Going into Week 13 action, the focus has been officiating and discipline from the previous week. Week 12 saw two red cards given to Shea Groom of FCKC and Carli Lloyd of the Houston Dash, both in controversial plays that had many questioning the validity of the officiating. Carli Lloyd indicated that they would appeal her card and one-game suspension, but according to Dan Lauletta, the NWSL doesn’t have a process for such an appeal to occur:
I can confirm two things: 1) #NWSL does NOT have an appeal process for red cards; 2) PRO official tells me both Saturday reds were correct
Just when it seemed like everyone was about to turn the page on red cards, the league announced a series of fines on Thursday to Dash player Amber Brooks, interim Head Coach Omar Morales, and FCKC gaffer Vlatko Andonovski. Somehow, the outspoken Carli Lloyd managed to escape a fine, but she will miss this weekend’s match against the Washington Spirit. (Lloyd missed three games with Manchester City earlier this year after she received a straight red there for elbowing an opponent.)
Many are saying this type of controversy is taking away from the play on the field. As the NWSL looks to grow into one of the top women’s leagues in the world, it’s a serious concern that the league does not have a policy in place to review red card decisions.
So, is it time for the NWSL to make adjustments to league’s discipline policy? And what would that look like?
Major League Soccer’s policy to appeal a red card is pretty straight forward: each team in the league puts up a $25,000 refundable bond for the opportunity to have red card appeals. The team is only allowed two unsuccessful appeals a season, and as a deterrent from this system being abused, if the ruling body determines the red card appeal is frivolous then the team loses the bond, loses the right to appeal any decision for the current season as well as the next season, plus the punishment of the red card appeal is doubled. For the appeal to be successful, the decision of the ruling body has to be unanimous otherwise the appeal is considered denied and the suspension stands. The ruling body is composed of a three-person panel made up of a member of U.S. Soccer, a member of the Canadian Soccer Association, and a member of PRO, the organization which manages the referees in North American soccer. The makeup of the panel is such so MLS can claim that the panel is independent since no one from MLS sits upon it.
This seems to work in MLS as the majority of teams don’t appeal a red card unless it is an obvious error. One of the recent successful appeals was back on June 7 when Orlando City won a red card appeal from a decision of Ted Unkel – who ironically is married to Christina Unkel the referee who dismissed Carli Lloyd last week.
Can a similar system work with the NWSL structure? Already one of the glaring problems that would have to be addressed is that league is backed by U.S. Soccer, so the league couldn’t claim that the ruling panel was independent since it works with the backing of the Federation. Would it matter if the panel wasn’t “independent” like MLS? Could an individual from a separate organization–the MLS, perhaps–sit on the panel in place of U.S. Soccer? Since the numbers of appeals would be so few and far between, it wouldn’t seem likely to be an issue, but the optics of impartiality may be something that could not sit well with a fan base for a team already frustrated by a red card of a player which merited an appeal.
Another item which the league would have to address is the amount of the bond which teams would have to put up. This being NWSL, if the league established the bond would every team even put up the cash for the bond? It seems unlikely it would be an amount as high as $25,000 but it would still be an amount significant to act as a deterrent if a team were to appeal frivolously. Thankfully Western New York isn’t in the league anymore, to be the team that doesn’t put up the money to give themselves red card appeals. It would still be something the league would have to figure out, but keep it from being public since the team’s fan bases would have a meltdown if their team didn’t put up a bond.
Ultimately, it doesn’t seem the league has ever thought to have a red card appeal system because it didn’t consider that the growth of the league would merit such a mechanism. Even going into the fifth season, the league seemed more focused on maintaining the existence of the league. However, at this point, nobody is questioning if the league will have a 2018 season and beyond. The league can finally shift its focus on improving policies like the adjusted hydration break policy midseason. As more attention is on the NWSL, we can expect to have a red card appeal process. We could even see a change in policy in yellow card accumulation like other leagues, as the season continues the twenty-four-match season and looks to expand to a longer season.
The next issue to address is that of the referees. The inconsistent decisions of the PRO referees reflect two things. First, the league is still young–in just its fifth season–so our referee pool is not fully developed and may need more experience to mature. A part of the growing pains of being a five-year-old league is the referees for the NWSL need to have the match time to improve. Even though the officials go through a series of training sessions, nothing is a substitute for match minutes – just like the players. As the play of the league improves, the speed of the game will get quicker, and the skill of the some of the referees will need to catch up with that.
And lastly, now that the league is consistently on television and more eyes are on the league, officiating errors will be more magnified. The referees are human and will make mistakes. Every league in the world has some type of officiating errors and fans complaining about the refs is just as common as soccer scarves and tifos. For now, there needs to be some patience with how the league handles red cards. Fans, players, and coaches will all have to wait and hope the NWSL will adjust its policy for future seasons.
In this weekly series, I will be highlighting a player from the weekend who was their respective team’s unsung hero, win or lose. A player who does the dirty work, does the little but important things in a game, and someone who didn’t exactly fill up the stat sheet but found other ways to contribute.
This week is special–two for the price of one! I’ve chosen Houston Dash defenders Janine Van Wyk and Amber Brooks to highlight together because I believe that the on-field relationship between the two women really contributed to the Dash’s play this week.
Van Wyk is in her first year in the NWSL and has adjusted nicely to the American way of playing. The 30-year-old is the first South African player to suit up for an NWSL side, earning a place after her 2015 Women’s World Cup showing and her impressive performance against the USWNT in a mid-year friendly in 2016. Van Wyk is the caps leader for either male or female for South Africa, with an incredible 143. She impressed on the biggest stage so it was a no-brainer to recruit her. I, for one, was hoping she would make her way over here and it seems she has made a home with the Dash.
Brooks is a player who has been in the NWSL since 2014, with Portland and Seattle before settling in with Houston. The 26-year-old played her college ball at the Taj Mahal of women’s soccer, the University of North Carolina from 2009-2012. She is a player that has been solid no matter what team she has been on, yet she is on her third NWSL team. And while it is certainly not a preference for any player to move around that much, she has definitely made a home for herself in Houston.
