NWSL Week 3 in review: A draw, a Dunn and a Boston win

Week 3 is in the books and now NWSL bids farewell to its USWNT players for a while, as they prepare to head to a magical land called Canada. Some went out with big goals, a few for their own team even, while others just kind of went. And one who probably should be going but is somehow staying home had a pretty great week, too.

How to draw a tie
Prior to Saturday, Chicago and Portland had met a grand total of seven times. Of those seven meetings, the first three all ended with whatever team was the visitor winning 2-0. The next four -- one in 2013 and three in 2014 -- all ended in draws. Consistency, thy name is Red Stars-Thorns.

The last time anyone actually won one of these games? June 1st, 2013. That’s two years ago. Hats were fashionable then. Ah, memories. Speaking of memories, do either of you remember that winning one of these games is actually an option?

See that? Christen Press scoring in the 4th and 8th minutes? That’s good. You just do that and then don’t let the other team also do it and...

Oh. I mean, yeah, she is Christine Sinclair. Okay, yeah, I guess let them have that one. It’s only the 29th minute and you can still do this. Make it to halftime even. Just 45 more minutes and you could change this whole thing. The earth might spin off its axis, but whatever, we’ll all go floating off into space with someone having won.

See it’s... oh. Well, we made it to 47 minutes before Mana Shim went and ruined it. Wait, it’s only the 47th minute. Guys, there is still plenty of time for someone to-- No? You’re just gonna foul each other a whole bunch and then go home? Sigh.

Carli Lloyd scores another game-winner
In the history of NWSL, the Boston Breakers have never won a home opener. In 2013, the Breakers played to a 2-2 draw with Western NY. In 2014, Boston lost 3-2 to Houston. Now, with a third try -- at a third different stadium -- Boston finally got one. They needed a little help in the form of a Houston own goal, but hey, a win’s a win.

Julie King and Nkem Ezurike had given the Breakers a 2-0 lead before the Dash answered back in the form of a Jessica McDonald brace. With the score knotted at 2, Carli Lloyd, as she so often does, stepped up to put away the game winner. Or stepped/flew/flailed into the ball, deflecting a Kristie Mewis free kick past Bianca Henninger to give the Breakers the 3-2 lead and their first win of the season. But hey, a game winner’s a game winner, right?

Katy Freels got one back for Sky Blue in the second half, but a disjointed performance and inability to solve both the Spirit’s midfield and the Dunn/Francisca Ordega combination was ultimately too much for the Jersey team to overcome.