NWSL Week 13 Weekend Recap

Sky Blue FC vs Washington Spirit. Final Score: 1-0

Sky Blue FC had an uncharacteristically stale first half and looked to be heading for a scoreless draw until Monica Ocampo’s game winner in the 74th minute gave them three points and a 1-0 win over Washington.

The New Jersey club failed to impress in the first half as Washington controlled possession and created more chances. The Spirit had two promising opportunities early in the first half on the back of Conny Pohlers. Early on, Pohlers sent a cross into the box for Diana Matheson but Matheson was unable to direct her low strike on net. Instead the ball sailed wide.

Shortly after, Pohler was at it again, this time running onto a cross towards the box. She found herself one-on-one with Brittany Cameron and shot, but the keeper dove to make the crucial save.

At the start of the second half, Jim Gabarra replaced Nayeli Rangel with Kelley O’Hara. The Stanford alum provided the home side with the attacking spark they lacked in the first half. O’Hara looked to open the scoring in the 61st minute after receiving a pass from Taylor Lytle on the edge of the 18 yard box. She hit a low strike towards the far post away from Ashlyn Harris but her shot sailed wide.

The game winner was scored in the 74th minute from a rebound off a Spirit defender. The sequence began with a shot by Danesha Adams from the edge of the 18, whose shot was blocked by Candace Chapman. However, she couldn’t clear the danger, allowing Monica Ocampo to pick up the ball and lob it over Harris’ head for a 1-0 lead and the eventual winner.

Portland Thorns FC vs Boston Breakers, Final Score: 0-2

Sydney Leroux scored a brace against Portland at JELD-WEN Field to become the league leader in goals and help Boston to a 2-0 victory.

From kickoff it was evident that Boston would strike first. They took command of the midfield and outpaced the Thorns’ star players. Heather O’Reilly regularly broke down the defense to find pockets for Leroux. The opening goal, assisted by O’Reilly, came in the 11th minute. O’Reilly slipped through two defenders on the edge of the box and found Leroux open atop the arch of the box. Leroux took a touch and slotted the ball low towards the bottom corner of the net.

The Portland defense was disorganized, giving Boston’s playmakers room to create opportunities. This in turn hurt the home side as O’Reilly took advantage of the defense in the 37th minute to give Leroux her second goal of the night and expand Boston’s lead. O’Reilly was given ample space in the midfield to connect with Leroux up top. She slipped a long pass onto Leroux who ran onto the ball past two Thorns defenders. On a breakaway into the box, Leroux shot the ball low into the net on an awkward angle for a 2-0 lead.

Christine Sinclair and Alex Morgan tried to fight back in the second half, stringing passes between one another outside the box but couldn’t direct their shots on target or defeat Alyssa Naeher between the posts.

Late into the second half, Portland nearly paid for their defensive mistakes again after Joanna Lohman got on the end of a cross outside the six yard box with only Karina LeBlanc to overcome. Lohman chipped the ball but it was deflected by LeBlanc and pushed out towards Sanderson, who was unable to get a touch on the ball before the Thorns defense cleared it.

FC Kansas City vs Western New York Flash, Final Score: 0-0

FCKC was well organized in the midfield but but couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net, concluding the NWSL’s second scoreless draw this season.

There weren’t many golden opportunities for either side as much of the action was contained in the midfield. Throughout the night, FCKC was better at moving the ball forward through Erika Tymrak, Merritt Mathias and Courtney Jones. The trio tried to find the back of the net but were denied by on several occasions by Adrianna Franch or dispossessed by the visitors defense.

The home side had a great chance two minutes following kick off when Jones got on the end of a ball outside the six yard box but directed it at Franch for an easy save. Jones struck again in the 70th minute after she battled her way into the box against three defenders but had her shot deflected.

On the other end of the field, the FCKC defense was on high alert to prevent Abby Wambach from putting WNYF on the scoreboard. Wambach and Samantha Kerr teamed up in the 32nd minute as Kerr received a cross from Wambach into the box but clipped her shot wide of the post.