Author: RJ Allen

NWSL QuickCap 3: A Reign-y Weekend

Posted on by RJ Allen

Week three is in the books. Let’s get to it. 

Utah Royals 0-1 Chicago Red Stars

I thought about becoming a Utah fan, but then I remembered we can never be royals.

This game featured great defense by Utah, other than giving up a single goal to Danielle Colaprico in the 27th minute. It also featured no offense from Utah, meaning Chicago probably could have had at least a draw if they hadn’t shown up. Utah lead in fouls (10-6) and more notably in offsides (6-1).

Kelley O’Hara played the first half and Amy Rodriguez returned to the field in the 77th minute. Stephanie McCaffrey returned for Chicago, very late, which is something of note, I guess. I said a couple weeks ago that A-Rod couldn’t take over a game and I stand by that only because she didn’t, but with five more minutes I think she would have tied this one.

Washington Spirit 2-4 North Carolina Courage

Mallory Pugh opened the scoring at 3’ for Washington, then Crystal Dunn responded at 20’ and McCall Zerboni at 24’ and then everyone took a break on the scoring until the second half, just to toy with my prediction that this would be a high-scoring affair.

Zerboni scored again at 48’, Washington’s Francisca Ordega closed the gap in the 58th, and then Lynn Williams put it away at 66’. I think both teams could have scored more, but didn’t want to make the other franchises feel bad. I would have expected Zerboni to go for the Gordie Howe hat trick late in the second half.

Sky Blue FC 0-1 Seattle Reign

Seattle remained undefeated and very visible in uniforms that should have a sponsorship deal with Mountain Dew or toxic waste.

Megan Rapinoe converted a PK on an inexplicable hand ball in the early part of the first (6’ for the purists) but Kailen Sheridan saved a Jodie Taylor penalty in the 86th, plus a stunning stop on the follow up by Seattle’s Dallstream.

The majority of the stream, when not obscured by rain, featured Seattle possessing the ball and pounding away but never breaking through for a run-of-play goal. New Jersey put together some offense in streaky spurts but seems to be lacking cohesion at all areas of the pitch.

Portland Thorns 2-1 Orlando Pride

Chioma Ubogagu for the Pride at 20’, The Great Horan for the Thorns at 28’ and the ageless Christine Sinclair with the final scoring at 39’. Then they did a second half which featured the lack of an Orlando midfield, a lot of Thorns rolling around holding ankles (and laughing, if you’re Emily Sonnett), plus Sydney Leroux making a case for the Selke Trophy as best defensive forward.

Post-game stats say 54% possession for Portland but that is why statistics lie, because I watched the game and don’t think Orlando ever had the ball, apart from rebounding shots and passing them back out to Thorns players.

NWSL QuickLook Week 3

Posted on by RJ Allen

I’m starting to think Australians aren’t ever coming back.

Utah Royals vs. Chicago Red Stars – 4/14 @ 3:30pm ET

Utah: 0-0-2

Chicago: 0-1-1

The Lifetime Game of the Week Sandwiched Between Less Appealing Movies will feature perennial contender FCKC-Plus-O’Hara vs No-Really-We’re-Contenders-This-Time-Chicago.

Perhaps no game would benefit more from the return of Australians than this one, as Utah looks forward to improving markedly with the addition of Katrina Gorry. Chicago, meanwhile, is missing former savior of New Jersey Sam Kerr, too, I guess, if you’re into that sort of thing. ARod, Kelley O’Hara, Casey Short, and Julie Ertz, if they are still out, will have a majority of the payroll and the star power as spectators, but both teams have had unexpected scoring.

Chicago’s Sofia Huerta leads the league in assists (2) and Alyssa Mautz is tied for the league lead in goals (2).

Washington Spirit vs. NC Courage – 4/14 @ 7pm ET

Washington: 1-1-0

North Carolina: 2-0-0

Samantha Mewis and Rose Lavelle are still on the injury report, but if any team can survive a marquee player’s absence, it’s the Courage.

Washington’s Ashley Hatch is only one of two players in the league with a goal and an assist, and Washington is the only team with three different goal scorers. The young and balanced attack may balance a less notable defense, which has keeper Aubrey Bledsoe leading the league in saves with 14 (six more than the next.) North Carolina has two 1-0 wins but really should be putting more on frame from towers of power McDonald and Williams. This could be an offensive shootout that puts players from both teams ahead on the league leaders list, or Bledsoe and Sabrina D’Angelo could set saves records.

