The NWSL Challenge Cup is officially heading to the knockout stage. Before the quarterfinals begin this Friday, take a look at the Top 10 plays of the opening round.
"It's not IF Lynn Williams will punish you, but WHEN."@lynnraenie with a solo masterpiece ????0-1 | #WASvNCTune in now on @CBSAllAccess and @Twitch.#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/rcCmik93p9— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) July 2, 2020
"It's not IF Lynn Williams will punish you, but WHEN."@lynnraenie with a solo masterpiece ????0-1 | #WASvNCTune in now on @CBSAllAccess and @Twitch.#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/rcCmik93p9
We’re not sure if the defenders were standing still or if Williams is just that fast. Even after getting tripped up on the right flank at half field, Williams relentlessly pushes onto goal, cutting across her defender and finishing the ball front post with spectacular poise and composure. Coach Andonovski, are you taking notes?
C L U T C H from @CaseyShort3 pic.twitter.com/yYcdbktsiD— Chicago Red Stars (@chicagoredstars) July 13, 2020
C L U T C H from @CaseyShort3 pic.twitter.com/yYcdbktsiD
Short may be a defender, but she knows how to get forward and find the back of the net. McCaskill drops a bomb into the box and Short does the rest, heading it home to give Chicago a 1-0 lead in the 85th minute. The Red Stars would hold on to win their first game of the tournament against Utah.
So nice, we chose it twice ????@Kailen_Sheridan also earned tonight's @Verizon Save of the Match!#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/zWabDDmXIp— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) July 1, 2020
So nice, we chose it twice ????@Kailen_Sheridan also earned tonight's @Verizon Save of the Match!#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/zWabDDmXIp
Kailen Sheridan is an absolute animal. Here, the Sky Blue goalkeeper blocks a rip from point-blank range on a breakaway in order to preserve a shutout against OL Reign. If Sheridan was our keeper, we might get a little too comfortable having her back there.
For your halftime enjoyment ????#HoldItDown pic.twitter.com/a9R5S4fqVL— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) July 5, 2020
For your halftime enjoyment ????#HoldItDown pic.twitter.com/a9R5S4fqVL
Plays like these remind us why it’s called the beautiful game. A quick slip ball in from the flank and an outside of the foot flick by Groom sets Kristie Mewis up to perfectly knock the ball home. We could watch this play on repeat. Forever.
Done & Dunn ✔️@crysdunn_19 with her first goal of the #NWSLChallengeCup! pic.twitter.com/XdPj7nyagB— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 14, 2020
Done & Dunn ✔️@crysdunn_19 with her first goal of the #NWSLChallengeCup! pic.twitter.com/XdPj7nyagB
Crystal Dunn is known as one of the most versatile players in all of soccer. Typically positioned as a left-back, Dunn has recently stepped into a new role as an attacking central midfielder, earning her first goal of the tournament off a diagonal ball from Williams. We’re secretly convinced Dunn could step in goal and still be a star.
???????????? ????????????????@AubreyBledsoe's one-handed stop from close range earns tonight's @Verizon Save of the Match! ????#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/jDkVPStsst— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) June 28, 2020
???????????? ????????????????@AubreyBledsoe's one-handed stop from close range earns tonight's @Verizon Save of the Match! ????#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/jDkVPStsst
You can get as close as you want to the goal before you shoot, but frankly, it doesn’t matter, because the Washington Spirits’ goalkeeper is an absolute brick wall. Bledsoe makes an incredible reactionary save against the Chicago Red Stars here, blocking the shot with just her left fist. Bledsoe’s heroics helped her team pick up up their first win of the tournament.
Few bigger guarantees in life than a @LindseyHoran goal in the box. ????1-0 | #PORvWASTune in now on @CBSAllAccess and @Twitch.#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/C2TYMgSPHS— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) July 6, 2020
Few bigger guarantees in life than a @LindseyHoran goal in the box. ????1-0 | #PORvWASTune in now on @CBSAllAccess and @Twitch.#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/C2TYMgSPHS
Coach Andonovskis’ notes: ‘Horan is a total stud.’ The Portland Thorns’ Meghan Klingenberg chips a dinker into the box, setting up Horan, who scores a powerful diving header. Her extra effort gave Portland an advantage over Washington Spirit that resulted in a 1:1 tie for the clubs. For Horan, it’s not a matter of ‘if,’ but ‘when.’ #facts
???? @NahoKawasumi_9 catches Campbell from more than 40 yards out for her first goal in a @SkyBlueFC jersey! pic.twitter.com/UKzF51slSK— Sky Blue FC (@SkyBlueFC) July 9, 2020
???? @NahoKawasumi_9 catches Campbell from more than 40 yards out for her first goal in a @SkyBlueFC jersey! pic.twitter.com/UKzF51slSK
Remember that epic goal Carli Lloyd hit in the Women’s World Cup final game in 2015, catching the Japanese goalkeeper off her line? Well, Nahomi Kawasumi, a Sky Blue FC forward and member of Japan’s national team, said ‘watch this’ against the Houston Dash. Kawasumi picks her head up, sees Jane Campbell far out of her goal, and cleverly chips the ball into the back of the net, helping her team to a 2-0 win.
Keeping the defense ???? through the full 9️⃣0️⃣.@OLReign's Lauren Barnes earns tonight's @budweiserusa Woman of the Match ????#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/Vyiu7gmfvy— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) July 1, 2020
Keeping the defense ???? through the full 9️⃣0️⃣.@OLReign's Lauren Barnes earns tonight's @budweiserusa Woman of the Match ????#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/Vyiu7gmfvy
Defenders don’t always get enough credit, but when they do, they certainly deserve it. Barnes does a full 180 here, shifting from her mark to pick up an open opposing forward in the box. Her perfectly timed slide tackle blocks Kawasumi’s rocket shot, preserving OL Reign’s 0-0 draw with Sky Blue FC.
???? @sheabayy2 WITH AUTHORITY ????@HoustonDash double their lead.2-0 | #HOUvRGNTune in now on @CBSAllAccess and @Twitch.#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/UqCoJGOOXC— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) July 5, 2020
???? @sheabayy2 WITH AUTHORITY ????@HoustonDash double their lead.2-0 | #HOUvRGNTune in now on @CBSAllAccess and @Twitch.#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/UqCoJGOOXC
Groom took flight on this play, heading the ball back post off a brilliant cross delivered from teammate Rachel Daly. Groom’s goal doubled Houston’s lead en route to a 2-0 win against OL Reign. Meanwhile, we’re still crunching the numbers in trying to calculate just how Groom was able to stay up for so long.