Game 1: Washington Spirit 2-1 Portland Thorns
After a Week 18 outing in which Washington dropped their worst performance in weeks against a poor San Diego side while Portland continued their downward spiral under coach Rob Gale at home against Bay FC, the national TV clash in DC was likely to be a get-right game for one of the two sides.
Despite new investor Magic Jonhson sitting alongside majority owner Michelle Kang, Spirit manager Jonatan Giraldez rested three of the USWNT's Olympic champions, leaving the trio of Trinity Rodman, Casey Krueger, and Hal Hershfelt on the bench to start the match with Rose Kouassi, Gabby Carle, and Ashely Hatch(!) taking their places. Perhaps Giraldez had watched the Thorns play the week prior: Any professional midfield in the world would have walked its way through Providence Park virtually unchallenged, but Giraldez's decision to rest three starters gave Portland a sliver of hope that they could stay in the game against the much more disciplined and well-structured Spirit.
For Hatch, who slotted in on the left wing with Courtney Brown dropping into Hershfelt's role next to Andi Sullivan, this was a rare opportunity. For frequent watchers of the Spirit or readers of this weekly recap, it has been glaringly obvious that the Spirit's new technical staff do not think much of Hatch, or at the very least, don't think she fits into their system. It's not hard to see why: The Spirit have transformed themselves from a relatively slow team with a bogged down midfield under Mark Parsons who relied on Hatch and now-Courage player Ashley Sanchez to unlock defenses out of a diamond midfield, into a versatile counter-attacking side with pace to burn. In Rodman, Ouley Sarr, the now injured Croix Bethune, and Kouassi, the Spirit are a team that rotates heavily across it's front line and asks its front three to go through a lot of running. Hatch just isn't that --and that's fine-- but it was one of the reasons the Spirit struggled to hurt the Thorns as much as I might have expected going into the match.
Portland lined up like they anticipated a Kouassi-Sarr-Rodman front three, Nicole Payne keeping her place at RB despite a rough overall display the week before. Gale inexplicably decided to burn his best FB and CB (Marie Müller and Isabella Obaze) in a relatively straightforward WCCL match against Club America on Wednesday, meaning that Kelli Hubly and Reyna Reyes started alongside Payne and Becky Sauerbrunn in a Thorns defense that seemed to screaming for the Spirit to rip it to shreds. For much of the first half, it looked very much like that would happen, Leicy Santos, Kouassi, and Sarr (who was eventually replaced by Rodman after sustaining an injury in the 22nd minute) generated a number of rapid fire chances in the first 15 minutes, multiple of which were turned away by a strong performance by Thorns new Aussie keeper McKenzie Arnold. Hatch, who missed two huge chances on the day, rotated inside with Sarr occupying the wide spaces much like how the Spirit played earlier in the season when Hatch was still getting starts.
Oddly enough, the Spirit bringing their best player onto the field as an injury replacement seemed to disrupt Washington, as the Thorns enjoyed long spells of possession without generating much towards the back end of the first half. A controversially disallowed Reyna Reyes goal --where the referee incorrectly blew for a foul on Washington keeper Aubrey Kingsbury before being overruled into an offside call by VAR-- was Portland's first warning shot. Gale, to his credit, seemed to fix some of the issues that plagued the Thorns against Bay, dropping Hina Sugita back into the double pivot next to Sam Coffey after playing her in the 10 the week prior. Many casual Thorns watchers think Hina is a natural 10, but that's never where she's been at her best for the Thorns: The (at one time) Japanese international is a natural playmaker, and she wants to drop deep and pick up the ball. She did a lot of that against the Spirit, and it allowed the Thorns to keep the ball and develop a rhythm in a way they never did against Bay. When you're constantly booting it long, your players struggle with confidence on the ball, and keeping a bit of possession and going into halftime 0-0 likely gave the Thorns a bit of confidence.