Sky Blue FC vs. Seattle Reign – 4/15 @ 5pm ET

Sky Blue: 0-1-0

Seattle: 1-0-0

Megan Rapinoe leads the league in shots at 11, with the rest of the Reign adding eight more. Are they relying too much on her or is she a powerhouse that’s making a case for MVP again this year? Sky Blue only appears on the League Leaders list for yellow cards, but their young cast has to click and produce at some point, right? Keeper Michelle Betos has looked to be in standard form in her return to the NWSL, while Kailen Sheridan remains in the mix as one of Canada’s best young players.

Portland Thorns vs. Orlando Pride – 4/15 @ 6pm ET

Portland: 1-1-0

Orlando: 0-1-1

I have tickets to the Orlando game next week, so naturally, this game will be the one where everyone gets hurt and the league contracts the team. Ashlyn Harris and the defense have fueled stan attention (that puppy, though) and looked solid, but the Alex Morgan/Marta/Sydney Leroux powerhouse Cerberus of scoring has yet to melt other teams (and Marta is still on international duty, anyway). Portland, in front of future Best XI keeper Adrianna Franch, is still a massive collection of talent, with ageless Christine Sinclair tied for the league lead in goals—yet this roster needs more than Sinclair and Horan scoring.

Working Through The Break: 5 Things NWSL Players Did While On National Duty

Posted on by RJ Allen

Congratulations, NWSL fans: we got through the international break! And even though we didn’t get to see our favorite clubs play this past week, we did get to see some of our favorite NWSL players do some pretty great work on the national team level. In case you missed it, here is a quick recap of just five amazing things that happened this past week for our NWSL stars:

Estefanía Banini’s Free-Kick Goal

Washington Spirit’s Estefanía Banini may have had the greatest goal of the international break. The Argentinian forward had a free-kick opportunity from right outside the box in their match against Brazil, and she did not waste it. She hit a screamer to the top right corner of the net and it left the audience speechless. Unfortunately, Banini’s heroics were not enough to pull out a win for Argentina, but damn if I don’t want to watch this on repeat:

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Alex Morgan Did Alex Morgan Things

Four goals in two national team matches? I’ll take it. Alex Morgan was a woman on a mission this past week against Mexico, and that mission was dominance. Morgan played in what looked to be mid-season form as she was the constant threat for the US inside the box. On set pieces, in transition, and with the ball, she seemed to be unstoppable. Add in beautiful passes from Megan Rapinoe and what do we have? A confident striker that was a terror for Mexico’s defense. No doubt she will be taking some of that momentum with her back to Orlando. 

Katie Johnson’s Chip

It was a tough international break for Mexico, but for the NWSL fans out there, they got to see a nice, cheeky little shot from Katie Johnson, the Mexican and Sky Blue forward. Alyssa Naeher hit a bit of a rough patch in the first of the USA-Mexico friendly when coming off the line. Katie Johnson was there to capitalize on that, and it was quite a goal. She chipped Naeher as she came off her line, a decision I’m sure the goalkeeper wishes she could have back. Check it out below.

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Carli Lloyd Got 100

With a goal in the first and second of the US-Mexico friendlies, Carli Lloyd achieved the 100 goal milestone that everyone has been waiting for. It was only a matter of time before it happened, and I don’t think anyone was surprised when it did. Though the 100th goal was not a pretty one by any stretch of the imagination, a goal is a goal. And that one, my friends, was a big one. Even if Carli Lloyd likes to pretend that it was no big deal. If you want to watch it again (because who doesn’t?) here’s the clip:

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Jess Fishlock Flew Home in Style…Jodie Taylor Did Not.

When England and Wales played this past week in a World Cup qualifier, it made opponents out of Seattle Reign teammates Jess Fishlock and Jodie Taylor. The match was a hard-fought draw, with Wales (and Fishlock) coming out ahead of England. But the weirdest thing that happened was that Taylor and Fishlock both took the same flight back to the United Kingdom—only Fishlock got a business-class seat and Taylor was left in economy. And of course, as all good teammates would, Fishlock made sure Taylor was aware:

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Obviously, a lot more happened over the international break, but I only have five slots to fill, so go check out some recaps and brush up on your international soccer IQ. Just make sure you come on back and get ready for tomorrow and Sunday. The NWSL has returned to us, my friends. Let’s not miss a second of it.  

