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Hot Mess Hotel: 5 Ridiculous Things That Happened in the NWSL Final

Posted on by RJ Allen

When I sat down to watch the NWSL Final this year I was not particularly excited. I thought it was going to be a rather boring match, considering the teams and their style of play. I have never been so wrong in my entire life. As a fan of the sport, but not of either club in particular, I have to say that this was one of the most entertaining matches I have ever seen. And I loved every minute of watching it. But that does not mean that this was a good match by any means. No. In fact, this match was ridiculous. Here are the five reasons why:

The Super Smash Sisters

This NWSL Final was, by far, one of the most physical matches to ever come out of the league. But surprisingly, the players that were expected to be physical weren’t, and the ones that are generally cool, calm, and collected came barreling through other players like a freight train. And surely, between Horan, Raso, and Heath, Portland will come out of that match looking like a bunch of brutes, or thugs, as many people on social media have called them. But North Carolina didn’t play the neatest game either. Lynn Williams’ tackle on Heath was anything but clean. They also had 13 fouls called against them, while Portland only had 9. But the difference was that Portland didn’t finish the match with doctor’s surrounding their team bench.

 

North Carolina Injuries

When Taylor Smith went down from a poorly timed tackle from Tobin Heath, everyone knew she was in extreme pain. Her legs kicked out in agony and she clutched her shoulder, and all of a sudden the Courage, for the first time all season (despite what Paul Riley would tell you), became the underdogs. To make matters worse, Kristen Hamilton then went down with an MCL injury at the end of the first half, once again on a poorly executed tackle. And finally, although Jess McDonald (Kristen Hamilton’s substitute) would stay in the game, her hamstring that has been giving her trouble all season began to strain her in the late minutes of the match. Anything that could go wrong with regards to player health for North Carolina did. And if anything, these injuries just added more fuel to the fire of this already out of hand match.

 

The Refs Never Had Control

The worst and most ridiculous part of this match for me was the officiating. It became apparent early on in the match that they would allow physicality. But because of the officials’ lack of control, that physicality led to injuries and continued unsafe play. Sadly, it took the referees much too long to decide to try and calm things down before halftime and it cost the Courage dearly. To the officials’ credit, they did attempt to get more of a handle on the match in the second half, but they simply kept missing the mark. For example, Dagny Brynjarsdóttir got booked within her first twenty minutes upon entering the match after a completely accidental clipping of Denise O’Sullivan. It was her first foul of the match, and not at all malicious, but she still received a card. At that point, it became clear to me, and I am sure most fans out there, that there needs to be some changes in training and process among the officials for next season. Because we cannot have another match like this one. Especially not in a league final.

 

The Amandine Henry Substitution

Twitter erupted when Amandine Henry went down at the end of the match. She got help from a teammate stretching out her leg. She then got some medical assistance and was pulled over to the sideline. She then proceeded to go back onto the pitch while Allie Long prepared to be subbed in. And like the intelligent player she is, Henry made it to the middle of the pitch before she got subbed out for Long. She then took a very long, and a very slow walk to the sidelines. And all of this ate up a lot of time. A lot of time that North Carolina could have used to mount a comeback. And Courage fans were mad. And they had a right to be. But nothing that Henry did was wrong. In fact, it was the smartest play for her team. It was probably the most perfectly executed play of the whole game…and she didn’t even touch the ball. People will say that it was Busch League, or immature, or amateur. But at the end of the day, it was just plain smart. A bit ridiculous, like the rest of the match, but also insanely intelligent of the French veteran.

 

The Shield Curse Continued

Maybe this isn’t so ridiculous. Lord knows I believe in sports curses. But I really wasn’t buying into the whole ‘if you win the shield you won’t win the championship’ hoopla. That’s probably because the league is so young, and I believe this statistic to be more of a fluke than a truth. But absolutely nothing went North Carolina’s way on Saturday. So maybe the shield winners are cursed. Because even though they had four times as many shots, a higher passing accuracy, and twice as many crosses as the Portland Thorns, they could not even the playing field from kickoff. Between the injuries and the refs and Sam Mewis’ half-field shot smacking the crossbar, the Courage just couldn’t catch a break. So here we are, another year with this ridiculous curse that seems to prevent the team with the best regular season record from actually winning the championship. Which begs the question, ‘Is it a curse, a mind game, or a fluke?’ I think this curse thing is ridiculous, but if I am North Carolina, I am maybe starting to believe the rumors after that match.

So that’s it, my friends. Another NWSL season in the books. We saw some amazing things this year – amazing comebacks, phenomenal teamwork, and overall great football. None of which came from the NWSL Final. No, that match was saved for ridiculousness. But hey, if you’re Portland, why does it matter how you won? It’s really just the fact that you did. So congratulations to the Thorns. Better luck next year to the Courage. And apologies to anyone who thought they were going to see a great match last Saturday. It was entertaining, but it definitely wasn’t what one would consider world-class. Regardless, it’s a clean slate starting now, so let’s get ready for some more NWSL action next year…and hopefully a little less ridiculousness.

NWSL Final

Posted on by RJ Allen

Well, the Shield Curse stands. This year’s #1 team, the North Carolina Courage, lost to the #2, the Portland Thorns, in a 90+ minute bruiser of a game that saw two injury substitutions within the first 40 minutes of play. 

In the end, Portland took home the laurel wreath on a 49′ goal by Lindsey Horan, managing to continuously shut down North Carolina’s attempts to find the back of the net in front of 8,124 fans at the Orlando City Stadium, and a large audience watching at home on Lifetime. It was a long defensive game, with most of the play on both ends shut down by two stalwart midfields. And really, the win came down to clock management and endurance, with Portland just better prepared to see the match out to the very end. 

The game started out slow, with neither team really showing an advantage over the other. Even after a hard challenge by Tobin Heath forced North Carolina to use their first sub in the 12′ (Makenzy Doniak in for Taylor Smith, shoulder), the play back and forth was fairly even. The Courage had some early looks at goal in the 13′ and 14′, when Hinkle sent a cross into the box where Franch collected it easily, and then Mewis took a shot from just under the half-field line off of Franch’s distribution, sending the ball just over the crossbar. The Thorns’ first real attempt at the goal came in the 22′, when Henry sent in a ball to Horan just in front of the NC goal, but Rowland collected it easily and distributed it to her midfield. 