Washington was still lively on the counter through Rodman and Kouassi throughout the second half and created better chances against a particularly shaky Kelli Hubly, but Portland played one of their best halves in a long while after Alexa Spaanstra found Hina to make it 1-0 early in the half. Gale, however, seems allergic to proper personnel decisions: After starting what is currently Portland's strongest front line (Smith-Spaanstra-Reilyn Turner), Gale turned to Izzy D'Aquila and Christine Sinclair instead of rookie Payton Linnehan as second half subs. D'Aquila, poor soul, has had a rough go of it in her sophomore campaign, and duly gave the ball away to an impressive Tara McKeown at midfield, starting a counter which was cooly finished off by Rodman after isolating the hapless Hubly. Then, in the 87th minute, with the game still 1-1, Smith played a perfect ball across the box for D'Aquila to tap in to a practically empty net with Kingsbury stranded.....except the former Santa Clara star left her head up and and pinged her effort against the crossbar. After a backbreaking Leicy Santos header in the 95th minute gave the Spirit the victory, it was hard not to look back on that crossbar strike as a potentially massive moment in the course of Portland's season, and one that may have shook them out of their ongoing slump. Instead, Portland goes back home for another Friday night fixture against a bottom-tier playoff rival in Chicago, badly needing a win.
Washington fans will (perhaps rightly) point out that the three points were deserved. While I will (rightly) point out that single game xG is a relatively meaningless statistic subject to extreme variance, the fact is that the Spirit generated more big opportunities than the Thorns and struggled to put the ball in the net through a combination of goal line clearances, a virtuoso display from Arnold, and objectively poor finishing from Hatch and Kouassi in particular. While Giraldez may be concerned after a second straight slightly shaky performance with less-than-fantastic finishing after his star rookie number 10 was ruled out for the season, good teams win games like these. And win it they did, keeping them --just-- on the heels of the Orlando Pride in the NWSL shield race with just seven matches to play.
Quick Hits:
Reyna Reyes might have been the best player on the field in this one: Despite allowing Rodman to play the cross that led to the winning goal, Reyes was EVERYWHERE, locking up Kouassi 1v1, bullying the Spirit on the wings, and even getting forward into the Spirit box on occasion. For those of use who are still high on the youngster's potential, this was one of the matches to put on the highlight tape.
Washington feel like they're missing something in possession without the injured Bethune. Santos is a worthy replacement, but she's not quite as dynamic as the 4th overall pick was before her injury.
While she may be the GOAT, respectfully, please get Christine Sinclair off my TV screen. After a pair of well-taken goals midweek, Sinclair stunk up another NWSL match, failing to get involved offensively and letting Kouassi roam free down the Spirit right, often forcing Hina or Sam Coffey to cover for her. National media are still, bizarrely, terrified to offer any criticism of the Canadian legend, but it's likely that her presence on the field has cost Portland multiple points this season.
McKeown's transition from a meh striker into a top-class CB remains one of the coolest NWSL stories of the past few years.
Game 2: Angel City FC 2-3 Seattle Reign
Are the Reign.....back?
Seattle's third win in a row --and second straight of the 3-2 variety-- came in Los Angeles against an Angel City side riding a mini two game win streak of their own. The beauty (depending on the eye of the beholder, I suppose) of the NWSL is that a nine point hot streak is almost sure to put you right back in the playoff mix. The Reign, who accumulated a dreadful 11 points through the first 16 games of the season (just under 0.7 ppg for the mathematically inclined) seemed to have have dropped them out of playoff contention. Since trading popular forward Bethany Balcer to Louisville and installing two full time wingers outside of Canadian Jordyn Huitema, Laura Harvey's Reign have looked noticeably better.
I wouldn't say that the Reign are playing champagne soccer by any means, but they're certainly not doing it in the typical Harvey struggle-ball manner. After an absolute slog of a 1-0 victory aided by a late own goal against the Courage at home in Megan Rapinoe's celebration match, the Reign have scored six goals and conceded four in their last two matches against Louisville and ACFC respectively. They really haven't changed much tactically and are yet to start new signing Nerilia Mondesir, but Seattle's shape has looked substantially better with Harvey freed from attempting to jam (take note, Rob Gale) two strikers into a 4-2-3-1. The defense is shakier than Harvey would prefer -- Shae Holmes and Julia Lester are not exactly the players you want in a starting defense-- but the midfield has looked much better and Tziarra King has provided an outlet on the left side the Reign lacked. With more space inside without Balcer and Huitema competing for one striker spot on the same field, Ji So-Yun has flourished as a straight number ten. Her game winning free kick against Louisville the week prior is her standout moment, but Ji has been everywhere on the field for a Reign side who badly need her to show up week after week. She scored another gorgeous goal to give Seattle the lead against Angel City on Sunday, bending a standstill effort low into Didi Haracic's near post.
