MATCH INFO:

Chelsea 1, Arsenal 1 (Full highlights)

GOALS: 

Beth Mead (Vivianne Miedema), 86’

Lotte Wubben-Moy (OG), 90’

In a continuation of what was already a stellar women’s football weekend in the FA Women’s Super League, Chelsea and Arsenal faced off in the much-anticipated London derby. The match found second-place Arsenal vying to move back into first place following a Manchester United draw the morning before. As for Chelsea, a win or a tie in the match meant breaking into the top three in WSL standings.

Blues getting ready! ????#CFCW pic.twitter.com/M8CvTYsAZE

— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) November 15, 2020

GAME FACE: ????@JillRoordNL ???? pic.twitter.com/J2umeMSdcn

— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) November 15, 2020

Here’s how the action unfolded:

Late in a purely defensive first half, Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema came up with the ball in the Chelsea box, settled the ball at her feet, and attempted a shot, only to be met with the blockade that was Chelsea’s defense. The ball was then scooped up by goalkeeper Ann Katrin-Berger to render Arsenal scoreless through 38 minutes of play.

Later, in the 43rd minute, a Chelsea turnover in their defensive third saw Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord intercept the ball and lift a shot from well past the eighteen — the ball struck the crossbar as Berger dove to make the save, bounced up to hit the crossbar a second time, and deflected back into the path of Arsenal’s Beth Mead. Already on her feet again was Berger, however, and the ball was punched out to end Arsenal’s near-scoring drive to conclude the first half in a 0-0 deadlock.

HOW has that not gone in?! ????@ArsenalWFC beginning to put the pressure on!#WomensFootballWeekend pic.twitter.com/Sxwa8hS1eF

— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) November 15, 2020

With only 7 shots between the two sides during the first half, scoring the go-ahead goal was a top priority. In the opening minutes of the second half, Chelsea forward Bethany England received a pass outside the eighteen and lofted a shot that sailed just over the crossbar. England has been a key contributor for Chelsea this season, scoring three goals and recording two assists in five appearances for the club, but she couldn’t find the back of the net on this one.

Still scoreless after 72 minutes of play, Chelsea began knocking on the door in hopes of gaining the upper hand over their opponent late into the match. Ji So-Yun slotted a cross into the box, looking for Sam Kerr, but the ball was cleared to the feet of Pernille Harder. Harder attempted to finish the close-range shot but was denied by Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger.

Finally, Arsenal got the scoring opportunity they had been vying for all game — in a showcase of her speed and ability on the ball, Vivianne Miedema streaked past Chelsea’s defense to play in a cross, finding Beth Mead in the box. Sliding to meet the cross, Mead scored to give Arsenal the 1-0 advantage in the 86th minute.

GOAL!!! ????

Is that the winner from @bmeado9?!#WomensFootballWeekend pic.twitter.com/BgKspSidCe

— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) November 15, 2020

Only for a moment did it seem that Mead’s goal had won the match for Arsenal, as Chelsea quickly transitioned into a counterattack. With Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy hot on her back, Pernille Harder took the ball to the goal line, attempting to play in a cross from the right wing. An unfortunate series of events would follow for Arsenal, as the cross deflected off of Wubben-Moy and looped into her own goal — tying the game at 1-1 with only 5 minutes of stoppage time left to play.

EQUALISER! ????

So cruel for Wubben-Moy who deflects @PernilleMHarder’s cross into her own net.#WomensFootballWeekend pic.twitter.com/uJE7jRw8hb

— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) November 15, 2020

As the final minutes ticked away, Sam Kerr fired a shot that fell just wide of the net, nearly logging the game-winner for Chelsea but coming up short.

The match ended in a 1-1 tie as both squads secured a point. With the result, Arsenal remains in second place with 16 points, and Chelsea breaks into third place with 14 points. Still well within reach for both teams is the first place spot in the WSL standings, as Arsenal takes on Birmingham City and Chelsea faces off against West Ham on December 6th.

Nearly a winner at the death from @samkerr1!

What a crazy last ten minutes. ????#WomensFootballWeekend pic.twitter.com/kilGRa1O5K

— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) November 15, 2020

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE FA WSL:

 

December 5th 

Aston Villa vs. Manchester United @ 7:30 a.m. EST

December 6th

Everton vs. Manchester City @ 8:00 a.m. EST

Arsenal vs. Birmingham City @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Chelsea vs. West Ham @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Tottenham vs. Brighton & Hove Albion @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Reading FC vs. Bristol City @ 9:00 a.m. EST

USWNT stalwart Alex Morgan will miss at least one week of NWSL action after suffering a left ankle knock in her last club appearance, Wave manager Casey Stoney said on Thursday.

Morgan was helped off the field after rolling her ankle in the later stages of the Wave’s 1-0 loss to the Orlando Pride last weekend, despite the San Diego side being out of available substitutes.

“She's got an ankle injury and she's out for this weekend, and then it'll be week by week from there,” Stoney said, confirming that Morgan’s been ruled out for Saturday’s showdown with NWSL newcomer Bay FC.

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Depending on its severity, Morgan’s ankle issue might have larger ramifications than missing a few weeks of NSWL play. Morgan was added to the team's Gold Cup roster after an ACL injury sidelined young striker Mia Fishel, and she's since made a number of USWNT starts in the team's Gold Cup and SheBelieves wins. A long-term injury could potentially derail the center forward’s Olympic plans.