Much of the early attack was dominated by North Carolina, but Portland’s midfield and backline was able to deflect any attempts at their goal fairly easily, partially due to the Courage’s inability to link their play together, a problem that would ultimately prove their downfall.

In the 35′, North Carolina earned their second corner kick of the match. Dahlkemper sent the ball into the top of the box where Portland cleared it directly into the foot of Denise O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan took a direct shot through the jumble of Thorns in the box before her but Franch made an easy save. Then, just a few seconds later, Kristen Hamilton went down after attempting to challenge Heath off the ball as she drove down the left sideline. Despite Hamilton walking off under her own power (though obviously in a great deal of pain, revealed to be a suspected MCL injury), Paul Riley was forced to make his second substitution of the match in just the 39′, sending Jess McDonald onto the pitch far earlier than he had planned. 

Up until this point, discipline had been scarce, with the only real occasion coming in the 15′ when center ref Danielle Chesky pulled Horan to the side for a talking to after a hard challenge on McCall Zerboni. But in the 41′, after what looked like a fairly soft challenge on Mewis, Tobin Heath was shown the first yellow card of the match, and then in the 45’+1, Raso was shown the second for her foul on Doniak, going for the Courage player’s legs and taking her down from behind. But just before the four minutes of stoppage time expired before the half, when Doniak took down Heath on Portland’s own half, swiping at the Thorns’ legs while making no real effort to go after the ball, there was no call. Despite the seemingly obvious egregiousness of the challenge, no foul or card was given, and Portland instead was awarded a throw-in, but North Carolina intercepted and shortly after the whistle blew for the half. 

At halftime, the score stood at 0-0. North Carolina had 5 shots (1 on goal) while Portland had only notched a single shot. They had, however, racked up 7 fouls in comparison to the Courage’s 4, and been shown two yellow cards. Possession, though fairly equal, was slightly in the Thorns’ favor (52% to the Courage’s 48%), but they had only earned a single corner kick while their opponents had double that, to no effect, however. 

The second half started out with an exciting, but unproductive, attempt by North Carolina. In the 47′, Williams collected the ball near the top of the Portland 18. Franch, anticipating Williams’ attempted, came out toward the top corner of her goal box, getting a touch on the shot to deflect it as she went down but put it right in front of McDonald. McDonald turned to take a shot and literally missed the ball, the force of her kick throwing her off-balance and sending her to the pitch. The ball sat open in the box as Franch recovered her position, the Portland defense unable to clear it or collect it. Ashley Hatch made a run into the box and took the shot which went wide, finally ending the frenzied activity of both teams and giving Portland a goal kick. Just minutes after missing what looked like three sure things, the Courage gave up the ball in their own half on a handball by Dahlkemper. 

In the 49′, just minutes after missing what looked like three sure things, the Courage gave up the ball in their own half on a handball by Dahlkemper. Sonnett took the freekick and served the ball into the box where Amandine Henry headed it on to Horan, who sent it just over Rowland’s head and through her arms for the only goal of the match. 

North Carolina attempted to come back but were unable to break through the Portland midfield and defense. A hard challenge by Henry in the 52′ pushed Williams into Portland’s Raso, earning the Courage a free kick at an advantageous spot, but Mewis’s direct shot went high. And shortly after, Portland made their first substitution of the match, bringing on Dagný Brynjarsdóttir for Ashleigh Sykes in the 54′. Around this time, North Carolina’s biggest weakness began to show itself: their play was far too individual. Where the Portland players seemed to find their rhythm in the second half, spurred on by Horan’s goal, North Carolina’s attacking players neglected to link their play together in a way that would have allowed them to capitalize on their attempts at equalizing the score. Just after the Portland substitution, for example, the Courage had a throw-in opportunity in the attacking third of the field. Mewis was targeted, but unable to collect, and Hatch sent the second ball into the box toward the near post where Franch collected it easily. A runner to the post for North Carolina might have been able to flick that ball in, but no one ran the route. 

The teams continued to foul each other and challenge each other throughout the field, running the ball back and forth between the two boxes with no real attempts or chances by either side. In the 66′, a hard challenge on Mewis by Horan led to a free-kick that was cleared out by Portland, giving the Courage a throw-in in a dangerous position. McDonald threw the ball into the box where it was sent out, Erceg recovering after a scramble. Hinkle received the ball and sent in a cross. Portland blocked the initial attempt but McDonald got the ball and sent it out toward O’Sullivan, who dribbled into the box around three Thorn players. Sinclair stole it but was pressed hard by Mewis and Zerboni intercepted the attempted pass, sending the ball toward Williams in the box who made a shot but was denied by Franch once again. 

Danish international Nadia Nadim took the field for the Thorns one last time, subbing in for Raso in the 68′, and immediately began to pressure the North Carolina goalkeeper at every opportunity. After a harried attempt by NC, Doniak sending the ball into the box for McDonald, who challenged Franch for it in the air, a mistake by the Courage backline who collected Franch’s distribution led to a wild melee in the box. Courage center back Abby Dahlkemper passed the ball back to Rowland, unaware or unconcerned by Nadim’s nearby presence. Nadim chased after the ball, forcing Rowland to come almost to the top of the penalty box to attempt a save. Rowland and Nadim collided over the ball, which was still loose in the box as Nadim went down. As Erceg and Dahlkemper tried to help out their keeper, Heath moved forward to retrieve a short pass Nadim managed to make from the ground. Heath took a shot, her own momentum bringing her down as Rowland blocked it with her body but was still unable to collect the ball. Nadim, recovered, pursued the loose ball, turned with it, but lost the ball and went down again in front of Mewis who had come in to defend. North Carolina was finally able to clear but the ball landed right at the feet of Horan. Portland passed the ball around as they moved forward once again, with Nadim ultimately dribbling into the box for a shot but was denied again by Rowland, who was able to collect the ball this time. 

Brynjarsdóttir received the third yellow of the match shortly after in the 72′, as the Courage attempted to drive toward the Portland goal off of Rowland’s distribution. McDonald headed the ball forward for O’Sullivan, who was tripped up by the international. Dahlkemper took the freekick, playing it into Mewis who came off the wall, turned and took a shot toward goal that was blocked by the Portland wall. Doniak recovered the ball on the right side and sent a cross into the box which was headed out by Horan. Heath collected the ball and began to move forward, but Williams came up behind her and made a hard challenge that left Heath on the pitch in pain for several minutes.