Interviews with Emma: Savannah Jordan

Posted on by RJ Allen

Savannah Jordan was picked in the 2017 draft by the Portland Thorns, but started her career playing in Scotland. She returned to Portland at the end of last season. She is now a member of the Houston Dash.

Birthdate: January 24, 1995

Nickname from teammates: Sav

Hometown: Fayetteville, Georgia

Age when you started playing: 13

College/major: University of Florida / Sociology, with a minor in education

Career aspirations after soccer: College soccer coach

Why did you pick your particular uniform number? I wore #3 all through my club years then switched to #7 in college, and since I have been playing professionally I have worn #13. I have always liked odd numbers and each one kind of fell in my lap so it was a “meant-to-be” kind of thing.

Pregame meal: Typically I try to have grilled or baked chicken, vegetables, and rice or pasta.

Workout music: I like working out to fast-paced music. Mostly hip-hop and rap. If I am going for a long run, I will listen to some slower r&b to stay relaxed.

Favorite cartoon character: I will say I am not the biggest cartoon fan, but if I had to choose I would say Tweety Bird.

Fave movie: Miracle

Fave actress: Keira Knightly or Emma Watson.

Hidden talent: I don’t know that I have so much of a hidden talent, but as a hobby I like to write (journal writing, poems, free writing, etc).

Mentor (in soccer or life): Becky Burleigh, my college soccer coach.

Fave charity/cause: In college I worked a lot as a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club. I was able to spend time with the young kids there who are not as privileged as others, and help them become motivated to reach certain goals in their academics or life in general.

Life motto: “Progress, not perfection.”

Superstitions: I have several before a game… I eat the same pregame meal, listen to the same playlist while getting dressed, I always put my left cleat on before my right, I wear the same headband every game, I put a small piece of tape on my right pinky finger, and I always listen to “Girl on Fire” as my last song before going out onto the field.

Pets: I had a cat named Blu in college, but actually had to give her away when I left to play professionally 😦 I was moving around too much to keep her with me.

If you were going on Amazing Race, which teammate would you want as a partner, and why? I would probably bring Rachel Daly, for two reasons: 1) She is super athletic and fit, and 2) She has a “no losing” mentality, so I think we could come with a victory! 🙂

If you had your own reality show, what would it be called? This is a tough one… I would probably call it “unconditionally me.” I have always loved the term unconditionally. It means that there are no conditions or limits. In all that I do I want to embody that term. Whether it is unconditionally loving, unconditionally competing or unconditionally supporting, I want to stay consistent to that. No matter what changes around me or experiences I go through, I want to always remain “unconditionally me.” So hopefully my reality show would give an inside glimpse at that.

Great Moments In the NWSL: The Flash Face The Thorns in the 2016 Playoffs

Posted on by RJ Allen

It was destined to be a great match in Portland. With over 20,000 fans stuffed into Providence Park, the Portland Thorns were hoping for a smooth road to the championship match. They had won the Supporters Shield with 12 wins and 41 points, just edging out the Washington Spirit. No NWSL team had yet won the Shield and the championship in the same season; the Thorns were looking to be the first. 

Meanwhile, the Western New York Flash came into the match as the underdog. They finished the season fourth on the table with 32 points, barely holding off the Seattle Reign to qualify for the playoffs. While they had looked good at various times throughout the season, and had remained within the playoff bracket for most of the year, it was going to be a tough task to take down the Shield winners.

As soon as the match kicked off, fan predictions started to fall into place. The Thorns had an excellent chance within the first minute of the match. Sabrina D’Angelo—the goalkeeper for the Flash—came out to clear the ball and botched it. Thankfully for the Flash, Mewis ran in and provided the clearance. It was a close call for Western New York. The message was clear: these teams weren’t fooling around.

The game broke open in the 16th minute. After a long throw-in from Jess McDonald, the ball bounced around in the 18-yard box before finding the foot of Sam Mewis. She slammed the ball into the back of the net and much to everyone’s surprise, the Flash took an early 1-0 lead.