Houston 1-1 Portland:
Going into this matchup, I wasn’t heavily favoring Portland but I certainly didn’t think Houston would put in this kind of performance. Keep in mind the Thorns were without Amandine Henry, Nadia Nadim, and Dagny Brynjarsdottir as they are with their respective teams for the European Championships.
From the starting whistle the Dash were buzzing, putting pressure on early to take control of the game right away. Portland would have a half chance in the second minute but Van Wyk intercepted a pass from Hayley Raso in the Dash’s own 18 that was intended for a charging Lindsey Horan. Van Wyk read the play perfectly and the Dash have a hard time coming back from behind so it was a much-needed play.
Although youngster Janine Beckie scored a goal for Houston in the eighth minute, the Thorns were not fazed, bringing wave after wave of attack.
Midway through the first half, the two Dash veterans continued their strong start, making back-to-back plays to keep Portland off the board. Van Wyk was up for the challenge of the Thorns attack in the 14th minute when, with Sinclair waiting on the doorstep, she remained a step ahead of the Canadian legend. Van Wyk cleared the dangerous ball sent in from Australian import Ashleigh Sykes and relieved the pressure momentarily for Houston.
Just a minute later in the 15th minute, Brooks took Hayley Raso’s chance away in Houston’s box. Brooks’ style isn’t to dive in with the speedy forward barreling down. Instead, she waits, patiently, unafraid. In this game, she waited and contained Raso long enough for Van Wyk to arrive and help support, eventually clearing the ball out of danger. Not too long after that, Brooks was busy once again. This time she sacrificed her body her block a vicious shot by Meghan Klingenberg, who was moving in her typical left-to-right tread.
A close call in the 27th minute required Brooks to be aware of just which Portland player was around her. In this instance, it was Allie Long attempting to get in behind the backline about 25 yards out. Brooks stretched out to steal the slotted ball, breaking off what was sure to be a breakaway date with Houston’s rookie goalkeeper Jane Campbell.
In the second half, it was much of the same from the Dash dynamic duo.
With the Thorns piling on the pressure, Van Wyk and Brooks had to do whatever it took not to allow a goal, let alone a goal right after half. In the 53rd minute, they stood their ground on teasing ball after ball being whipped in by the Thorns, each rising to head it out two different times. Even with the high pressure, Houston and its backline displayed steady composure, led by Van Wyk and Brooks in the center.
Several minutes later Brooks showed how dangerous her service can be, almost grabbing an assist, but Carli Lloyd’s header went just wide. It’s a shame Lloyd couldn’t quite get it on target because it was a gorgeous ball in from Brooks.
Van Wyk and Brooks orchestrated a solid game-plan from the back all night long, switching fields when necessary and providing support to the midfield. They did a fantastic job leading the Dash, and while they earned just one point, it was a sign of life once again from this team.
The other two points slipped away when Horan scored a lovely free kick in the 91st minute. Houston had done a wonderful job keeping Horan in check all game until a moment of magic spoiled the result. It was certainly a stunner for Dash fans, just seconds within reach of a rare win at home.
Still, it doesn’t take away from the performance of Van Wyk and Brooks that kept it that close for 90 minutes.
No matter what Portland tried, Houston had an answer. They were just making all the right decisions. Staying organized, working for quality spells of possession, movement on and off the ball was satisfying, and they worked hard to control the pace of the game. I could’ve picked several Dash players for this week’s column on the defensive side alone. It was one of my favorite performances of the year so far.
Well, faithful followers, it has been quite the week in WoSo, hasn’t it? From the nail-biting 12-minute score-a-thon from Sam Kerr to Carli Lloyd’s “You think that’s a red card, I’ll show you a red card” last minute send-off on Saturday night, our heart rates are still not quite back to normal.
But, the excitement only fuels our fingers, folks! We’ve got six takeaways from this weekend to share with y’all.
The Legacy of Tony DiCicco – Luis Hernandez
As the Boston Breakers hosted the Chicago Red Stars, the club also paid homage to Tony DiCicco, the team’s former coach from 2009 to 2011 in Women’s Professional Soccer, the pro league prior to NWSL. The passing of DiCicco touched off a series of in memoriam moments in the women’s soccer community as many remembered how he led the 1999 Women’s National Team to victory in the World Cup. But Coach DiCicco’s impact to the sport and WoSo family was more than this achievement. Honoring him at the national and club levels not only honors his memory, but also introduces and educates new fans of women’s soccer.
The history of women’s soccer is rich and goes back a lot further than casual fans realize. As people retell the legacy of Tony Dicicco and are exposed to his impact at the club level, I hope it also fosters an appreciation for the role he played in the larger tradition in the sport as well. His life touched the lives of so many players, and they in turned touched and inspired so many of today’s players and fans. His legacy will truly endure.
His legacy will truly endure.
Exciting Draws is More than Just Parity – Luis Hernandez
Three of the five matches this past weekend ended in a draw, but they were anything other than a dull watch. Starting last Friday, the Breakers, perhaps inspired by the previously mentioned DiCicco memorial, managed to hang on for dear life at home to preserve the nil-nil draw against Chicago with Sammy Jo Prudhomme starting in goal. The tension grew the whole match, as Matt Beard’s side fought off the Red Stars peppering the Boston defense with ten shots on goal. The Breakers defense bent at times, but it did not break, and it rode out the waves of Chicago attack. This was not a case of parity in the league, just the resilient effort of a team refusing to lose for one night.
Meanwhile, on Saturday the Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit drew 2-2 in another entertaining showdown. Both sides felt hard done by the referee, and even though that storyline risked overshadowing the final result, it seems like the points being shared by both sides was the right outcome. Watching Marta playing this season has been a joy and her impact–and leadership out of the other Orlando players–has taken the Pride to better results than last season. And it seems like the Spirit have rebounded from the negativity of the offseason, adding Mallory Pugh and bringing back Estefania Banini to the fold. Once Washington’s attack gels, the rest of the league may have to watch out. Plus, Pugh’s development is exactly the result U.S. Soccer hoped for when backing the league. Just throw each team’s record out the window, it’s going to be entertainment at its finest.