Portland, with only just over ten minutes left in regulation, began to slow down their game, choosing not to drive forward as often and instead take time off the clock. Mewis directed a shot right into Franch’s hands in the 79′, after Williams, unable to get a good angle in the box, had passed the ball back to the top for Zerboni to lay off to the US national team player. North Carolina’s play at this point began to become a little more desperate, while at the same time the players were looking obviously fatigued. Faced with a corner kick by Portland, the Courage repeatedly cleared the ball out for throw-ins, seemingly unable to collect it and move it down the pitch. In the 86′ Mewis finally managed to bring the ball down without sending it out for a Portland throw-in and passed it downfield to Zerboni. Williams made a run into the box but with no one there to support her, or for her to pass to, what was really one of the Courage’s last good looks at goal was thwarted.

The final sub from North Carolina, their only second-half sub, was Stephanie Ochs on for O’Sullivan in the 86′. Ochs brought fresh legs and an enthusiastic spirit to the field, but her North Carolina teammates already seemed beat. She received the ball near the top corner of the Portland box in the 87′, and took a shot, but the Thorns cleared it out for a corner. The Courage responded with unorganized desperation, and seemed to start sending balls in from the back on sheer hope that Mewis or McDonald could get on the end of them and give them a second chance. But their attempts were either denied by Franch and her backline, or wasted by bad placement or lack of support. Their final chance in regulation came in the 89′, when McDonald took a throw-in. Portland headed out the initial ball, but directly back to McDonald, who leapt over Nadim to head it back toward the near post, where eventually Erceg was able to chip it toward goal, but once again, Franch was there to make the save. 

With only four minutes of stoppage time left in the game, Portland began to waste every second they could. A 90’+1 throw-in by McDonald was flicked on toward goal by Mewis but denied again by Franch. The commotion in the box left Henry down in front of her own goal, and she slyly took her time getting up, returning to the field a moment later even as Allie Long stepped up to sub in for her, eating up precious more seconds of the clock. Long was subbed in at the 90’+3, and despite the ref adding almost three more minutes on to counter the Thorns’ antics, North Carolina just couldn’t get it done, and the final whistle blew at 95:45, giving Portland their second-ever NWSL championship and denying the 2016 champions a back-to-back victory. 

Post-Game Stats and Awards

MVP: Lindsey Horan

NC 0 : 1 POR
16 Shots 4
5 Shots on Goal 3
5 Shots Blocked 0
4 Corners 2
3 Offsides 0
13 Fouls 9
0 Yellow Cards 3
347 Passes 327
55.3% Passing Accuracy 51.7%
51.9% Possession 48.1%
2 Saves 5

As you can see, North Carolina really dominated the stats [source]. They out-shot the Thorns, out-possessed them, out-passed them, and were more accurate in their passing than the champions. But they were consistently unable to capitalize, and it was their inability to follow-through, to make those second-ball runs in, to send a player toward the post in hopes of a rebound, that really left them in Portland’s dust tonight. 

When the initial disappointment is gone, North Carolina will have all the long off-season to revisit their mistakes and hopefully correct them before the 2018 season begins. But for now, Portland can rest easy knowing that when the chips were down, it was their teamwork that got them through. They might have gotten off to a shaky start in the 2017 season, but once they found their rhythm with each other, they truly were unstoppable. 

 

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Finals

Posted on by RJ Allen

Backline Soccer Recap:

Quick Fire Final Game Preview:

We have arrived at the final weekend of the 2017 NWSL season. It has been filled with many highs and lows, but for Portland and North Carolina, it is the last chance to shine and end up champions at the end of the night. This game will be tough, North Carolina is one of the most physical teams in the league (Portland also shares this title,) and so I expect to see a hard-fought physically defensive match from both sides.  Let’s take a quick look at what Saturday might bring. 

North Carolina Courage vs. Portland Thorns

Portland got here by way of Orlando last weekend at home. For a season that started a bit rocky and without Tobin Heath, I was not quite sure they would make it here. But for the last few months, their play has been consistent and steadfast, which ultimately pushed them into the final. Portland posses the best and strongest defense in the league. The pairing between Emily Sonnett and Emily Menges has elevated this season and has been the saving grace for Portland on many occasions in the back. I expect this to be the case again on Saturday. Portland will need their defense to continue to produce as North Carolina will start attacking early and pressure often. I also anticipate a big game from Lindsey Horan, who has had a great season for Portland. Tobin Heath, for all intents and purposes, did not look like a woman who was starting her first game of the year for Portland. While you could point out a few little things, she looked to be ready for a full load this Saturday, which spells bad news for North Carolina as her creativity on the ball is key. 

North Carolina comes in by way of a last-minute heroic goal against Chicago. They have been dominant all season, only straying from first place for a week, a feat that saw them claim the shield this season. They will be looking to repeat as champions on Saturday. To do this, North Carolina will have to figure out a way to break down Portland’s defense and ultimately, this may come down to a last-minute heroic goal off a mistake like it did on Sunday against Chicago. North Carolina would be wise to spring Lynn Williams early and catch Portland either in the run of play or off of a set-piece. North Carolina did not play their best soccer on Sunday and if they come out like that, sloppy, spread too thin, not capitalizing on their chances, Portland will make them pay. But I expect better on Sunday and I expect the women’s soccer community to be graced with a stellar 2017 NWSL championship game 

Wrapping up the Season:

And here we have arrived at the last Off the Bench of the 2017 NWSL season. It has been a ride and the NWSL has given me many great things to write about in this piece over the season as I prepared to watch a weekend full of games. Thank you to everyone who took the time to check out of my work. If you ever want to chat women’s soccer, WNBA, softball, or anything else your heart desires, hit me up on Twitter, @AdrianaHoop. 

 

Until next season! 

Soccer Takes From Jake: NWSL Championship Edition

Posted on by RJ Allen

Hey did anything chaotic happen in the soccer world this week?

So here we are. The 2017 NWSL season is down to one game.

I wish I could say I am writing this either at an airport terminal or in a hotel in Orlando but I did the responsible thing and bought a new computer instead of making the trip. Trust me, it’s a really neat computer. Though I do wish I was in Orlando with the other familiar NWSL/WoSo media people including some that write for this site. Alas, there’s always next year’s NWSL Championship, provided it’s not going to be at some outlandish destination like the moon.

