The past weekend was packed to the brim with NWSL action. Racing Louisville won again, this time besting the Orlando Pride 3-1. The win marked Orlando’s second big loss without star Barbra Banda on the pitch.
That wasn’t the only match that brought the heat. Gotham kept their own win streak alive, and the Denver Summit and Utah Royals put on a true masterclass in stoppage time. The Summit ultimately came away with that win.
Read on for a look at the highs, lows and all-around good times during another ferocious weekend of NWSL soccer.
Racing Louisville racked up another win
Racing had another successful outing this weekend and leveled the Orlando Pride 3-1, the first time the team has won in Orlando since the two teams have been playing one another. The win also marked the first time a visiting team has won in the last 14 games between all NWSL clubs — something that would be a big deal for any team in the league, but is a major deal for Louisville, a side that has struggled all season.
It should be noted Orlando played without Barbra Banda for the second time in a row (and lost their second game in a row). Banda will head back to the US soon now that Zambia has been eliminated from the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations World Cup.
The Pride’s head coach Seb Hines chalked the loss up to Louisville’s aggressiveness. “A team like Louisville, who are very aggressive, they like to put pressure on, and we didn’t execute the best that we could have,” he said. “We were close in moments, but close right now isn’t enough to get us three points.”
Gotham added to their win streak
Gotham managed to hold back the San Diego Wave with a 1-0 win Friday after forward Jaedyn Shaw landed the goal that ultimately sealed the deal for the team in the 44th minute.
“For me, scoring goals is always amazing,” Shaw said after the game. “Obviously, to play at home, finally, is just so nice … even through the rain, lightning, monsoon, whatever just happened a couple hours ago. It was honestly really, really amazing to score in front of our home fans, and I hope we can continue to help the team win.”
The goal was also Shaw’s fifth of the season, and Gotham has only lost one game since returning from the Men’s World Cup break.
The goal was exactly the kind of work head coach Shaun Harris said the team needed from Shaw before the match. He told reporters, “We’ve spoken a lot and watched a lot of filming in the areas that she gets in. It’s very, very difficult to defend, so that was something that we looked [at] and we worked on, so I’m really pleased that she was able to execute today.”
Houston Dash surprised the KC Current
Saturday night’s match between the Dash and the Current appeared to be locked up in Kansas City’s favor until, all of a sudden it just wasn’t. Debinha scored for the Current in the 44th minute by way of an assist from Croix Bethune, a shot the Dash weren’t able to answer until rookie Kat Rader landed a penalty shot in the second half of the game.
The game also marked the 100th start for Houston’s Allysha Chapman, making her the third player in the team’s history to hit that benchmark (she was preceded by Kealia Watt and Jane Campbell).
Denver Summit and Utah Royals treated fans to a show
The Denver Summit managed a thrilling 2-1 win over the Utah Royals in a pretty epic stoppage-time battle. Denver ultimately won the game thanks to a powerful kick from Janine Sonis, something that moved her teammates.
“I was in tears,” Denver forward Ally Brazier said of Sonis’ goal after the game. “It just shows how much we care.”
The team also benefited from the work of Yazmeen Ryan, who opened up scoring for the Summit near the beginning of the second half.
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