Finally, the week ended in a dramatic style with Houston versus Portland. Dramatic might actually be an understatement. Houston scored early as Janine Beckie, the Canadian International, finally got on the score sheet, the Thorns equalized with a skillful free kick from Lindsey Horan. Throw in the straight red card to Carli Lloyd and the post-game conflict between Allie Long and Meghan Klingenberg, and this match was definitely worth the price of admission. Watching both teams clawing for a result makes every match must watch television. These results are good for the league.
Red is the New Blues – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak
Halfway into the season, and FCKC leads the league in red cards. They’ve accumulated three of the seven reds shown by refs; no other team has received more than one. That’s three red cards in just twelve games. Across their four preceding seasons, FCKC has only ever had two players ejected with a red: Lauren Sesselmann in 2013 for pulling Lisa De Vanna down by her jersey in the box, and Shea Groom in 2016 for picking up two yellows in a game against the Thorns.
So, why are they so red-heavy this season? You can argue back and forth all you want about whether the cards were deserved or not, whether the refs are shit or not, but the fact is, KC has racked them up this year. Because they are frustrated. Because they are better than 8th place. This was supposed to be a comeback season for the two-time league champions. Instead, they lost Amy Rodriguez in the opening match, they’ve struggled to win whether at home or away, and once again, playoff chances are seeming further and farther out of reach. The team’s frustration–and Groom’s in particular, after a season that’s kind of used her as a punching bag so far–is coming out in their play.
Sure, it’s not an excuse, but you can kind of understand it.
If they want to make a play for the post-season, though, it’ll have to be fast. Time is quickly running out. And, they’ll need to tighten up their play and keep their frustration a little better in check on the field.
Because let’s be honest, we all know that FCKC is better than 8th place. They have the talent, they have the experience. But what they might be lacking at the moment is the mentality.
They need to not let their circumstances get the better of them.
The Puzzling Portland Thorns – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak
You ever build a puzzle and you’ve got two pieces you are sure will fit together? Right color, right pattern, the shape of the tabs and the blanks look like they’ll join together just right … but when you put them together, there’s just something off? Like one of the lines doesn’t quite match, or the join isn’t snug or doesn’t actually fit.
Watching the Thorns this weekend, that’s all I could think about.
This puzzle doesn’t quite gel.
Sure, they’ve got all the pieces you’d think were necessary to be on the top of the standings–multiple world class international players, the height of professional soccer facilities for women in the US, a huge fan base both home and away. And yet right now, they’re sitting in fifth place. They won the Shield last year but lost to the 4th place team (who, true, did go on to win the final).
Honestly, what’s up with Portland?
It’s an example of having all the money to buy the best players, but not really understanding how a team works. How teamwork works. A team full of elites might look good on paper, but in practice, it rarely works out. Because for every Mal Pugh, you need a Tori Huster. For every Rose Lavelle, you need a Julie King.
What I mean is, you need balance. You need melody and you need harmony–flash and drive. And what we’ve been seeing from the Thorns this year suggests that they’re not harmonizing well, at all.
You don’t have to look any further than the game against Houston to see that this team?
It’s not a team right now.
Plenty of people have said that the injuries in the team’s deep bench are where the problem is, but look, I don’t know that if Tobin Heath comes onto the field next week they’re suddenly going to turn themselves around. I don’t know that she’s the steady and calm leader that somehow balances everything else out on the field and off.
Is a big part of why they’re in 5th place right now.
Sam Kerr Proves Why She is the MVP – Jordan Small
Once again, Sam Kerr put on a show in New Jersey. In the final 12 minutes of the game, Kerr scored a hat trick to bring Sky Blue back from the brink of death to beat FCKC 3-2. Now Kerr did have some help along the way, but without her, this team would not be where they are today.
With her hat trick, Kerr took over the Golden Boot race and now leads the pack over Megan Rapinoe and Marta. In the early portion of this season, Kerr was not herself. After a trip back to Australia for an awards ceremony, Kerr came back with a vengeance. Without Kerr, the attack for Sky Blue would be hurting. Very few have the impact on their team that Sam Kerr has.
The Pugh-Banini-Ordega Trio is Just Getting Started – Jordan Small
This week against Orlando, Estefania Banini, Francisca Ordega, and Mallory Pugh all started together for the first time. They connected to score the first goal for Washington on a passing sequence that went from Banini to Ordega and then to Pugh for the score. The combination of speed, foot skills, and vision will be one to keep an eye on.
So much of what was missing early on in the season for Washington was that spark to take the pressure off of young Mallory Pugh. After getting a game and a half under their belts, the attack will continue to build and will put defenses across the league on notice. With a four-game road trip coming up, the Spirit will need a strong stretch from these three to pick up some points.
6 Takeaways From NWSL: Week 11: Jordan Small, Luis Hernandez, and Elizabeth Wawrzyniak bring you their takeaways this week, including the return of Alex Morgan, backup keepers, and more.
Can anyone take the top spot from North Carolina? This week the Chicago Red Stars have a chance. With a win–and some help from the Seattle Reign–they could find themselves on top of the table for the first time this season. Let’s take a look at some keys for this weekend’s games.
Game 1: Boston Breakers vs. Chicago Red Stars
Boston Breakers record: 3-6-3
Position: 9th
Total Points: 12
Chicago Red Stars record: 7-3-2
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 23
Boston is coming into this week off a much-needed morale-boosting win against the Spirit. But they will have a very tough task getting past a strong Chicago side. Rose Lavelle continues her time on the injured list, unfortunately, which will leave Boston without one of their more creative members. We’ve seen just how much she has done for Boston this year so far and it’s obvious that she is missed. But the Breakers have continued to fight. If they want to get a result here they’ll need to figure out a way to get past the strong Chicago defense, which should involve trying to find the open space in behind to challenge Alyssa Naeher. They need more production from their attacking line to accomplish this. In addition, Chicago has more attacking players than just Christen Press to carry the load and Boston should watch for pressure early.
On paper, this looks like a Chicago win, but as we’ve seen regularly in this league, no result is ever certain, and it’s anyone’s game from day-to-day. And Chicago does have weaknesses, for all that they’ve settled into a solid route. They’ve had problems creating and finishing good chances, and have also struggled to maintain enough possession to make anything happen. This week that will be their key to getting ahead of Boston: take advantage of possession and opportunities in front of goal.