We know how the teams got to Orlando to be playing for the league’s top prize. Portland had their way with the Orlando Pride to the tune of 4-1. To think that Portland got three goals on basically Orlando committing the cardinal sin of ball-watching is just, yowza. Not the way head coach Tom Sermanni wanted to celebrate that (well-deserved) contract extension. I predicted Portland would edge out Orlando in an anxiety-inducing affair that would go to penalties but instead, we got a decisive result in regulation. In the end, Portland was the better team in all three areas of the field, with the defense shining the brightest.

As for North Carolina, I thought their matchup against the Chicago Red Stars would be done in regulation time. Instead, we got something that definitely won’t be making any highlight reels anytime soon. Both sides were sluggish and way too timid to try anything, which is understandable given it’s a one-game, end-all, be-all format. That said, it was a slog in every sense of the word and we were nearly dreading extra time and possibly penalties until North Carolina’s Denise O’Sullivan claimed the match winner in the 89th minute.

And so here we are, heading into the championship with this year’s #1 and #2 teams, North Carolina versus Portland. And it’s going to be a good one. Both teams have defenses that feature a trio who absolutely do not blink under pressure. Both teams have conductors in the midfield that maybe a certain men’s senior team consider taking lessons from, learning what a midfield looks like and what it is supposed to do. Both teams have opportunistic forwards that can light up the net. This is an NWSL Championship that will feature two complete teams and while the playoff structure in any sport is a Random Luck Generator cranked up to eleven, this is the sort of showcase you want for your showcase match for the top prize.

In the end, what I think will happen is…

Portland Thorns FC OVER North Carolina Courage 2-1 to capture their second NWSL Championship.

And Portland will win because of Lindsey Horan. I think she will be the player on the field Saturday night that will have that moment of magic that seals the win for Portland. Will it be the match-winning, title-clinching goal, a goal-line clearance, or a soul-eviscerating, dispossession tackle? I don’t know, but from where I’m sitting, what I’ve seen from the teams, and what I think can happen, I think Horan shines just a little brighter than a field full of stars on NWSL Championship Saturday.

Here is your last music video break of the season. It’s been real everyone.

Song: Mistadobalina | Artist: Del The Funkee Homosapien

Before the Final: Quotes from Abby Erceg, Jess McDonald and McCall Zerboni

Posted on by RJ Allen

Abby Erceg

Backline: So, championship, second year in a row, sort of. Is there that same feeling as last year? Or do you guys think of this as sort of a different team? 

Erceg: No, I think we have 75% of the players from last year. So other than the rebranding I think it’s more or less the same team. We treat it as the same team. We treat the history the same as you would if a club was obviously the same name. So this for most of us is our second championship consecutively regardless of the name. Regardless of whether or not you’ve won one before, I think you have to put that aside and focus on what’s happening this year because last year’s championship isn’t going to win you this year’s championship, unfortunately. But yeah, we do treat it like it’s the same team. 

Backline: So, championship, second year in a row, sort of. Is there that same feeling as last year? Or do you guys think of this as sort of a different team? 

Erceg: No, I think we have 75% of the players from last year. So other than the rebranding I think it’s more or less the same team. We treat it as the same team. We treat the history the same as you would if a club was obviously the same name. So this for most of us is our second championship consecutively regardless of the name. Regardless of whether or not you’ve won one before, I think you have to put that aside and focus on what’s happening this year because last year’s championship isn’t going to win you this year’s championship, unfortunately. But yeah, we do treat it like it’s the same team. 

Backline: Is there a little bit of that comfort that a lot of your players have gone through a championship before? You don’t maybe have the same amount of nerves. I’m sure there’s nerves, but it’s not that first time you’ve sort of played on that stage. 

Erceg: Yeah, I think that’s a really good thing about it. It just seals the nerves a little bit. We know exactly what to expect. We know what’s going on. We know that it’s going ot be a little disruptive and not the same kind of build up that we have for normal games. So I think having that does help a little bit. You’re obviously going to have the nerves going into a game anyway. But I think it does help. 

Backline: You had the home semi this year. Was that something North Carolina’s first home semi in the league – was that sort of a nice thing to give back to the fans? 

Erceg: Yeah, I’ve played with Chicago and we had a home game there, and it’s kind of the exact same thing. You work so hard throughout the season. Obviously being with North Carolina for the first time you want to give something back to the fans and to everybody that’s supported us. SO I think coming to the championship is a really nice way to do that. 

Backline: Now there is something unusual this year. Both center backs on Portland are Emilys, both center backs on North Carolina are Abbys, is there just a little bit of that sort of weirdness of it? 

Erceg: Yeah, I think just playing with Abby last year, playing with two center backs called Abby, you don’t see that everyday. Even now, it’s weird. But the fact that we’ve got two teams like that. I mean, coincidence, maybe? 

Backline: A little bit about your relationship with Abby [Dahlkemper], sort of your partnership. Has that grown as she’s gotten some national team experience to sort of bring that back in? You yourself have a long history of experience. 

Erceg: Yeah, I think having played with her the first year, I didn’t get to play alongside her. I obviously played the midfield in front of her. We did a lot of switching, we did a lot of changes of formation trying to figure out who went where and what fit best with each other. I think this year hitting it, we know exactly where people fit and who fits best with each other and I think me and Ab have been able to build that relationship from the start. The way that she plays is a lot similar to me. We’re both more on the aggressive side rather than the conservative side so the way that she plays makes it easier for me to as well, I can read her, and I think it works really well together. 

Jess McDonald

Backline: So how are you feeling going into the final? I’ll get the boring question out of the way first.

McDonald: Feeling excited! I’m pumped to be here, obviously the whole team is so. It’s just cool to be back in the championship again. 

Backline: With Duke and UNC right there, is that helpful having a local pro team that those players – they can go to games, the UNC women can just come to a game as a block and watch you guys on the field as professionals. Does that sort of make it more real for the college players do you think? 

McDonald: Oh, most certainly! And the most incredible thing is that a lot of them have actually come and trained with us. So it’s cool to have them throughout the summer time to give them a piece of what the pro game is like. And so I think it’s just a cool experience for those type of college players overall to not only join in at our games and watch us, but to join us at training and to improve their football on the field. So it’s cool to watch them mature as well as players. I think it’s just an absolutely incredible thing for each program. 

