Four years ago the USWNT hung with Japan for 120 minutes, twice taking the lead, twice seeing it fall apart. They took the thing all the way to penalties, and all the way to letting it fall apart even more spectacularly than before, a series of PK disasters for the ages that left the confetti to fall on the Nadeshiko.
NWSL Week 13 preview: Welcome home
The first matches of the post-World Cup era, featuring Portland paying a visit to Sky Blue FC, Western NY heading to Seattle and the Red Stars rolling into Houston.
Michael Chow-USA TODAY Sports
Despite that loss, though, the Americans returned home as heroes, a position that had been cemented long before that final even kicked off, a newfound fame and shine all claimed thanks to a previous game, one of the greatest in a still young tournament’s history, and a goal -- you know the one, all leaping header and pure Abby Wambach power and that sound you’ll never forget of the ball hitting the back of the net. A country exhaling with the hope of still being alive. When they returned then, losers and heroes all in one, there was hope. The sudden celebrity, the trickle down, a small league still struggling, now hoping for a big boost, a last ditch Rosalita finds One Eyed Willie’s jewels in Mikey’s marble bag and The Goondocks get saved moment.
For a minute, it was enough. For a minute, no pen, no sign. For a minute. And then, it disappeared.
Four years later there’s a new league, but the stakes remain the same. A three-year curse that’s sunk two previous attempts still real and an uneasiness that’s been lurking somewhere just down there, impossible to ignore since this third season kicked off three months ago.
The U.S. got its second chance, and they made good -- from 54 yards and headers off the line and controversy be damned -- they made good. And now we get our second chance. To take this moment and enjoy it. To take this moment and use it. To take this moment and this momentum and make it worth it. Fill seats and YouTube streams and occasional TV broadcasts. Come every weekend and the odd weeknight, a way smaller stage with way bigger stakes. To sing “We Are The Champions” again at the end of September when your club wins it all. To still be here a year from now. To care. To never say die.
Saturday
Sky Blue FC vs. Portland Thorns FC
Yurcak Field, 7 p.m. ET
The second half of a home and home that saw Sky Blue FC pay a visit to Providence Park last week, the Thorns will look to make it two in a row against a Jersey side that’s struggled all season long. In last week’s meeting in Portland, Sky Blue took a 1-0 lead into the 70th minute, before Sky Blowing the whole thing up, again. Cami Levin received a straight red card, Portland received a penalty kick converted by Allie Long, Sinead Farrelly netted the game winner nine minutes later, and Sky Blue has still not won a game since Opening Day.
Levin will miss the game due to her red card suspension, while the Thorns will be without McCall Zerboni, who's serving the second of a two game suspension for her own red card, acquired for using FC Kansas City's Shea Groom's back for some step aerobics action on June 19.
There’s also the question of whether any USWNT players will be making an appearance. Rutgers isn’t too far from NYC and its ticker tape, though there’s been no official word from either team on if we’ll see Kelley O’Hara and Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC) and/or Tobin Heath and Alex Morgan (Portland) suit up for their respective clubs. Last week saw Canada’s Kaylyn Kyle return to the Thorns, while Australia’s Caitlin Foord suited up in the Blue and Orange for the first time this season. Rhian Wilkinson, Nadine Angerer, Christine Sinclair, Stephanie Catley, Jodie Taylor (Portland), Jonelle Filigno, Sam Kerr and Monica Ocampo (Sky Blue) round out the World Cup internationals that could -- or should be -- rejoining their respective teams.
While Sky Blue has planted itself pretty firmly at the bottom of the table, with just one win and seven points through 11 games, the Thorns haven’t fared much better. Last week’s win was just the third of the season for a Portland side currently in seventh.
Seattle Reign FC vs. Western New York Flash
Memorial Stadium, 10 p.m. ET
Another second half of a home and home, this one featuring the second place Reign and the somehow they've climbed all the way into fifth Flash. The two sides played to a 1-1 draw last week in Rochester, with Kim Little giving Seattle the lead thanks to a 55th minute penalty before Lynn Williams found the equalizer for Western NY in the 81st. The Flash's one previous visit to Memorial Stadium this season came on opening weekend, and things did not go well, with the Reign steamrolling Western NY en route in a 5-1 win.
Seattle hasn't quite been the dominant force of a season ago, but Laura Harvey's side hasn't lost since April 23 either, and heads into Saturday not only tied on points with top of the table Chicago, but also riding a seven-game unbeaten streak. Western NY's season has been more of a roller coaster, but the Flash are currently on the clicktey-clacking up one of those big hills part of the ride, losing just once in their last six and only three points behind the idle Washington Spirit for the final playoff spot.
With the parade on the other side of the country and only a day before, it seems unlikely that either side will see its USWNT contingent -- Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo (Seattle) and Whitney Engen and Sydney Leroux (Western NY) -- back in action this weekend.
Sunday
Houston Dash vs. Chicago Red Stars
BBVA Compass Stadium, 8:30 p.m. ET
It's almost a shame that Sunday's meeting between the Dash and Red Stars couldn't have somehow been delayed by a week to give some of the returning USWNT players time to settle in and potentially suit up. Imagine it, the first place Chicago Red Stars, home of World Cup defensive hero, and 2014's NWSL Rookie of the Year -- Julie Johnston (and also Shannon Boxx, Christen Press and Lori Chalupny) -- facing off against World Cup offensive hero Carli Lloyd (and also Morgan Brian and Meghan Klingenberg) and the Houston Dash. How fun would that have been?
We’ll have to wait until the final week of the season for that matchup, but Sunday should still prove plenty interesting. Neither team has played since the end of June, when the Red Stars beat Sky Blue and the Dash fell to Washington. Chicago is still at the top of the table, but the Red Stars’ lead has completely evaporated, with Seattle now level on points and in second thanks only to having one more loss. And Houston, once mired in a race for the bottom with Sky Blue, has now climbed out of the basement and into sixth. That loss to Washington snapped a five-game unbeaten streak for the Dash, but a crazy crowded table means that Randy Waldrum’s side is still only four points out of a playoff spot, and just five behind the first place/second place Chicago-Seattle tandem.
The Red Stars and Dash have met once previously this season, also in Houston, playing to a 2-2 draw on May 15. Rachel Axon and Kealia Ohai scored for Houston, while rookie Sofia Huerta was responsible for both Chicago goals.
Both teams could see the return of their Canadian international goalkeepers this weekend, with Erin McLeod suiting up for the Dash and Karina LeBlanc backstopping the Red Stars. Fellow Canadians Allysha Chapman and Lauren Sesselmann (Houston) and Melissa Tancredi and Adriana Leon (Chicago) should also be available. New Zealand captain Abby Erceg previously returned to the Red Stars, playing 90 minutes in the win over Sky Blue FC two weeks ago.
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