Game 2: Washington Spirit vs. Orlando Pride
Washington Spirit record: 3-6-2
Position: 10th
Total Points: 11
Orlando Pride record: 4-5-3
Position: 6th
Total Points: 15
The Spirit get the advantage of the home crowd this week, but the enthusiasm will most likely be shared between teams since this will be Ali Krieger’s first trip back to Washington in an Orlando uniform. The Spirit have started to slump into a rut that even Steph Labbé–who is having a great season–has had trouble managing. It seems they have resigned to letting Labbé carry a heavy load as she faces a ton of shots every game. The key for them against an Orlando side that is finally finding some form is to hold some possession. They’ll be in trouble if Orlando can control the game and send waves of attacks toward the Spirit goal.
The Pride will be coming in this week looking to pull out a big three points after a disappointing result last weekend, where they outplayed Chicago but came away with nothing. But that game was representative of their problems across the season. They tend to maintain fairly high possession percentages but have a hard time converting their chances into quality shots or goals. This is an area where the return of Alex Morgan could make a huge difference. She got a few minutes last weekend but should be ready to contribute fully here. And if Morgan and Marta start to connect and click on the field, the Spirit may be in trouble. Orlando also needs a lot more from players like Kristen Edmonds and Monica in the back and middle of the field or it may be time to try something new there.
Game 3: Sky Blue FC vs. FC Kansas City
Sky Blue FC record: 6-6-1
Position: 4th
Total Points: 19
FC Kansas City record: 3-5-4
Position: 8th
Total Points: 13
Sky Blue FC is coming in from a whirlwind three-game week and ready to fight their way to the top. Sam Kerr has seemed to settle into a consistent routine lately, and if she continues that against FCKC, they will have a hard time stopping her. Sky Blue mixed up their defense last game, either because of players needing rest after the long week or a desire to see if something new could bring them more success in the back. And this will be an area of continued attention for the team, as the young backline has had some issues so far this year. It those recur, it could spell trouble against an FCKC attack that is just waiting to break free.
FCKC just seem to be missing a bit of direction right now. Losing Amy Rodriguez after just one game really put a dent in their entire season and has forced players into roles that don’t really serve their skill sets, with Sydney Leroux being the most notable example. She doesn’t work well as a lone striker, but KC doesn’t really have any other options to lead the line. To stand a fighting change against Sky Blue this week, their attack will need to take advantage of the holes in the younger backline early and hope to put themselves up a goal or two before halftime.
Game 4: North Carolina Courage vs. Seattle Reign
North Carolina Courage record: 8-4-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 24
Seattle Reign record: 5-2-5
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 20
North Carolina is looking to stay atop of the standings this week but they may need to get past Seattle to manage it. And given Seattle’s current form, that may by tough. Still, for NC the gameplan is clear and it’s really just a question of whether they can execute. The return of Jess McDonald last week as a late substitute was a good sign; she looked primed and ready to score a few goals. Lynn Williams has not seen any minutes recently but be on the lookout for her status this weekend as well. And even without their twin towers, the depth of the NC attack has been impressive. The main issue for the team, then, is whether they can manage to stave off a very strong Reign attack and a very in-form Megan Rapinoe. No team has seemed to be able to stifle her yet this season.
Seattle is coming in strong and will be looking to pick up more points on the back of Megan Rapinoe. However, at least for now, the status of Jess Fishlock is up in the air. We still don’t have word about the seriousness of her injury from last Saturday, and she is a crucial part of this team. Seattle will have equal parts in trying to keep up their pressure and attack but also rely on their backline to hold off the wave of attack from the Courage side. If Fishlock can’t play, that could be a decisive factor. But with the quality backline and Megan Rapinoe, this should be an even and well-fought match.
Game 5: Houston Dash vs. Portland Thorns
Houston Dash record: 4-7-1
Position: 7th
Total Points: 13
Portland Thorns record: 5-4-3
Position: 5th
Total Points: 18
The Dash have earned some crucial points in the last few games in the attempt to turn around their season. This week they will have their work cut out for them with a Portland team that will be hungry for a good result. The biggest issue for the Dash all season has been the lack of a consistent plan. But with the coaching change, it seems they are beginning to settle into a stable starting XI, with some small tweaks here and there. Carli Lloyd has seemed to be a positive factor as a morale and organization boost since her arrival. They will rely on her heavily this week against the Thorns. With Rachel Daly also settling back into her preferred role as a striker, the attack is beginning to look more solid. This week, though, they’ll need to focus on getting their backline to communicate more and try to contain the fluid and flexible Portland attack.
The Thorns have had quite the topsy-turvy season this year, with injuries to some key players and puzzling results being mixed with some dominant performances. But they are starting to find some success in their attack. Christine Sinclair is enormously important, of course, and she looks to be rounding into form; Portland should expect more out of her this week. The biggest question mark they’ve got is how to fill their Tobin Heath-sized-hole in the front line. They have a lot of depth and can handle missing players in most other roles, but without Heath, they’re really suffering for a lack of general creativity on the ball. But if the Thorns can get their attack moving and play through the midfield, they should find success against the Dash.
The Scouting Report:
We went live on Thursday night with our weekly TSR. A reminder that you can catch TSR live every Monday night at 8pm EST on our YouTube channel. Make sure to follow the podcast on Twitter @ScoutingPodcast.
In case you missed this week’s episode, catch up here:
Houston made two big changes over the last month—parting ways with Randy Waldrum, and welcoming Carli Lloyd back into the fold. Since then, their fortunes have turned significantly, capped off by a 2-1 victory away to FC Kansas City this weekend.
It would be an overstatement to say that these two changes are the reasons for Houston’s improved results. As they say, correlation is not causation, and the game is far too complex for any single cause to dominate. That said, the turnaround has been significant, and not just in the results. While Houston still don’t really look like a playoff contender, their performance against KC was their most complete and coherent on the season.
So it’s worth taking some time to dig into the shift, to evaluate the changes and assess whether the ‘real’ Dash are the team who lost six in a row, the team that just took seven points from three games, or (most likely) somewhere in between.