Backline: One thing that we’re sort of getting to in the NWSL that we didn’t have in previous leagues. If you came into college as a freshman, and you’re about to graduate, you’ve had the NWSL every year you’ve been in college. Is that stability key to players? They can plan, “yeah, they want to go pro.” vs. “I don’t know if the leagues’ going to be there when I graduate college.” 

McDonald: Definitely! And I feel as if, if you have something like that to look forward to, you’ll want to improve your game. You’ll want to try to be the best player out there, obviously. So I think it’s cool to see how they have a plan to become a pro soccer plan, whereas when I was younger, when I was a freshman in college, we didn’t have a league. So I didn’t have that to look forward to. But for these college players now, that’s something to look forward to. I think it’s just a lot better of a feel. And obviously, parents always want their kids to become pro at whatever sport that they play, so. I know it’s only a small percentage but I just think it’s gonna help college players stay motivated.

Backline: Speaking of mother-son relationships, are you and your son going to be the first mother-son cap of the US? Is that the goal? 

McDonald: I hope so! That would be great! Yeah! 

McCall Zerboni

Backline: So Dan Lauletta put out an interesting stat, I think it was there’s been 3 years or 2 years since 2009 that neither you or Paul hasn’t been in the playoffs. Is that sort of one of those things where you guys have that experience that you can help some of the younger players sort of– it’s just another game guys, you know, you don’t have to–

Zerboni: I hope so, yeah. We’re a fairly young squad, and you know sometimes nerves can work into these things, or expectations get the best of us. But it’s just another game. And people just need to remember that. Nothing’s changed. it’s still a 90+ minute game, it’s still 120 by 75, it’s on a beautiful grass field, it’s what we’ve been doing, what most of us have been doing since we were 5, 6, 7 years old. So just to remind them why we do this, and it’s because we love it, and we should go out there and enjoy ourselves and not freak out. 

Backline: One interesting bit that you sort of touched on is that you have a lot of UCLA players on this team. Is there a little bit of that connection that helps that you guys have that UCLA background? 

Zerboni: You know, our generations were different. Like I never played with the young ones. But you know, a group of them did play together, so I’m sure that helps. I think it’s more fun for like banter, you know we banter all the time. Like oh, if you’re on UCLA, you can’t be in this box over here, you know so we kind of joke around, stuff like that. But yeah, I mean maybe a little bit, just kinda gets us on the same page, or that we have a little something in common, that helps, because we come from all different parts of the world and all different backgrounds, and the more and more we can find commonalities and realize our common goal, that’s helpful. 

Backline: You and Abby seem to have some experience. Does that help having another sort of player that’s not 21, 22, just sort of be like, okay – we’re going to talk about mortgages and about life. 

Zerboni: Yes (laughs). So that’s why I really appreciate her. So since Nora came in, we’ve just really bonded. I think not so much because of our age and our experience, but I mean she’s an amazing person, and we just sort of have the same take on life, and we’ve both been through a lot. And sometimes it was just me and Jess or whoever and so, I’m like, “Anyone? Anyone gotta pay their bills today? No one? okay.” Or, “remember when this happened, or remember when this song came out?” or just to have someone to relate to, to kind of help me lead the troops is helpful. 

Route Two Soccer – Evolve or Die

Posted on by RJ Allen

Kat Farris

Kat Farris

The Chicago Red Stars entered 2017 with high hopes. After several strong seasons that ended in the semifinals, this year was supposed to be their turning point. And not just in terms of results. They were going to be more flexible, would take better advantage of their talented roster, would develop and grow. But now after another disappointing semifinal result, it’s time to take a look back and see what happened to those promises.

The Big Change

There was one big change, and it was an enormously successful one. After starting the season at center back, Julie Ertz was soon moved up into the midfield, where she had an immediate impact. Ertz is a dynamic defensive player, exceptionally disruptive, and capable of initiating quick attacks after winning possession. Those skills become more valuable in a more advanced role, and Chicago used her to great effect.

In the early stages of the year, coach Rory Dames even experimented with playing Ertz in an attacking midfield role. While she is not anyone’s idea of a playmaker, her physical presence, disruptive abilities, and aggressive attacking ability all were useful in that advanced role. However, as the season progressed, she mostly played in a pure holding role, occasionally coming forward but mostly sitting back and shielding the defense.

On the whole, the Ertz experiment was a success, even as the effect seemed to diminish as the season progressed. But this wasn’t just about Ertz; the whole team seemed to wilt in the final several months, eventually stumbling into the playoffs as the 4th seed after a strong start.

Why did this happen?

The simplest answer might be injuries and fatigue. While Chicago was notable all season for the sparseness of its injury report (often listing everyone as fully healthy), it was also clear that many of those ‘fully fit’ players were actually carrying some knocks. Key players like Alyssa Naeher, Danielle Colaprico, Christen Press (just to name a few) have looked less than 100% for months. That might be due to the wear and tear of the season.

Sometimes teams just peak at the wrong time, and that might be what happened with Chicago. However, the story of Chicago’s failures shouldn’t be reduced purely to a problem with the players on the field. Because this team was also hampered by a serious lack of tactical innovation, something that became all too clear in the semifinal this weekend.

The 442 Diamond: Constraints and Limitations

Chicago spent virtually the entire season in the same tactical setup: a pinched 442 diamond, which is characterized by tucked in wide midfielders. We saw this again on Sunday, with Colaprico and Huerta (neither of whom would fit anyone’s idea of a traditional winger) playing in the wide positions.

This setup offers a very stable base and is excellent for choking off threats through the midfield. The pinched in wide players offer support, and can easily collapse on the ball when needed. And at least theoretically the diamond facilitates a short-passing midfield game. By moving away from the 442 as ‘two banks of four,’ you generate some forward impetus in attack.

However, the diamond is also severely limited. It features no true wide attackers, offloading the entire responsibility for width in the attack to the fullbacks. Of course, the modern fullback is generally expected to contribute significantly to the attack, but in most systems is given support by some form of wide attacker. In the diamond, there is no such support. That can be an advantage—since it gives your fullbacks a lot of empty space to run into—but is also a danger. Without clear partners to link up with, the fullbacks can easily become isolated. They may find it difficult to join the attack at all, which effectively condenses the team’s attacking options to a very narrow pathway down the center of the pitch.