Angel City and their fans, on the other hand, felt like they were robbed after a series of VAR decisions --all of them correct-- went against them.
First, Jordyn Huitema was chopped down in the box by Haracic after getting to a through ball before the Angel City keeper, and the referee inexplicably called to play on before ultimately giving the penalty after a VAR recommendation.
Second, Huitema needlessly tapped in a goal bound effort front King with VAR checking to see if Huitema was offside (it was close, but she didn't appear to be) and if she was, whether the ball was already over the goal line when she touched it (also close, but it looked like it just about was).
Third, an MA Vignola goal was ruled out correctly for a Sydney Leroux offside earlier in the move.
Fourth, a Madison Hammond goal was ruled out, again correctly, after a foul by Leroux caused Lester to stumble and play the ball right into the path of Hammond.
Listen, Angel City fans: I feel your pain. Both the overall state of refereeing in the NWSL and its use of VAR is dreadful. Nothing sucks more than seeing goals ruled out by VAR. But these were all objectively correct calls! Stop whining!
On the bright side, Angel City look a much improved squad since the Olympic break. Alyssa Thompson seems to have found her finishing boots at long last, finally converting some of the many chances she's had all season into goals and looking much more like the Mallory Swanson regen that was promised. Thompson's decision making in the final third still needs some work, but having the confidence to hit more shots instead of jockeying and letting defenders catch up with her is a big step. Thompson's still just 18- She'll keep figuring it out.
Thompson's hot scoring streak (four goals in three matches) has perhaps not-so-coincidentally coincided with the return of previously injured LB MA Vignola to the Angel City lefthand side. Vignola, when healthy, is one of my favorite players in the league: She's an electric attacker and bulldog defensively who has allowed Thompson to play more centrally by offering a threat on the wing. Angel City has primarily been playing Gisele Thompson --a talented player, but not a vertical threat-- on the left side in Vignola's absence. There has been a noticeable difference in how much space Vignola has made for Thompson since her return to the side, with defenders now unable to to collapse inside on the teenage striker, opening up space for Thompson to operate inside.
The biggest change, however, is the addition of six Katie Zelem. Zelem, a former Manchester United club captain, is calmness personified and has already added a certain sturdiness and leadership to an Angel City midfield that lacked, well, any of the above. Zelem isn't going to stand out on the screen very often, but what she will do is keep things ticking. You'll notice her consistently popping up off the back of her FBs to provide options, keeping things moving in the center of the field, or spraying balls wide to her wingers. Angel City still need a little more in the midfield (they missed Kennedy Fuller BIG TIME) in this one, but Zelem is a nice base to build from. Look at the pass map! Much better!
Quick Hits:
Tweed has finally decided to give Messiah Bright a few starts, and the second year striker has been a nuisance. I hope Bright continues to get minutes.
ACFC's Jasmyne Spencer must be a dream utility player. She's played primarily at RB for ACFC, but spends much of her time playing as a pseudo winger with Claire Emslie inside. Hard, hard working player.
Phoebe McClernon has been a beast in Seattle's central defense.
I'm excited to see more of Quinn next to new Reign acquisition Jaelin Howell when Howell returns from yellow card suspension. Quinn was excellent for Seattle on the night, cleaning up mess after mess at the base of Seattle's midfield. With Harvey playing a slightly more aggressive 4-3-3 instead of her usual 4-2-3-1 with Jess Fishlock and Ji consistently higher up the field, Quinn's defensive duties were crucial and they executed them well.
Game 3: San Diego Wave 1-4 North Carolina Courage
Alex Morgan's sudden retirement meant that she would not receive the USWNT sendoff under Emma Hayes she certainly deserved, but instead would play the final match of one of the greatest careers a soccer player has every had at home against San Diego, coached by a struggling (and white skinny-jean wearing) manager Landon Donovan. Morgan, unlike some other long-tenured NWSL stars, probably would have had a few more years in her if she had chosen to continue her career. Her late career metamorphosis from a cantering in-behind forward into a pivot striker has been impressive. The last act of her NWSL career saw her mentor rising Wave and USWNT stars Naomi Girma and Jaedyn Shaw, show herself as a key ally in the never-ending fight against abuse in the NWSL, and bring a Shield to San Diego in just their second year as a club. Morgan's career has a been a great one, and she retires as one of the best US strikers of all time, on and off the field.