But the scoring was far from over. The Flash found their second goal of the match when Jess McDonald crossed the ball into the 18-yard box. She connected with Makenzy Doniak, who headed the ball into the back of the net for Western New York’s second goal. 

The Flash didn’t have long to celebrate. One minute later, the Thorns sent a long ball down field. Christine Sinclair turned with the ball, beating her defender, and with one step shot the ball into the corner of the net. To make matters worse for the Flash, head coach Paul Riley made physical contact with the fourth official after the Thorns’ goal and was ejected from the game. With their ringmaster sent off and their clean sheet forfeited, the Flash finished the half with a 2-1 lead and a determination to hold on. 

The Flash had a couple of good shots early in the second half, but Thorns keeper Michelle Betos kept them off the scoreboard. She made a couple of incredible saves, showing why she was considered one of the best in the league. Still, it wasn’t enough to just keep the Flash out; Portland still needed at least one goal to force extra time—two if they wanted to win in regulation. 

In the 78th minute, the Thorns got what they needed. Tobin Heath sent a long ball into the box on a free kick for the Thorns. D’Angelo came out to get the ball, but she didn’t get control. The ball bounced around in the box before falling at the feet of Emily Sonnett, who gave Portland their equalizer. 

At the 90th minute, the match was still tied 2-2. That meant 30 more minutes of play. And regulation was nothing compared to what was waiting in extra time.

In the 98th minute, the Flash found their third goal of the match. Similar to their first goal, the ball came off of a long throw-in from Jess McDonald. Mewis then flicked the ball over to Lynn Williams. The 2016 Golden Boot winner kept the ball on the ground, but got enough power to slide it past a few defenders and past the fingertips of Michelle Betos. The Flash now had a 3-2 lead. 

But that wasn’t the last time we saw the Mewis-Williams combination. Six minutes later, the Flash came charging down the field with Sam Mewis in the middle. She passed the ball to Williams in the box, who was quicker than her defender. She sent the ball into the back of the net for her second goal of the match and the Flash’s fourth. Providence Park was silent. 

Once again, the Thorns bounced back quickly. Just a few minutes later, Portland defender Meghan Klingenberg sent the ball into the 18-yard box. It bounced off the head of Dagny Brynjarsdottir and landed in front of Horan, who slotted the ball back for Portland’s third goal of the match. Horan immediately picked up the ball and ran back to the line. The Thorns still had a lot of work to do.

In one of the final plays of the game, the Thorns nearly found their equalizer. Sonnett sent a desperate long ball towards the Flash goal.  D’Angelo tried to punch it out, but she missed. Horan got her head on the ball, and nearly put it away, but Abby Dalhkemper cleared it off the line. A few seconds later, the final whistle blew. 

Seven goals. Six yellow cards. A head coach ejected from the match. The Western New York Flash defeated the regular season champs 4-3 and went on to win the 2016 NWSL Championship. In the offseason, they would be sold to an ownership group in North Carolina and transformed into the North Carolina Courage.

In 2017, the tables would turn, when the Courage made it back to the championship only to lose to—you guessed it—the Portland Thorns. 

Armchair Centerback: Three Thoughts from the USA vs Mexico Friendlies

Posted on by RJ Allen

The two friendlies this week against Mexico weren’t the highest quality games the US has ever played. The shape wasn’t always compact and both defense and goalkeeping left something to be desired. But these games did show us that when players are “on” they can still be a delight to watch. Here are three thoughts on the US vs Mexico matches. 

The History of Goalkeeper Management Is Catching Up to the USWNT

The US is bad at creating the conditions for world class goalkeepers to be born. At the same time, they’ve also had some of the best goalkeepers in the history of the women’s game. With Briana Scurry and Hope Solo, it’s more that they overcome the underlying conditions than it is any real indication of success in the way goalkeepers are handled in this country. The mismanagement of the current crop—from who is being called in, to who is being capped, to the scarcity of substitutions—is making that very clear.

Scurry and Solo were able to overcome those difficulties because they were generational-quality keepers. Simple stuff, really. But Alyssa Naeher, Ashlyn Harris and Jane Campbell aren’t that lucky. They have each had minutes for the USWNT since Solo’s messy departure. While Ellis has put the most faith (and pressure) on Naeher’s shoulders, it hasn’t quite worked out the way that many expected. She certainly hasn’t locked up the position. In the rare minutes she gets, Harris has been competent if not stellar. And this week, Campbell used her first start to concede twice on corners while standing inside of goal.