Furthermore, the diamond also cedes wide spaces to the opponent’s attackers, to potentially devastating effect. On Sunday, North Carolina’s wide attackers (especially Taylor Smith down the right) were given endless expanses of green space to race through. With the Red Stars fullbacks stuck back in their defensive third, there was no one to stop those free runs. Casey Short did admirable work defending deep, but without her and Gilliland moving forward to join the attack, Chicago was left with a clogged midfield and nowhere else to go.

Route One Soccer with a Route Two Roster

When it works well, a diamond can give those players a chance to shine. But once countered, it offers very little flexibility. Facing off against North Carolina’s 4-2-2-2 ‘magic square,’ Chicago were deprived of space in the midfield and pressed back deep in defense. Without any real wide attackers, they could not push back Carolina’s fullbacks in order to relieve pressure.

And this was by no means the first time that Chicago has run into problems with their diamond. In fact, their persistence with this setup is one of the most baffling things about their season. For all the claims early in the year about fluidity and flexibility, they arguably were the most rigid team in the entire league.

In principle, a diamond can provide a useful staging ground for a strong midfield possession game. And at times this year, we saw the Red Stars finally seeming to produce the sort of technical soccer that has long been promised. The problem is that this depends almost entirely on the opposition’s willingness to let you play. As teams have increasingly packed the midfield and pressed their fullbacks high, Chicago’s central players have been starved of both space to operate and outlets for relief.

This is compounded by the apparent desire for Press to stay high up the pitch, rather than having her drop back to receive the ball and initiate attacks. Without her support in the midfield, passing lanes grow even more clogged, and attacks fizzle into wasted possession or costly turnovers.

Ultimately, against teams willing to adapt to circumstance, Chicago has been reduced to a caricature of their direct style. Instead of quick ball movement opening up lanes for through-balls, they are forced to resort to lumping the ball forward and hoping for knockdowns. This is hardly a good use of their resources under any circumstance and was an unmitigated disaster against North Carolina. On long ball after long ball, players like Mewis, Zerboni, Dahlkemper, and Erceg rose far above their Chicago counterparts to easily control the ball and restart their attack. It was as ineffective as it was baffling.

If Chicago were a fast, physical team with players of limited skill but maximal effort, this would make perfect sense. Route one soccer is an effective way to level the playing field against superior opposition. It allows your strong defensive unit to stay deep while giving you a modest chance at a lucky break on the attacking end.

But a team with Dani Colaprico, Vanessa DiBernardo, Christen Press, and Yuki Nagasoto in the middle of their attack has no business playing that way.

Where to Go from Here?

Chicago is blessed with an excellent roster, and much of the credit for that goes to coach Rory Dames, who has built this team up year by year. Dames was nominated for manager of the year, at least partially in recognition of that work. However, there’s a difference between assembling a top-level group of players and getting the most out of those players once you have them. And on the second front, it’s hard to say that Dames’ reign has been a success.

A team picked by many to win the Shield instead finished a distant fourth, and played one of their worst games of the season in the semifinal. And that’s not too dissimilar from what happened in 2016, either.

All in all, a team with a stacked roster and limitless potential has now spent the past two seasons barely staying above water. Over 46 games (regular season plus two semifinals) Chicago has managed a goal difference of only +5. That’s a shockingly weak result for a team filled with such good players. And it suggests that whatever the proximate causes for their poor performance in the semifinals, there are deeper issues with the team as a whole.

It would be surprising if Chicago made a coaching change in the offseason, but for the first time since the start of the NWSL, it’s no longer outside the realm of possibility. And regardless of who takes the helm in 2018, the priority will need to be significant tactical evolution. Playing direct helped turn Chicago into a playoff team, but unless they can diversify their options, they are unlikely to take the next step forward.

Ellis Names Roster For Korea Republic Friendlies

Posted on by RJ Allen

Jill Ellis has named 22 players to the roster for two friendlies between the U.S. Women’s National Team and Korea Republic.

Carli Lloyd returns to the roster while continuing to recover from an ankle injury, while Stanford senior Andi Sullivan returns to camp after recovering from an ACL tear suffered in late 2016.

Rose Lavelle (Boston Breakers) will be in camp,  but will not be on the game day rosters as she continues to work her way back to full fitness.

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Campbell (Houston Dash), Harris (Orlando Pride), Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (7): Dahlkemper (NC Courage), Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Huerta (Chicago Red Stars), O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Short (Chicago Red Stars), Smith (NC Courage)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Lloyd (Houston Dash), Long (Portland Thorns FC), Mewis (NC Courage), Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC), Sullivan (Stanford)

FORWARDS (5): Dunn (Chelsea FC), Morgan (Orlando Pride), Press (Chicago Red Stars), Pugh (Washington Spirit), Williams (NC Courage)

Looking Back: 5 Things That Made This Season Phenomenal

Posted on by RJ Allen

Looking back at this NWSL season, a lot has happened. We saw a good amount of uncertainty and instability among the league as a whole. Between not having a commissioner, mid-season player retirements, and a whole lot of financial inadequacies for some clubs, it would be easy to say that this year has been more than rocky. And one could make an argument for that. But one could also make the argument that a lot of really great things happened this year as well. And since we are going into the Finals this weekend, and since that is probably all that WoSo news is revolving around currently, I thought we might take a look back at five great things that happened this season in the NWSL.

So here they are – five reasons this season has been phenomenal … 

Kerr Broke Some Records

The brightest spot for the NWSL this season was Sam Kerr. Hands down. Not only did she set the single-season and single-game scoring record for the NWSL this season on top of becoming the all-time leading scorer in the league, but she also made soccer fun for everyone. Whether it was her crazy post-goal acrobatics or her extra-time header to lift Sky Blue to victory, there came a point in this season when each and every fan – no matter their usual club – stood up and applauded for Sam Kerr.  Kerr made the impossible seem like a walk in the park. She made the difficult look easy. And she made the game entertaining. Plain and simple. And she now has the Golden Boot to prove it.

She also has her name in the record books: 17 goals for the season. 4 goals in a single match.

Sam Kerr really was magic this year. One might even say the best (not FIFA though).