Lloyd’s Return
Carli Lloyd is one of the most fascinating players in American soccer, even if you’re only focused on her performances on the pitch. But potentially even more interesting are the collective responses to those performances. In particular, it’s hard to think of a player who moves so quickly between overrated and underrated.
And that’s because Lloyd is a player of extremes. She is famously aggressive—in her style of play, in her commitment to challenges, and in her training. And that aggression can produce some stunning results, particularly when the stakes are high. It’s no coincidence that many of her goals are game-winners, or that her best performances always seem to come in the most critical games. In many ways, her intensity seems to feed off the big moments. She moves all around the pitch, winning balls, firing off passes, willing the rest of the team to drive forward and press their advantage. And when she’s on her game, she truly is world class.
At the same time, for a great player, Lloyd can also look shockingly ineffective for long stretches. That’s always been true but is even more apparent as she’s grown older and her engine has cooled a bit. When things aren’t clicking, she struggles to find the ball, and when she does get it is more than likely to overcommit to a pass or dribble and give it right back. She can get frustrated and lash out, or she can keep pressing harder to make something out of limited opportunities and short-circuit any chance of a useful buildup.
These two versions of Lloyd generate wildly different outcomes but carry the same basic DNA. Her tendency to drift is a huge advantage when she’s playing well, making her very difficult to mark, and giving her endless opportunities to exploit the space between the defense and midfield. When she’s playing poorly, the tables are turned. The team continues to circle around her but with the catalyst no longer functioning, play tends to sputter and die out.
These are real weaknesses, and they are a big part of why the US National Team needs to start planning seriously for the post-Carli world. But it would be a huge mistake to see Lloyd as nothing but those weaknesses. Because even when she is playing poorly, there will still be a few moments in a game when the good version will pop up and make a contribution that virtually no one else in the world could manage. For the USWNT, that sort of gamble is probably a poor bet. But for a team like Houston—particularly in the middle of their long losing streak—there are very few players in the world that you’d rather see returning to the fold.
Part of that is down to the mental and emotional side of the game. When you’re down and out, it can be hard to retain the confidence necessary to play well. That can lead to timid play, a recipe for disaster. But one of Lloyd’s key defining qualities is her indomitable will. She will take all those doubts and channel them into pure aggression. With her on the pitch, there’s no fear. There may be some recklessness, but there is no fear. And that’s incredibly important for a team trying to right the ship.
But there’s also a crucial tactical element of Lloyd’ return that’s worth addressing.
An extremely modest 4-4-2
Early in the season, I wrote about Lloyd’s return and said that it was “unclear whether Lloyd actually fits into the system that Houston needs to play. She’s certainly not well suited for a lethal counterattacking unit built on pace and quick one-touch passing to slice through a defense in transition.”
And that remains basically true. But it also depends a lot on your point of reference. At the time, the Dash had leapt out of the starting gate and were contemplating a strong push for the playoffs. And in that context, Lloyd’s noted weaknesses could easily have been disruptive. But the Dash today are facing far worse conditions, and the gamble of Lloyd is looking like a much better bet.
After all, the problem with Lloyd is that she tends to dominate the offensive framework. Everything either goes through her or around her, which is great when she’s playing well but a recipe for stagnation when she drifts out of the game. But the Dash were already stagnating offensively, so there wasn’t much danger of making things worse. And if Lloyd can be unreliable, you’re still guaranteed some great moments.
Eight seconds later, Houston scored.
And this week, that’s precisely what they got. Watch their two goals, and you’ll note that in both cases there was essentially no buildup at all. For the first goal, Lloyd claimed the ball fairly deep in the defensive half, dribbled past a couple defenders, and sent a long through-ball right to Daly, who then scored. The ball spent about eight seconds in the attacking half before being slotted home. And the second goal was even more abrupt. It came from a free kick in the Houston half (the one resulting from LaBonta’s second yellow card), and it took all of five seconds from Amber Brooks kicking the ball to Nichelle Prince scoring.
The first goal was vintage Lloyd, making one transcendent pass that produced a goal, in a game when Houston was having tremendous difficulty generating much of anything.
Now, it’s not that the Dash had no useful possession in the game. They did manage a few decent chances developed through a more measured build up, and managed to keep the ball reasonably well (at least by their standards). But it wasn’t producing much. And it wasn’t the heart of their approach.
Where is the width?
One other crucial feature of this 4-4-2 is just how narrowly it was pinched. In the past, when using Lloyd in this role, Houston has tried to spread the forward out wide, giving her more room to roam in the middle and allowing attacking runs in from the wings. But there wasn’t much of that here. Nor were the midfielders going to the wings.
The width, therefore, was supplied almost exclusively by the fullbacks, and mostly from Poliana on the right. Particularly in the first half, the vast majority of Houston’s attacks came down the right, pitting two young attacking fullbacks against each other, with Gibbons playing that role for KC.
In contrast to Waldrum—who benched Poliana this year, out of apparent frustration at her poor defending—Morales appears to be looking to take advantage of her strength in the attack and is willing to tolerate her defensive limitations. There are dangers in this, and Poliana’s aggressive attacking instincts can often leave her woefully out of position. But there are also clear advantages, and it seems like Morales is willing to gamble. Over the long haul, there may be games where that decision ends up being costly. But given Poliana’s clear attacking abilities, and given the difficulties generating width anywhere else, it’s a choice that makes a lot of sense.
Defensive stability
Another key change for Houston is in the central defensive pairing, where Morales has chosen to use Amber Brooks. With the return of Janine Van Wyk, the Dash have had a stable center back combination for the first time all season.
And that’s important. Defensive organization is difficult, and doubly so when the personnel changes every week. With that in mind, Morales seems to be working hard to make sure the best doesn’t become the enemy of the good. Yes, there are obvious problems with the Brooks/Van Wyk pairing. Namely: both are slow, neither are good defenders on the move, and neither have a particularly keen sense of how to manage defensive space.
But the simple fact is that Houston doesn’t have any great defenders. They all have flaws, so while you might want to bench a player after a bad game, there’s not really any light at the end of that tunnel. In the end, better to simply pick a combination and let them develop together. And while I would never have chosen Brooks for the job, it’s worth noting that she’s taken quite well to the position change. And that move—from holding midfield to the backline—is certainly not unprecedented.
