS FREE KICK GOAL IN NETHERLANDS 🇳🇱 Never seen this before. Ajax Women score after free kick smashed off crossbar & soars high into Dutch sky before eventually crossing goal line, but only *after* opposition keeper starts to put 2nd ball into play.pic.twitter.com/E5uZtviJnT

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) September 15, 2023

This was a bit of a bizarre play from the Netherlands women’s soccer league. The attacking team takes a free kick that ricochets off the bar into the sky. The goalkeeper then taps a different ball into play instead of saving the initial shot. Ultimately, the first ball went in and was counted as a goal! Not sure what happened here… we may need a referee’s explanation! 

 

Game of the Weekend 

#PORvRGN #ReignSupreme Megan Rapinoe is subbed off to a roaring sell out crowd at Providence Park pic.twitter.com/b4xsbGaMM0

— Taylor Vincent (@tayvincent6) September 17, 2023

The Cascadia rivalry is special, but this particular game was entirely different. OL Reign traveled up to take on the Portland Thorns in what was Megan Rapinoe’s last match against the rivals. Rapinoe attended the University of Portland alongside Thorn’s veteran, Christine Sinclair. 

The game had a sell-out crowd that gave a standing ovation for Megan Rapinoe. 

 

Goal of the Weekend 

SHE DID WHAT?🤯🤯#NCAASoccer x 🎥 ESPN+ / @DrakeWSoccer
pic.twitter.com/0IANl5DRJT

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) September 17, 2023

This goal from Drake University’s Zoey Mahoney is something else. She did a flip throw-in that somehow soared all the way into the back of the net! 

 

Player of the Weekend 

FIFA’s #TheBest nominees:

🇪🇸Aitana Bonmatí
🇪🇸Jenni Hermoso
🇪🇸Mapi León
🇪🇸Salma Paralluelo
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Rachel Daly
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Alex Greenwood
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Lauren James
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Keira Walsh
🇸🇪Amanda Ilestedt
🇦🇺Caitlin Foord
🇦🇺Mary Fowler
🇦🇺Sam Kerr
🇨🇴Linda Caicedo
🇫🇷Kadidiatou Diani
🇺🇸Lindsey Horan
🇯🇵Hinata Miyazawa pic.twitter.com/nmdSbhYJUk

— Women’s Transfer News (@womenstransfer) September 14, 2023

Lindsey Horan received a nomination for FIFA’s Best Women’s Player! She’s the only USWNT member to receive a nomination!

 

Team of the Weekend 

ROSTER NEWS:

Midge Purce and M.A. Vignola will replace Rose Lavelle and Kelley O'Hara on the #USWNT roster for the upcoming September matches against South Africa» https://t.co/ofNlsEJMnp pic.twitter.com/gkGXxCigEB

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) September 16, 2023

It was disappointing to hear that Rose Lavelle won’t make it to her home city for the USWNT friendly coming up. And Kelley O’Hara also will sit out. But the good news is, we get to see Midge Purce and MA Vignola get the call-up! Midge Purce is a familiar USWNT face, but if you haven’t heard MA Vignola’s name, it’s because this is her first senior WNT call-up and only second-ever national team call-up!

Plus, Jaedyn Shaw and Mia Fishel received their first senior national team call-ups!

 

Referee of the Weekend

Welcome to MLS, Nat! 🩵 https://t.co/ngKrKOYS8d

— Tori Penso (@ToriPenso) September 17, 2023

Yes, a bit of an odd category we had to add, but referee Natalie Simon got her first MLS gig!

 

Featured image via @gothamfc on Instagram

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