Sky Blue Had The Fans On Their Backs

I think one of the greatest victories of the year, and the one that no one is really talking about, is the fact the Sky Blue FC brought up attendance 21% from the 2016 season. It was the highest increase in the league. And sure, this may not sound like the most exciting statistic in the league, but go with me on this for a minute. Sky Blue FC plays in Piscataway, New Jersey. They don’t have a major city or a major stadium. They also only have one U.S. Women’s National Player on their roster, while other teams have as many as six. But still, their fans came. And they supported. And they loved every minute of it. It just goes to prove that a club doesn’t necessarily need all the flash and pomp and circumstance to get the fans to follow them. Sometimes just realizing your identity as a club, owning it, and flaunting it is enough. If you build it and rep it, the fans will come. Sky Blue understands this, and they capitalized on it this year.

Franch Saved Some Balls

Adrianna Franch was a pretty amazing goalkeeper this year. Sure, she does have a rather talented Portland side to help her with regards to defense, but Franch led the league with 11 clean sheets, allowed the fewest goals in the league at 20, and had a league-high save percentage of 80%. So yeah, one could say that the Portland Thorns’ goalkeeper had a pretty extraordinary year. And all that hard work helped get her team into the postseason as well. Because as good as Portland’s offense was this season, none of that matters without an ace standing between the posts. She was that ace, and her statistics prove it. So overall, it’s a great year to be Adrianna Franch.

Labbé Got Real About Mental Health

Some people may not think Stephanie Labbé opening up about her battle with depression is something that made this NWSL season phenomenal, but I would disagree. In fact, the candid comments she made in her Lifetime interview should be applauded. She took a very real issue that a vast number of people deal with and brought it to the forefront. She owned how hard it can be when the world sees you as one thing, but you feel like something else. She took this taboo subject that no one wants to talk about and owned it. And that did more good than anything else that happened this year in the league. Because as fans we often see professional athletes as these giants who are untouchable – they are strong and together and can take on anything. But Stephanie Labbé reminded us that athletes are people too. And they can struggle with confidence and depression too. And what she did was brave and inspiring to anyone who has ever gone through some sort of mental health issue. So yes, Labbé’s vulnerability and willing openness is a win in my eyes. One that I will continue to applaud.

Alex Morgan Apologized

Last week it was reported that Alex Morgan got removed from Disney World’s Epcot for trespassing. She and some Major League Soccer players were intoxicated, became belligerent at the park, and were removed. If the story ended right there then this incident wouldn’t have made my list. Even after Orange County Deputies removed Morgan from the happiest place on earth, no one for a minute believed that she would be seriously reprimanded. Everyone knew she would play in Saturday’s match against Portland and that the Orlando Pride would brush this incident under the rug. Their statement of them handling the incident internally almost all but confirmed that. 

But then: Alex Morgan apologized. 

It was not only a smart PR move for her but also kind of important. Because Morgan is the pinnacle of what women’s soccer is – she makes more money than anyone else in the league, she is one of the faces of the USWNT, and she is arguably the most recognizable female player in the world. No one would have called her on it if she completely ignored what happened and kept going on with business as usual. But that would have set a precedent for the future of the sport and what is acceptable behavior. It would have told young players everywhere that acting like this during the season – or at all – is okay. It also would have sent a negative message to the city she represents through her talents. So she apologized. And by doing so she acknowledged that she was wrong. She set the bar. And though not very high, it still showed that her actions off the field matter just as much as those on it.

The 2017 NWSL season treated fans and WoSo enthusiasts pretty well. It was entertaining. It was engaging. At times it was heartbreaking. But that is what we want out of a league and out of a season. We want a reason to run around our living rooms screaming at the television after Sam Kerr does the impossible. We want to exhale a breath when Franch saves another shot. We want to go to the matches, and follow the players, and care about how they represent themselves and the game. We will always want this. And we will always want more.

So here’s to 2018 – may you be just as phenomenal as your predecessor.

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Semi-Finals

Posted on by RJ Allen

Backline Soccer Recap:

Quick Fire Semi-Final Game Previews:

The playoffs are here and our four teams are set. After watching all four teams face off last weekend, this semi-final weekend is sure to be one for the books. Let’s take a look at the matchups. 

Game 1: Portland Thorns vs. Orlando Pride

Portland Thorns record: 14-5-5
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 47

Orlando Pride record: 11-6-7
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 40

Portland fought for the right to get the home-field advantage for the semi-finals. Will it be enough today? I imagine a very tough match for both teams but Portland has that home-side on their side. Portland tends to come out of the gate quick, possessing a lot of the ball, and trying to pressure the opposing team to make mistakes. Their key will be to not get too impatient and ahead of themselves while stringing together a full 90′. Tobin Heath is expected to start but no word yet on how many minutes she will be able to play. She has shown a bit in her last two matches but how much she is able to contribute to this match may prove key for the Thorns. Portland would do well to run their attack through Hayley Raso and make sure she gets plenty of good looks to put one away. Playing such a defensive game against Orlando a few weeks ago provided them very little opportunity at goal, where the shots on goal they did get, relied on an Orlando mistake. The defense will be tested with the attacking duo of Marta and Alex Morgan but if their defense has so far been up to the task. 

Orlando’s Alanna Kennedy pulled off a last-minute free-kick stunner to put the Pride into this semi-final matchup, which will now be one of the bigger tests of their short time in the league. The last time the Pride played the Thorns, it was probably the most physical matchup of the season. The Pride will need to not only be extremely steady on defense but also try to curb their notorious last-minute opportunities and turnovers given to the opposing side. It was also announced earlier this week that Camila would miss the playoffs with a torn ACL and sprained MCL, which is a huge loss for the Pride’s creative side, which struggles to find help outside of Marta and Camila. If they can control their game plan, they have a real shot to steal one in Portland. Their key will be figuring out a way to deal with the defensive shutdown the Thorns will most likely push them into again. What shut them out in the last match against Portland was their inability to use the width, they were forced to play too compactly. Orlando was successful against Portland with the high press but that is hard to sustain for the full 90′. If Orlando can find a way to break the Portland compacted defense and finish the shots they manage to get. This game should be quite the matchup. 

Game 2: North Carolina Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars

North Carolina Courage record: 16-7-1
Position: 1st
Total Points: 49

Chicago Red Stars record: 11-7-6
Position: 4th
Total Points: 39

North Carolina is coming into this match having not beaten Chicago yet this season. Will this match break the losing spell? For all intents and purposes, North Carolina has been the most consistent team this season and their positioning and record prove that. Their biggest problem has been finishing though. A player like Lynn Williams takes a lot of shots but lacks the finishing aspect in some ways and relies on her speed. This could work this weekend or could be a downfall. The Courage will have trouble with Chicago’s defense so they will need to do a much better chance of finishing their chances, especially earlier in the game. Sam Mewis is also expected to have another stellar game, chugging along in the midfield setting up her teammates or taking shots on her own. She will need to be on and clicking for the Courage to roll. 