Not stellar no matter how you cut it.

Abby Smith and AD Franch are both options that Ellis should look at before she runs out of pre-France minutes. After the last few matches, there is no reason to bank heavily on a return in Naeher’s form, nor would it be safe to treat either backup as ready for primetime. Why not bring in some healthy competition?

The Triple-Edged Sword Reborn

The Triple-Edged Sword was the name given to the attacking trio of Michelle Akers, Carin Jennings-Gabarra and April Heinrichs during the 1991 Women’s World Cup. Alex Morgan, Mallory Pugh and Megan Rapinoe look like they might be aiming to take that nickname for themselves.

Morgan finished the international break with four goals and one assist. Pugh notched two goals. And Rapinoe got an impressive one goal and five assists. The only goal the trio didn’t have a hand in was Carli Lloyd’s Lindsey Horan-assisted goal in the first game.

The three have looked sharp for the national team and with their NWSL clubs. If they can keep this energy up when the likes of Julie Ertz and Sam Mewis rejoin the midfield it could be a windfall for the team. It also puts less pressure on Tobin Heath when she returns. She won’t be the only source of creativity on the field. 

This Defense Is Just Fine.

Ellis wants the ability to go high and low with her outside backs. And after some thinkpieces and a minor freak out on the internet over Crystal Dunn being on the backline for these games, we saw some evidence that suggests it just might work.

Dunn was able to get into the attack nearly as much as if she were a winger. In the second game the mix of Davidson, Sauerbrunn and Sonnett was a fairly balanced and dynamic three-back when Dunn pushed up.

This won’t be the only setup that the USWNT plays, and it shouldn’t be. Very few teams are truly settled, with just one settled backline, one defensive unit, or one unitary style. Having players like Dunn and Kelley O’Hara who can line up on the left or right and on the backline or in the midfield gives Ellis the chance to play a back four, a modified back three or even pull back the wingbacks for a five-woman defense. What’s more, she can do it without making a bunch of substitutions thanks to a lot of flexibility in the individual players.

Having Sauerbrunn on the field is a huge advantage here, which we saw again this week. Her ability to teach in real time—giving Sonnett, Dahlkemper and Davidson room to learn without just stepping in for them—is exceptional. And remember, they’re missing some key players. When O’Hara comes back into the mix, she’ll provide a bit more experience about precisely when to push and when to hold back. Over time, we should see trust building and players working together as a more integrated unit.

Not That Bad: 5 Things the Dash Have Going For Them

Posted on by RJ Allen

We can all agree that the Houston Dash didn’t quite have things go their way this off-season. They lost some great international players to trade, ended up being shunned by Christen Press, and had their owner make some rather unfathomable choices for the club. It went so horribly that the women’s soccer media and NWSL fanbase seemed to give up on analyzing the decisions and defaulted to just pitying them. Yeah, it was that bad. And it still isn’t great by any means. But going into this international break, Houston can repeat this point of pride to themselves: “We are currently an undefeated team.” Sure, it’s only two draws, but that’s not nothing.

Everyone is still looking at them like winning a match will be a miracle. Analysts are plopping them at the bottom of their power rankings. Old southern women are practically ‘blessing their hearts.’ But this isn’t necessarily rock bottom for the club. And they shouldn’t be written off so easily. To paraphrase Monty Python, they’re not dead yet! So although things are bad, there are still some bright spots for the team looking forward into the season. Here are five of them:

1. Jane Campbell Is A Boss

One of the biggest takeaways from the first two games of the season is that Jane Campbell is a phenomenal goalkeeper. She has played on a new level for the start of this season, and brought a lot of stability for the Houston side. As a last line of defense, Houston can at least feel comfortable in the fact that they have Campbell. She comes up big when they need it. She is confident. And she is finding her rhythm in Houston, a fact that I am sure allows Vera Pauw to breathe a little easier. While a good keeper alone isn’t enough to make you the best team in the league, it sure is a start. If she can continue this trend, other US keepers are going to need to watch their backs.