On the field, the Wave have been stuck in a rut all season, but that rut has deepened to trench-like proportions since the impatience of Jill Ellis lead to the firing of the popular Casey Stoney. Since Stoney was fired on June 25th, the Wave have rattled off a string of disastrous results: Losses to struggling Chicago and Portland sides, a rare NWSL defeat against Club America in the summer cup, followed by two losses to Angel City, and finally, a draw(!) last weekend against Washington. The Wave's two victories since Stoney was let go were against Bay FC in the summer cup and a should-have-been-easier 2-0 win against Panamanian minnows Santa Fe in Panama City. The Wave did add big in the summer, but added in positions of relative strength instead of addressing key needs. While it was a no-brainer to sign French superstar winger Delphine Cascarino, SD was not short on wing depth, already having signed Maria Sanchez for big money earlier in the season, teen Melanie Barcenas pushing for a starting role, rookie Mya Jones impressing, and McKenzy Doniak, Elyse Bennett, and Kyra Carusa as reserve options, even after Sofia Jakobson decamped for Michelle Kang's London City Lionesses. Their other big addition --attacking LB Perle Merroni, also from the French champs-- joins a solid core FBs already containing Hanna Lundkvist and NWSL veterans Kristen McNabb and Christen Westphal. The Wave, especially with Morgan retired, are impossibly thin up top with their only nine being the rarely played Amirah Ali, but no Morgan replacement was brought in. Similarly, their midfield --possibly the worst in the league with the still-injured Jaedyn Shaw out-- saw no improvements, leaving Donovan little to work with.
Donovan, while not put in the best position, has not been of much help since recommending himself to Ellis for the Wave job. His biggest move has been removing the polarizing Savannah McKaskill from the midfield and moving Sanchez inside to make room for Barcenas and Cascarino on the wings while Shaw recovers. Sanchez does have some 10-ish traits: She's tricky on the ball, a good passer, and good in tight spaces. Sticking her in the middle, however, takes her out of the wide spaces where she likes to whip in crosses on her left foot. It seems the wiser move might be to park Barcenas at the 10 with Cascarino and Sanchez on the wings.....but hey, what do I know! The real root of the Wave's midfield problem remains at its base, where Doniak and Emily Van Egmond have emerged as Donovan's preferred double pivot. Neither of the Wave vets actually, well, do very much. They're not high level passers, both are slow defensively, and neither are ball carriers. The Wave's midfield two are so incredibly static that opposing teams have had little trouble breaking through while also providing very little ball retention. It's been an immense challenge for the Wave.
It's not like the Courage even played particularly well in this one, though their 4-1 victory at Snapdragon Stadium was somewhat of a big deal given, if you remember from from last week's recap, their atrocious home/road splits this season. Their first two goals both came from corners, first from Haley Hopkins and then German Feli Rauch who retook her place at LB with Dani Weatherholt moved back into the midfield. After missing her chance at a farewell goal on a poorly taken penalty saved by Courage keeper Casey Murphy, Morgan assisted on a Kennedy Wesley goal from a Wave corner, meaning that the first three goals were all scored from corners A first half DOGSO red card on Wave keeper Kailen Sheridan allowed the Courage a relatively easy path to victory, capped by goals from Bianca St. Georges just before halftime and Meredith Speck in second half stoppage time. Their pass map is very un-Courage like, with Narumi Miura's absence from the midfield keenly felt, but they didn't really need to do much in the one, as the Wave generated only 0.7 nPxG throughout.
Quick Hits:
Donovan has largely failed during his stint as Wave manager, but I do appreciate him giving Barcenas -- who has looked at times the most dangerous Wave attacker-- a real starting shot.
Courage CB Malia Berkely became the first player in NWSL history to pile up three assists in one half. Berkely, who both loves a stride into midfield AND takes the Courage corners, has really come into her own with Nahas. A real candidate to appear in my "favorite NWSL players" column coming after the season.
After impressing in the win against KC the previous week, Cortnee Vine didn't see the field against SD. An un-reported injury knock, perhaps?
A bright spot on a pretty shady season for the Wave is the play of rookie CB Wesley, who looks set to partner Naomi Girma in the heart of the SD defense for the forseeable future.
Player of the Week: Malia Berkely, North Carolina Courage
Goal of the Week: Let's give it to Seattle's Ji for the second straight week. This may not look like much, but this is a pretty filthy from a standstill position. 3:20 in the vid below.
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