It’s hard to say whether this will ultimately turn out to be a long-term success. But as a stopgap measure, the decision to move Brooks back is looking smart.
LaBonta’s red card: Houston avoids taking the bait
Perhaps the most important moment of the game was Lo’eau LaBonta’s red card. Not only did it reduce KC to 10 players, it also produced the free kick on which Houston seized the lead, and fundamentally changed the structure of the game from that point onward.
Now, it’s never a bad thing to gain a player advantage. But in Houston’s case there was a real danger here. Their game plan was pretty straightforward. Defend deep, protect that fragile backline, and stay compact. And generally speaking, they executed this plan well.
But once they were up a player, there’s a real chance that Houston might have shifted gears, grown more comfortable in possession, opened up their play, and allowed themselves to get drawn forward. And even down a player, Leroux and (especially) Groom can be absolutely lethal with the ball at their feet and space to move into.
But Houston effectively just refused to take the bait. Which led to a peculiar final third of the match, in which the team up a player basically conceded possession and drew back into a defensive shell. It wasn’t especially courageous, certainly wasn’t pretty, and still produced a couple iffy moments. But it worked.
Knowing your limits and playing to your strengths
As I noted at the start, it’s hard to tell a clear causal story here. It’s possible that this is just a normal regression to the mean, with Houston simply returning to the form that they showed last year: a mid-table team, who can win ugly enough to stay off the bottom but can’t do much more.
But ‘regression to the mean’ is sometimes too pat an explanation.
Yes, the underlying talent was still there. And sure, they could easily have played like this back when Waldrum was coach and Lloyd was back in England. But they didn’t. For the first two months, this looked like a team where everyone had read different playbooks. Now, they’re playing with resolve and commitment. And while there are still plenty of mistakes and scary moments, at least they all seem to be moving in the same direction.
For the first time, this looks like a team that understands its major weaknesses, and are at least trying to do something about them.
That may sound like damning with faint praise, but it’s a real success story. It is hard to stick to a plan over the course of a whole game, particularly when events turn in your favor. And it’s a testament to Houston’s resolve that they were able to do it.
The real question now, though, is whether they can stick with the plan going forward. It’s easy to buy into an approach when it’s working. What happens when they play a couple games in a row where Lloyd isn’t able to conjure any goals, and where they’re just forced to sit back and take 90 minutes of relentless pressure?
Only time will tell. But looking backward, there’s some pretty overwhelming evidence that Lloyd, at least, makes a huge difference. Here are Houston’s points per game over the last two years, both with her and without:
With Lloyd: 1.9 points per game (easily a playoff pace)
Without Lloyd: 0.7 points per game (marginally better than Boston 2016)
Clearly, some of that must be coincidental. But that is an enormous gap, and it would be pretty difficult to argue that she hasn’t made a big difference.
Week 11 brought us a double scoop of NWSL action with most teams playing a midweek match on top of all the action from the weekend. There were highlight reel goals, penalty kicks awarded, and referee controversy. That was just the beginning, so let’s buckle in as we offer up our top takeaways of the week.
Alex Morgan Returns But Too Late? – Luis Hernandez
It was the moment most Orlando Pride fans had been waiting for, the return of Alex Morgan from her stint in France. Entering the match against Chicago in the 65th minute, the home crowd roared to life hoping to see the returning hero score in her debut. However, two minutes after she entered the match Christen Press put away what would be the game winner from the spot.
The disjointed Orlando side couldn’t come away with anything on Saturday, once again dropping three points at home. In the presser after the match, Morgan stated, “But, maybe when Chi came in, I didn’t know what we were playing, who was playing what position. Because Camila was the 10 and then I wasn’t sure where she was and I wasn’t sure where Chi was so there was a little bit of confusion. I wish the communication was better. I think we can work on that a lot more.” You can’t fault Tom Sermanni for playing Morgan as soon as she was able, without better incorporating her into the rhythm her teammates have started to create, especially in a week with multiple matches. Needed fresh legs and wanting to see what her fitness level, Sermanni put her in, hoping she could boost the offense.
Certainly, the Pride will be able to work it out and improve. However, it’s the defensive errors which have caused them to drop 13 points so far this year, and each of the top four teams have more than a one-match cushion on Orlando. A trip to the playoffs may soon be out of reach.
Mid-Season Discipline (Is that Another Yellow Card?) –Luis Hernandez
As we reach the halfway point of the season, we tend to start taking a count of how it’s going, who’s leading the pack, how many cards have been issued, that sort of thing. This week actually brought out a high number of yellow cards; there were two matches that saw four yellows thrown on the weekend and one astonishing six yellow card match in the midweek between Portland and Kansas City. Looking at the numbers, the NWSL stats site tells us that 132 yellow cards have been shown so far this season, and on top of that, five red cards. This is out of the 60 matches so far this year. That’s an average of 2.2 yellow cards per match. To put it in perspective, the 2016 season had 174 yellow cards (1.74 yellows/match) with five red cards in the 100 matches. Heck, this was the first season, I even heard of the NWSL disciplinary committee.
It’s hard to find a reason for the steep increase. Has there been a shift in the style of play? Has the league or PRO changed the points of emphasis without putting out a public statement? Has the Lifetime partnership caused this somehow? I don’t believe we’ll figure out the why, but it’s worth keeping in mind as the second half of the season, and the league has no “good behavior” incentive like Major League Soccer.
MVPinoe – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak
Halfway through the season, it’s time to start talking seriously about this year’s MVP.
With nine goals (four scored in the past week alone), including three successful PKs, and one assist, I don’t think anyone has to look further than the Seattle Reign’s five-season veteran Megan Rapinoe. She’s on-track to take home the Golden Boot this year, and with it, MVP, because the two always seem to go hand-in-hand. (That, I think, is a discussion for another day, however.) But whether Rapinoe ultimately wins the Golden Boot or not (at three goals ahead of the pack, surpassing her would be a challenge but not impossible) if anyone else takes home MVP this year it would be an injustice.