With her return timeline uncertain, it's possible the injury could also impact Morgan's ability to participate in new head coach Emma Hayes' first U.S. friendlies in June and July.

Morgan's injury concerns aren't uncommon in the U.S. player pool, but add a sense of urgency as Hayes eyes the NWSL for top-performing players in the upcoming weeks. Gotham's Tierna Davidson and Rose Lavelle have also been dealing with injuries: Lavelle has yet to appear for Gotham, while Davidson exited last weekend's match early with a hamstring injury.

Gotham has yet to issue an update concerning Davidson's status.

This week, legendary Brazilian superstar Marta announced that she’ll retire from the national team at the end of 2024.

In an interview with CNN Esportes published Thursday, the iconic footballer confirmed that she would be hanging up her boots regardless of whether or not she ends up making Brazil's 18-player roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

“If I go to the Olympics, I will enjoy every moment, because regardless of whether I go to the Olympics or not, this is my last year with the national team,” she said. “There is no longer Marta in the national team as an athlete from 2025 onwards.”

Marta will retire as a giant of the women's game, having appeared in five Olympics and multiple World Cups. When discussing her retirement, she stressed confidence in the rising generation of Brazilian players, noting that she was, “very calm about this, because I see with great optimism this development that we are having in relation to young athletes." 

The statement echoes back to a plea she made during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup after Brazil lost to France 2-1 in the Round of 16. “It's wanting more. It's training more. It's taking care of yourself more. It's being ready to play 90 plus 30 minutes. This is what I ask of the girls,” she said then, addressing the young players following in her footsteps. 

In 2023, she signaled a farewell to World Cup competition with the same sentiment, telling media, “We ask the new generation to continue where we left off.”

If selected for the 2024 Olympic team, Marta has a shot at extending her own consecutive-scoring record with the ability to score in an unbelievable sixth-straight Olympic Games. She currently stands as Brazil’s top goalscorer, racking up 116 career goals in 175 matches, as well as the leading goalscorer in any World Cup, women’s or men’s, with 17 to her name. 

Marta will continue to play for the NWSL’s Orlando Pride through at least the end of 2024. The longtime forward and club captain has already contributed to multiple goals this season.

U.S. Soccer announced Tuesday that the USWNT will play their last home game on July 16th in the lead-up to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

The 2024 Send-Off Match against Costa Rica will take place at Washington, DC’s Audi Field — home to both the Washington Spirit and DC United — at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 16th. The friendly rounds out a four-game Olympic run-up campaign under incoming head coach Emma Hayes’ side, with the last two set to feature the finalized 2024 U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team roster.

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Hayes will appear on the USWNT sideline for the first time this June, helming the team as they embark on a two-game series against Korea Republic hosted by Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado on June 1st followed by Allianz Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota on June 4th. 

The team is then scheduled to meet a talented Mexico squad on July 13th at Gotham FC’s Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, where the Olympic-bound lineup will attempt to rewrite February’s shocking 2-0 loss to El Tri Femenil in the group stages of this year’s Concacaf W Gold Cup. And while clear roster favorites have emerged from both of this year’s Gold Cup and SheBelives Cup rosters, a spate of recent and recurring injuries means making it to the Olympics is still largely anyone’s game.

Broadcast and streaming channels for the USWNT's final July 16th friendly at Audi Field include TNT, truTV, Universo, Max, and Peacock.

The USA Basketball Women's National Team is still considering Caitlin Clark for a spot on the Paris Olympics squad, says selection committee chair Jennifer Rizzotti. 

On Monday, Rizzotti told the AP that the committee will be evaluating the college phenom’s Olympic prospects by keeping a close eye on her first few weeks of WNBA play with Indiana.

The move is somewhat unconventional. While Clark was invited to participate in the 14-player national team training camp held earlier this month — the last camp before Team USA’s roster drops — she was unable to attend due to it coinciding with Iowa’s trip to the NCAA Women’s Final Four.

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Judging by the immense talent spread throughout the league in what might be their most hyped season to date, competition for a piece of the Olympic pie could be fiercer than ever before.

"You always want to introduce new players into the pool whether it's for now or the future," said Rizzotti. "We stick to our principles of talent, obviously, positional fit, loyalty and experience. It's got to be a combination of an entire body of work. It's still not going to be fair to some people."

Of course, Clark isn’t the first rookie the committee has made exceptions for. Coming off an exceptional college season that saw her averaging 19.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game for UConn, Breanna Stewart was tapped to represent the U.S. at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil less than two weeks after being drafted No. 1 overall by the Seattle Storm. Eight years prior, fellow No. 1 pick Candace Parker punched her ticket to the 2008 Games in Beijing just two weeks after making her first appearance for the L.A. Sparks.

In the lead-up to Paris’ Opening Ceremony on July 26th, USA Basketball Women’s National Team is scheduled to play a pair of exhibition games. They'll first go up against the WNBA's finest at the July 20th WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix before facing Germany in London on July 23rd.

While an official roster announcement date hasn’t yet been issued, players won’t find out if they’ve made this year’s Olympic cut until at least June 1st.