Week 20 of the NWSL season played an important role in the playoff race. Here is a quick recap of all of the happenings around the league.
With Chicago back in action on Friday night, points were vital in the race for the final playoff spot in the NWSL. In the Lifetime game of the week, Seattle put themselves in solid control of second with a win on the road at Utah. Houston picked up three points to keep their hopes at the postseason alive as Sky Blue’s struggles continued. In the final game of the weekend, Portland pulled away in the second half to swap places with Orlando.
Second-half header from Sam Kerr salvages a point for Chicago
The Chicago Red Stars hadn’t played a game in 27 days prior to their matchup with North Carolina on Friday night, so it was not a surprise to see Chicago get out to a slow start. They found themselves down just 21 minutes in. North Carolina’s Jessica McDonald got end line before crossing it toward the back post, where Debinha’s head slammed the ball into the back of the net.
After halftime, however, the Red Stars came out with a point to prove. In the 64th minute, Vanessa DiBernardo played a ball in from the right side toward Sam Kerr, who was streaking in at the back post. Both teams had chances late to win it, but were unable to find the back of the net. The draw keeps the Red Stars just one point out of the fourth and final playoff spot.
Jess Fishlock’s header keeps Seattle soundly in second
The Lifetime game of the week was a hot one in Sandy, Utah, on Saturday afternoon. Because of the high temperatures, two water breaks were implemented in each half, while oxygen was available for players on the sidelines. With Utah needing points to stay alive in the playoff race, they fell short in their third game in a seven-day stretch.
After both goalkeepers came up with big saves to keep the game at knotted at zeros heading into the half, the Seattle Reign came out firing on all cylinders out of the break. In the 48th minute, Seattle’s Jess Fishlock headed home her first goal of the season at the back post after a cross in from the right side from defender Megan Oyster. That would be all Seattle needed to take all three points from the Royals. That puts Seattle four points clear of the Portland Thorns in third place.
Rachel Daly’s brace gives Houston the win in New Jersey
Houston took to the road to take on Sky Blue FC on Saturday evening in New Jersey. Rachel Daly put Houston ahead early after finishing off a cross from Kealia Ohai. Ohai beat her defender one-on-one to get end line before crossing it in toward the near post, where Daly was able to finish for the early lead in the seventh minute.
Savannah McCaskill and Madison Tiernan combined in the 64th minute to tie things up for Sky Blue at 1-1. McCaskill’s original chance was saved by Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell, but the rebound fell to Tiernan who buried home the equalizer. The tie wouldn’t last long. Just nine minutes later, Daly collected her brace off a penalty kick. The Sky Blue were called for a handball in the box and Daly delivered for the Dash to collect all three points on the road. They now sit just four points back of Orlando for the last playoff spot.
Strong second half start helps Thorns beat Pride
The Portland Thorns headed down to Orlando to take on the Pride in a matchup of the last two playoff seeds. Both teams had moments to shine in the opening 45 minutes, but the real story of the first half was the fouls and cards that were handed (or not handed) out by the referee. Orlando’s Kristen Edmonds was taken down twice by Tobin Heath, once by shoving her with two hands, and wasn’t shown a yellow. However, just minutes later, Portland’s Christine Sinclair was shown a yellow card after her feet got tangled up with Orlando’s Alex Morgan in the box during a corner kick.
The second half was dominated by the visitors from Portland, and they scored goals in the 47th and 53rd minutes to take a commanding 2-0 lead. That was all the Thorns needed as defender Emily Menges and goalkeeper Adriana Franch hunkered down for the shutout. With the win, the Thorns jumped the Pride and now sit in third place.
Coming up
The Seattle Reign welcome the Chicago Red Stars to Memorial Stadium for a Wednesday night matchup. Sitting just one point out of the final playoff spot heading into the match, the Red Stars have the opportunity to find their way in with a win on the road.