The reason? You really don’t need to look further than her numbers so far this season. Numbers which include far more than just her nine goals.
Rapinoe has been carrying Seattle on her back this year, determined to get back into the playoffs after missing them by a hair last season. Leading the league in goals, but with just one assist, when Seattle hasn’t been able to find the net on their own, Rapinoe has been chasing down every possible chance, creating opportunities when seemingly none exist, and basically, to mix my sports metaphors for a moment, crashing into the boards time and time again. Of her 40 shots so far this year (2nd in the standings), 22 (3rd) have been on goal, giving her a SOG percentage of 55%. If this were baseball, her batting average wouldn’t just be considered good, it’d be considered one of the best in the sport. Christen Press currently has the same SOG percentage, but four fewer goals to her name this season.
With 58 corner kicks, she’s second in the league so far this season, with only Abby Dahlkemper ahead of her, which means that those nine goals don’t come from set-piece opportunities, but the run-of-play. From Rapinoe moving the ball down-field or maneuvering into the right place at the right time to receive a cross and send it home. But maybe the most important stat to consider in her case for 2017 MVP are her PKs. Three of her nine goals this year have come from PKs. Why are PKs to important? Because they’re the “extra-point” or “free throw” of soccer. They’re guaranteed scoring opportunities, and missing them is unacceptable. It happens, yes. And, yes, there’s the added element of the GK, who might jump in the right direction and make a save, but for an experienced, professional soccer player to miss a PK–send it far left or right of the goal, over the crossbar, etc.–is unacceptable. A PK is a just about the easiest chance to score a player can get, and a team needs to be able to rely on their player’s ability to earn that point. Because at the end of the 90’, the game might literally come down to whether they were able to capitalize in that moment or not.
Megan Rapinoe this year has had three opportunities to score a PK for her team.
She has completed each and every one. When you’re that clutch, you deserve to take home that “Most Valuable Player” trophy at the end of the year.
Houston Dash Undefeated in Kansas City – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak
No, really. I’m not joking.
The team that has been on or near the bottom for its three seasons in the NWSL has never lost to the two-time (back to back) NWSL Championship winners, FCKC on the road in Kansas City.
Of the four times the Houston Dash have taken on FCKC at Swope Soccer Stadium (or the Durwood Stadium FCKC played at in 2014), they have never failed to come away with at least a draw, and as of last night, have won (2-1) twice. Surreal, no?
In 2014, Houston left Kansas City with a 2-2 draw–only their seventh game ever. Lauren Holiday (we miss you) opened the scoring in the 2’ but the young Dash team responded with a goal from Jordan Jackson in the 20’. The first-half ended 2-1 after Erika Tymrak scored in the 36’, but after a halftime break, Tiffany McCarty evened the score in the 78’. And the Houston team took home their first draw in team history. They would end the season in 9th (last) place, but at that moment, 1-5-1 into the season and coming off a four-game losing streak, a draw against the eventual NWSL champions had to feel like the promise of good things to come.
2015 saw another draw between the two teams, 1-1, but the scoreline hides the fact that FCKC didn’t manage to score at all that game. In fact, if not for an own goal from Toni Pressley in the 55’, Carli Lloyd’s goal in the 45’ would have given the Houston Dash the win. The Dash finished 5th that season, and by the time of the away game in Kansas City, they had been doing fairly well, with a 3-4-4 record in the season when they took the field that night. But that night they could have had a win against the 2014 Champions, the same team that would go on to beat Seattle for the second year in a row in the final.
The Dash took home their first road win against FCKC in 2016, just their fourth game of the season. Playing without Amy Rodriguez (pregnancy), Lauren Holiday (retirement), and newcomer Sydney Leroux (pregnancy), FCKC’s season got off to a rough start, and they came into the match against the Dash with two losses and a draw under their belt already. When Houston opened the scoring in the 56’ with a goal from Irish international Denise O’Sullivan, and Chioma Ubogagu gave them a second just 15 minutes later, Kansas City had already lost the game. Despite their valiant efforts, and a late goal from Yael Averbuch in the 87’, they couldn’t pull out a draw against the Dash, who would end up finishing just one position ahead of them at 7th in the final 2016 standings.
And then last night, the Dash pulled out what, at least according to history, isn’t such an improbable win after all, despite the belief of many (including myself). Granted, they were assisted by a second-half yellow card accumulation that sent one of FCKC’s most creative players, Lo’eau LaBonta to the locker room, but the Houston Dash came out determined to turn their season around. Though Kansas City seemed to have the advantage at first, especially after a stoppage time goal from Shea Groom in the first half, a 55’ goal from Rachel Daly and then a 64’ goal from Nichelle Prince as FCKC were struggling to recover themselves after LaBonta’s ejection gave the Dash the win and kept this odd streak alive.
Go Dash, I guess?
Mid-Week Off Comes Back to Hurt Spirit and Courage – Jordan Small
While eight teams spent their Wednesday night playing their second game in four days or less, the North Carolina Courage and Washington Spirit were sitting at home. Both teams had the night off and were able to prepare for the weekend matchups that awaited them. However, come Saturday, those two teams found them on the wrong side of the scoresheet.
North Carolina hosted Sky Blue on Saturday afternoon and were featured as July’s first Lifetime Game of the Week. By the 80th minute, neither team had scored, but one team looked to be gassed and ready for the match to be over. The other was racing down the field looking for a goal and the three points. Believe it or not, Sky Blue was the one with more life towards the end of the game. The team that had played three games in six days, two of which were on the road, won on a goal from Sam Kerr in the 84th minute.
Then you have the Washington Spirit. After beating the Portland Thorns at home last Saturday, the Spirit made the short trip up to Boston to take on the Breakers. The Spirit dominated the first half but were unable to finish their chances. Boston pounced on the opportunity in the 72nd minute when Midge Purce put away a goal off of lazy defending from Washington.
Both teams that had off during the week lost on the weekend. Is this just a coincidence? It might be, but to think that having too much time to think about your next opponent isn’t all that crazy to believe. It also could just be that those two teams were outplayed.
