NWSL Week 8 in review: Via Chicago

With just one more week to go until the World Cup break, it’s becoming pretty clear that some teams are just trying to make it through, maybe secretly hoping that someone gets bounced out of that big tournament in Canada sooner rather than later. While Chicago, Washington and Boston have mostly weathered the storm, Portland, Seattle, Sky Blue and Houston have continued to struggle, failing to earn many points -- or any points -- at a time when the playing field is supposed to be leveled a little bit. Some of these teams will get players back soon, and maybe there’s some small comfort in knowing reinforcements are on the way, but will it be too late?

Portland finally scores a goal, still can’t win
Portland came into this weekend badly needing a win. Before Saturday, the Thorns had not won a game since April 18, the second week of the season. Since then, the team has suffered a pair of losses followed by a pair of draws, and Paul Riley’s side has slowly slid down the table.

Against Washington, the Thorns got out to an early lead thanks to Genoveva Anonma’s first NWSL goal. It wasn’t just the first goal for the Equatorial Guinea international, though, it was also the first goal anyone on Portland had scored in more than two games. Of course, the Thorns’ lead didn’t last long. Three weeks ago, it was Portland with a pair of goals to come back and steal a point from the Spirit. On Saturday, it was Washington rallying from behind, with Amanda DaCosta and Crystal Dunn scoring two minutes apart to out-Thorns the Thorns and steal not just one point, but all three.

The 2-1 win for the Spirit, combined with Chicago’s draw in Seattle, puts Washington just two points out of first place heading into the final week before the World Cup break. The Thorns, meanwhile, are now winless in five straight, and have fallen into seventh place, joining the likes of Western NY, Houston and Seattle, with just two wins on the season.

The Boston Breakers, now unbeaten in three
Boston spent so much of the early part of the season struggling. It was five games in before the Breakers managed to earn so much as a point. But since then, Boston’s done nothing but earn points, taking seven of a possible nine from the past three games and climbing all the way into third. The newest addition to this strange little run was on Saturday, when the Breakers topped FC Kansas City thanks to a 51st minute goal from Kristie Mewis.

Boston outshot Kansas City, 19-9, on the night, and the loss puts the Blues into fourth on the table. Because they have a bye next week, FCKC won’t see another NWSL game until June 19.

Chicago still perfect, Seattle still not
Despite outshooting the Red Stars, 13-8, Seattle couldn’t quite put a stop to the speeding train that is Chicago. The Reign did manage to slow the thing down at least, holding Rory Dames’ side goalless, something that hasn’t happened yet this season. Of course, Seattle couldn’t score, either.

The 0-0 draw keeps the first place Red Stars unbeaten on the season, a streak now at seven. Seattle is now all the way down in sixth.

Someone should tell Sky Blue FC they’re allowed to score more than once per game
Eight games in and Sky Blue FC has yet to score more than once in a game. If they’ve scored at all. Something else the Jersey side hasn’t managed to do more than once? Win. Thanks to a 1-1 draw with Houston on Sunday, Sky Blue is still very much at the bottom of the table, even on points with Western NY, but only because one of them didn’t have a game this week.

Kristin Grubka scored 11 minutes in, Brittany Cameron saved a Jessica McDonald PK and still, Sky Blue found a way to not win, allowing Houston’s Allie Bailey to equalize in the 86th minute. Bailey, an amateur player called up to replace the Dash’s missing internationals, was subbed on just three minutes earlier.