2. Daly & Mewis Bring Creativity

When Rachel Daly was moved to fullback, I was seriously wondering what Houston was doing, especially since Kealia Ohai was still out on injury. But there has been  a certain level of magic created by the pairing of Daly and Kristie Mewis as Houston’s outside backs. They command the offense and set the pace for the team. They bring creativity up and down the pitch. And they are all over the field, aggressively going after the ball because they both have the speed to make it back on defense in time. The commentators of the Houston-Utah match called them two of the best in the league, provoking some snarky comments. But there’s something to it. Neither of them is a singularly phenomenal outside-back. But together—working as one unit, establishing a proper give and take for the team—they are a force to be reckoned with.

3. Pauw Has A Plan

It was clear from the first few games that Vera Pauw doesn’t particularly care what others may think of her team. She is coaching with purpose, and convincing her players to play with purpose. She understands that her team has weaknesses. She isn’t ignorant of that fact. But she is also able to see that this team has strengths. Every player brings a different skillset, and her job is to find how all those pieces fit. It’s still a work in progress, but one that she is working diligently at. She’s also been quite honest about where things stand, owning in her last post-match interview that her team wasn’t fully able to play to their strengths against Utah—that they still had some homework to do. But it looks as though Vera is willing to put in the work as long as the players are. No phoning it in from the Dutch leader.

4. The Return of Ohai

Houston hasn’t won a match yet this season. But they also haven’t had their greatest attacking threat on the pitch yet. Kealia Ohai, who is coming off of an injury, will be a welcomed sight. Although she only got to play 10 matches last season before tearing her ACL, in the 2016 season she recorded 11 goals and four assists in 20 matches. Even if her return to the pitch doesn’t immediately bring those kind of results, it will still be great news for the Dash, because even when Ohai isn’t on the ball, she is still going to pull the attention of defenders. That is something that Houston has been missing. With Ohai’s return, we’ll get a chance to see some new dynamics of the Houston team. They haven’t shown all of their cards just yet.

5. The Underestimation Factor

Everyone knows Houston is supposed to be bad this year. But in a funny way, that’s an advantage. When your opponents expect very little out of you, they tend to get complacent. And then they lose. Just ask the University of Virginia men’s basketball team—whose first game as the overall favorite in the NCAA March Madness Tournament against 16th seed University of Maryland, Baltimore County didn’t quite go to plan. When there isn’t a lot expected of you, opponents tend to sit back and allow things to happen. They allow the underdogs to set the pace—and then the underdogs have no choice but to seize opportunity when it comes. It is David and Goliath. It is the tortoise and the hare. It is USA vs Russia in the 1980 Olympics. Could it be Houston vs North Carolina or Portland? Maybe. The stage is surely set and primed to have it played out.

So in light of all this, I refuse to feel bad for Houston. And I will not do the team the disservice of pitying them. Instead I will root for them—to get better, to fight the good fight, to play to their strengths. Because this team isn’t a lost cause, and we should stop treating it like one. They have a lot of talent and a great coach in Vera Pauw to steer this team toward a season that could mean something for them. They have some positive aspects that they bring to the table. We need to stop only talking about the negative.

Euro Roundup: WSL, Sweden, UWCL and the International Break

Posted on by RJ Allen

WSL Title Race

The NWSL may have just started but other leagues are nearing the end of their current seasons. One, in particular, is WSL1, which saw a big shock this weekend when Reading beat first-place Manchester City 2-0. Reading have been a tough team to beat this season and are starting to really show just how good they can be. An improvised bicycle kick finish by Remi Allen put the Royals in front and Kirsty Pearce secured the win for them despite going down to 10 players. City had plenty of chances but just couldn’t get past Mary Earps in the Reading goal.

Had City won, they would have capitalised on Chelsea dropping points to their London rivals Arsenal. The Chelsea-Arsenal matchup is always close and full of drama, and this one lived up to it. Sari van Veenendaal made an error in clearing the ball, which Ramona Bachmann latched onto before sending it into Fran Kirby. Kirby took a touch and poked it past Veenendaal to get her 20th goal in all competitions this season. Beth Mead leveled it up for Arsenal right before halftime with a great solo goal. She made a good run, beat a couple of the defenders, and finished well. She was easily one of the best players in that game and fully deserved the goal.

Birmingham City quietly moved up to third in the table with a good 2-0 win against Sunderland and Liverpool kept themselves near enough in the top five with a 4-0 win against Yeovil Town. Arsenal are just ahead in fourth of Liverpool on goal difference.

