Sophia Wilson and Ashley Sanchez Score Winners, August 22nd NWSL Recap
The first game of the night was between the Kansas City Current and the Seattle Reign FC. Seattle started the game with two solid shots, and then the goal happened. It was an unfortunate own goal in the 11th minute by KC Current defender Kayla Sharples. Multiple shots hit the bar for the Current, but they never got a goal out of it. Seattle Reign led 1-0 at halftime. Out of the half, the Current were on the strong foot as they got off multiple shots and got their goal in the 51st minute on a penalty from Debinha on a handball by the Seattle defender.
The pressure continued by KC Current; a few minutes after the penalty, Kayla Sharples had a shot but no goal. More shots kept flying in for KC Current, but no goal was scored. Then it turned to Seattle getting multiple shots, but similar to the Current, no goal was scored. Even with ten minutes of extra time, both teams continued trying, but neither team scored again, and the match ended 1-1. Based on the stats, KC Current should have easily won this game; they had 12% more possession, a 3.25 EG, and won three more corners won.
The second game of the night was between the North Carolina Courage and Boston Legacy FC. An early shot from Ally Schlegel, then the Courage had a corner and a free kick. The goal came in the 10th minute for the Courage; Ashley Sanchez scored, assisted by Feli Rauch. After the goal, both teams had multiple opportunities in front of net, but the scoreline remained 1-0 heading into halftime.
After halftime, the shots kept coming and coming. Neither team scored again until extra time, when six minutes were added on. In the 92nd minute, Boston had a shot saved, then a shot blocked, and then they got the goal they were looking for. Aïssata Traoré scored the goal. VAR took around three minutes to review it. In the dying moments of extra time, Boston conceded a penalty, and the penalty was scored by Ashley Sanchez in the 107th minute, and that was the game. NC Courage won 2-1. The stats are fairly equal, so a last-minute winner was the right outcome.
The third game of the night was between Portland Thorns FC and Denver Summit FC. In the first half, it was a matter of who would score one of their shots. Denver had three shots, then Portland had three shots, and then it went back and forth. Until the 44th minute, when Sophia Wilson scored what would be the game-winning goal. Jessie Fleming assisted the goal.
The second half had a similar trend where one team had the momentum and had shots, and then the other team had the momentum. No other goals were scored in this game. The Portland Thorns won 1-0 in front of the home crowd. The stats say Denver probably should have at least gotten a draw and probably won this game. Denver dominated possession, won the corners, and had accurate passes. The one key stat Portland had was a 1.75 EG while Denver had 1.32 EG.
The NWSL has four games today starting at 2 pm EST, with Racing Louisville FC travelling to Chicago Stars FC. At 4 pm EST, the Washington Spirit hosts Orlando Pride. At 6 pm EST, Bay FC hosts the Houston Dash. And to close the night at 8 pm EST, Angel City FC hosts top-of-the-table Gotham FC.
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