Chicago has been a bit of an enigma lately but have found themselves now facing the number one team in the league for their spot in the final. They should feel pretty happy with this match-up considering their winning record but the playoffs are a different beast. Chicago’s biggest thing will be consistency. Consistently defending the Courage attack and making sure to not give them any space to move. They will also need to do work to win the midfield battle and get more of their attack spurred. Christen Press was noticeably frustrated last week after the loss to Portland so I expect her to come out ready to lead the attack. Chicago will need to be better about feeding her balls so she does not have to drop so far back to get them. Julie Ertz will also be key for the Red Stars, a player I would argue has been the most important player on the field for Chicago this season. If Chicago can capitalize on their early chances and set their game up, they have a very good chance of pulling the win out. Alyssa Naeher and the Chicago backline will be tested, it is how they respond that will determine the winner. 

The Scouting Report:

We went live on Monday night with our weekly TSR, which was the last episode featuring Sandra Herrera and Jordan Small.

In case you missed the episode, catch up here:

 

Soccer Takes From Jake: NWSL Semi-Final Edition

Posted on by RJ Allen

On Wednesday, NFL quarterback Cam Newton said something really dumb. And he rightfully got lambasted for it. Women in sports; guess what it’s fucking awesome. The things I have learned from those that cover sports as a member of the media or work for a professional team are nothing short of awesome. Respect and appreciate the work they do. By no means is this the end-all, be-all list of women in sports I am a fan of because of the work they’ve put in, but every so often the general question is asked, “Who are some women in sports that I should follow?” Well, these are some solid people to start with:

Well, these are some solid people to start with:

Susie Rants / Stephanie Yang / Rachael Caldwell / Jessica Konen / Katelyn Best / RJ Allen / Caitlin Murray / Caitlin Buckley / Alicia Rodriguez / Jamie Goldberg / Meg Linehan / Jackie Maynard / Brittany Alvarado / Jacqueline Purdy / Jennifer Gordon / Jenny Jeffries / Jonana Widner / Stefanie Loh / Ashley Scoby / Adriana Hooper / Elizabeth Wawryzniak / Katie Simons / Justyne Freud / Mina Kimes / Kate Fagan / Sandra Herrera / Kate Preusser / Brynn Baker / Katherine Oberg / Alyse LaHue / Jasmina Schweimler / Lauren Barker / Katie Nolan / Jacqui Porter / Arielle Castillo / Skyler Warrick / Kara McDermott / Emily Giambalvo / Hannah Roberts / Julie Stewart-Binks / Diana Moskovitz / Rachel Nichols / Sarah Spain / Jessica Mendoza / Jemele Hill / Aly Wagner / Kate Markgraf / Jenn Hildreth / Ariane Hingst / Rachel Bonnetta / Jackie MacMullan / Angie Mentink / Iliana Limón Romero / Alicia Rose DelGallo / Jackie Montgomery / Chloe Leadbetter / Alyssa Zajac / Allison Lee / Leigh Nieves / Ann Odong / Alanna Fairbairn / Erica Ayala / Jessica Luther / Kay Murray

Seriously the list can go on and on. The bottom line is whether they cover sports as a member of the media or work for a sports teams, these ladies do amazing work. Respect the hustle & grind they put in. Listen to what they bring to the table. Value what they do because despite what some bums might say (and there are a lot of them), women definitely belong in sports.

THE PORTLAND THORNS WILL WIN IF…
Have you been to Portland? It’s a home-field advantage unlike any other. You have to be something special to go into their house and leave with a win. The team on the field is talent plenty of people would put on a Christmas wishlist. Mark Parsons has more than proven he’s handled the transition from Washington to Portland and the bigger expectations that come with it. If the Thorns hold Orlando scoreless or at most one goal, I think it will be because of the trio of Adrianna Franch and defenders Emily Sonnett and Emily Menges – seriously, how Menges isn’t on the shortlist for Defender of the Year is absurd. And if I were a betting man, how could one not put a fiver on Christine Sinclair doing something good to send an already raucous crowd like the one Portland has into a frenzy? When everything is clicking for them on the field, their supporters provide such a home-field advantage that really it’s a natural wonder and something you have to see in person.

THE ORLANDO PRIDE WILL WIN IF…
Orlando’s work got harder for them with the injury of midfielder Camila. However, the stage is set for just the sort of thing you cannot rule out in which Marta does something that has everyone going, “Yep, that is why she is the Greatest Of All Time.” Her and Alex Morgan turned it on and became the dynamic duo everyone hoped they would when they needed to be in the regular season and that’s why they’re in the playoffs. The magic of the duo could just rise above the intimidating atmosphere inside Providence Park.

THE NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE WILL WIN IF…
They stay the course and stick with what brought them to the dance. It’s not dumb luck that the Courage basically lived at the top of the table. This is as complete a team you’re going to find in the world. Paul Riley’s squad has everything you want in a soccer team. Lockdown defense, amazing conductors in the midfield, and forwards who know how to find the back of the net. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it and while Chicago had their number in the regular season meetings, home field advantage counts for something major in the NWSL and the Courage sure play at home like they’ve been there for years.

THE CHICAGO RED STARS WILL WIN IF…
They can absorb North Carolina’s runs but stop them in the final third. Whether it’s their back four and Alyssa Naeher locking down and direct blocking shots or putting enough of a touch to direct the ball to go wide of the goal. If they can translate this into a counter-attack with an exclamation point of a Christen Press touch that we know she can do, even a formidable defense like North Carolina’s can be broken. They had North Carolina’s number in the regular season meetings, so Rory Dames and gang know how to do it against North Carolina.

THAT SAID, MY PREDICTIONS ARE…
Portland Thorns OVER Orlando Pride
HOWEVER… IT WILL TAKE GOING TO PENALTIES!

North Carolina Courage OVER Chicago Red Stars.
This one though will be decided in regulation.

And there you have it, Portland and North Carolina are Orlando-bound for the 2017 NWSL Championship.

Here is your music video break.

Song: “Sam’s Town” | Artist: The Killers