With matches still to be rearranged after weather delays, and some teams having games in hand, this title race could go right down to the wire. There is no room for error for any of the top five.

Sweden

As most of you will have heard by now, Christen Press has joined her former team Kopparbergs/Göteborg on a short team deal after the interesting saga with the Houston Dash. Press was last with this team after WPS folded, a spell with the club saw the team win the Svenska Cupen.

It’s been a few years, so let’s look at where the club is now and where the league is currently. Press has come into the league at the start with the Damallsvenskan kicking off April 14. Kopparbergs will kick off their season away against Rosengard on the 16th. Rosengard were runners-up last season, while Kopparbergs finished eighth last season out of 12 teams and will be looking to improve on that.

UEFA Women’s Champions League

This is another club competition nearing its finale for the season. UWCL is highly regarded as it really shows who is the best in Europe. History has already been made, with both WSL1 teams in the tournament—Chelsea and Manchester City—making it to the semifinals for the first time. It’s also the furthest that Chelsea have ever made it. They faced Montpellier in the quarterfinals, and while the French side did make it tough, Chelsea progressed through 5-1 on aggregate.

Manchester City made it interesting for themselves in the second leg against Linkoping. City took a 2-0 lead into the away leg and what ensued was a goalfest, with both teams going for it. The second leg ended 5-3 to Manchester City. The other two in the semifinals are usual suspects at this stage, with Lyon and Wolfsburg both making it through. Wolfsburg secured their place with a 5-0 win over Slavia Praha in the first leg, but drew 1-1 in the second. Lyon faced quite a tough test against a great Barcelona side but won both legs to put them through.

Both semifinals are on the same day with the first leg on April 22 and the second one on April 29. Both English teams will start off at home. Manchester City face Lyon, who they faced at this stage last year. Lyon won the first leg last time, but City managed to win the second one—although it wasn’t enough to put them through. City will be looking to go one step further this year.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will be facing their nemesis Wolfsburg. The German team has put Chelsea out twice before in earlier rounds, but the third time could be the charm for the Blues. Chelsea have already come through a tough journey, beating Bayern Munich, currently second in the Frauen Bundesliga, on away goals. They then went on to beat Rosengard 4-0 over two legs before facing Montpellier. This is not the same team as in previous seasons, with manager Emma Hayes bringing in players to really strengthen Chelsea’s ability to compete on various levels. Chelsea are currently unbeaten in the league, and could finally beat Wolfsburg over two legs. These two semifinals are really unpredictable and we could see yet more history made.

International Break

This month sees four federations kick off or resume their World Cup Qualifications. AFC will see the Asian Cup take place in Jordan, with five teams qualifying for the World Cup. CAF will see teams in the first qualifying round for the African Women’s Cup of Nations, and the Copa America will directly qualify two CONMEBOL nations and send a third to a playoff against the fourth-place CONCACAF team.

The fourth federation is, of course, UEFA, and the European qualifiers look to be at the business end. Eight teams will qualify out of seven groups. Group 1 sees the top two teams, Wales and England, go head to head for the first time in this campaign. Wales currently top the table with 10 points, but England are behind by just one point with a game in hand. England have won all three of their matches so far, and will be full of confidence after performing well in the SheBelieves Cup.

England are now second in the world, but Wales won’t be too much of a pushover, with players like Jess Fishlock and Natasha Harding in their ranks. 15,000 tickets have already been sold for the encounter, which takes place at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton on April 6 and it should be a great atmosphere. Expect England to win and thrash their next opponents Bosnia with Wales ending their campaign later on in a playoff spot.

Group 2 is a bit more wide open, with Switzerland on top, with 12 points, and Poland second with six points and a game in hand. Group 3 is quite close, with the Netherlands and Republic of Ireland level at seven points, while Norway have six points. The Netherlands and Republic of Ireland face off on April 10. Group 4 has Denmark and Sweden first and second based on goal differential, with Denmark to face third-place Ukraine. Germany will look to regain their form against the Czech Republic, who are second. Rounding out the groups, the top two in Group 6 (Italy and Belgium) face each other April 10, while Spain and Finland in Group 7 play April 6.

We could see teams going a step closer to their place at the World Cup and maybe a few shocks as well.