The Power of the Backup Goalkeeper – Jordan Small
Three goalkeepers who didn’t come into the season expecting to see much game time have ended up with significant minutes in recent weeks due to injuries to their teams’ starters. For Katelyn Rowland of the North Carolina Courage and Aubrey Bledsoe of the Orlando Pride, these have become long term assignments over the past several weeks. In Boston, Sammy Jo Prudhomme is just three games into her starting career.
Rowland and Bledsoe have won over half of their games since taking over. All three have picked up at least one shutout in their time as the number one. This is the first time for all three as the starter for a significant period of time and they have not disappointed. Each is making the case to be the starter for the foreseeable future which will make it fun down the stretch. Who doesn’t love a little competition?
Those are the takeaways that stood out to us. Did you take something else away from this extra long week of matches? Let us know your thoughts, and come back next week for more takeaways.
6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 10: Jordan Small, Luis Hernandez, and Elizabeth Wawrzyniak bring you their latest takeaways from week 10. This week they delve into ACL tears, Portland star power, and more.
After four mid-week games, we are in for another full weekend of NWSL games as we go into Week 11. Let’s see what we have on tap for the five games.
Game 1: North Carolina Courage vs. Sky Blue FC
North Carolina Courage record: 8-3-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 24
Sky Blue FC record: 5-6-1
Position: 5th
Total Points: 16
The Courage will be coming in fresh this week as they lucked out by not having to play a mid-week game on Wednesday and not having to travel for this match. They’ll be facing a Sky Blue team, however, that will be on a mission to pull out a win. North Carolina is pulling themselves further and further away from the rest of the pack up top. With the defense settling in, this week, especially with fresher legs, they will be looking to continue to do many of the same things that have gotten them this far. With the hopeful return of Lynn Williams and Jess McDonald, they will be even stronger.
Sky Blue is looking for vengeance after two disappointing losses in a row. They will have their hands full with North Carolina this week, especially given that they had to play a mid-week game. They will need more from Kelley O’Hara, first and foremost, to get back into their rhythm, after she had a not-so-great game against Orlando on Wednesday. The young defensive group, led by Christie Pearce, will also have their work cut out for them with the strength of the Courage attack. Hopefully, Sky Blue will see some more fabulous goals from Sam Kerr. Their key this game will be to rely on their depth and attempt to hold off the wave of attack from the Courage.
Game 2: Boston Breakers vs. Washington Spirit
Boston Breakers record: 2-6-3
Position: 10th
Total Points: 9
Washington Spirit record: 3-5-2 Position: 8th Total Points: 11
Boston is also coming in this week from a mid-week game and without some big names. Rose Lavelle is still out. And, as of this writing, no word on Abby Smith for Saturday’s match. The Boston of the beginning of the season has seemed to all but disappear. There seem to be just too many things that need to be fixed at this point in the season and they are not sure where to start. Having key players out has not helped but Boston has not been lucky in general. This week, after the Spirit come in off of more rest and a win over the Thorns, Boston will need to find a way to stifle the Spirit attack and contain Franny Ordega.
The Spirit are coming into this match with the advantage of facing a struggling Boston team and also having not played a mid-week match. The Spirit will continue to rely on Ordega to lead their attack. But the Washington team may also see the addition of Mal Pugh back in the lineup, which will bolster the attack as well. The thing the Spirit will need to monitor this week will be their defense. The likes of Estelle Johnson have had a great season, for the most part, but Boston is looking to turn their season around and anything can happen. Additionally, with Tori Huster finally back for Washington, their midfield will also be a stalwart in facing the Boston side.
Game 3: Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars
Orlando Pride record: 4-4-3
Position: 6th
Total Points: 15
Chicago Red Stars record: 6-3-2
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 20
The Pride are coming off of a huge mid-week win over Sky Blue but will also be on limited rest facing a very tough Red Stars team. Orlando has had problems all season maintaining consistency from game to game but one thing they hate to do is drop points at home. Expect them to try to not let that happen for the second home game in a row. The task will be large to contain Christen Press and Sofia Huerta in the attack while also trying to break the staunch defense of the Red Stars. Orlando will need to focus on leaving less space in the midfield for Chicago to take advantage of while also connecting and finishing more chances. The Pride are lacking a clinical finisher, but with Alex Morgan set to potentially return, she may be the missing piece they are looking for. She may not be active immediately so the Pride need to make sure their forward line can start finishing and finding better luck in the final third. Additionally, the Pride defense has settled into the starting four but need to see more work from Edmonds, who has not had a good season. Hopefully, Ali Krieger and the rest of the backline can focus more on their job this weekend and not have to clean up so much of Edmonds’ defensive miscues.
Chicago is also coming off of a loss in their mid-week game, which snapped their win streak, and this could spell trouble for the Pride. While the Pride are more successful at home, the Red Stars will look to keep their place in the playoff spot and take home the win. This week the Red Stars need to focus on taking advantage of their opportunities but also look to string more passes together and make the job of their forwards a bit easier. The Red Stars have a very strong backline, but with Marta and the potential first minutes for Alex Morgan, expect them to be challenged by the forward line of Orlando. The biggest area the Red Stars will most likely have the best luck this weekend is in Orlando’s midfield. If Chicago can get some of their connecting weaknesses together, this may spell major trouble for the Pride at home.
Game 4: Seattle Reign vs. Portland Thorns
Seattle Reign record: 4-2-5
Position: 4th
Total Points: 17
Portland Thorns record: 5-3-3
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 18
Seattle, like Portland, will be coming in on limited rest after a mid-week home game. Luckily, they will not have to travel and will be at a slight advantage for recovery and rest. Seattle has seemed to be hot and cold most of the season with plenty of draws to show for it. But expect them to want to capitalize on a big win over Chicago and pull out one over Portland. Their defense looked slightly shaky in the win against Chicago so the return of Lauren Barnes, after a one-game suspension, will be welcomed. The Reign can expect to be tested by a revitalized Portland attack, even on limited rest. If they can focus on their game and fighting until the final whistle, they should see some positive results.
Portland, also coming in from a mid-week win at home, will want to capitalize on one of their best performances of the season. Christine Sinclair finally made herself known this season and had a brace to show for it. If she can get involved more in the attack against Seattle, they will be tough to beat. With no return of Tobin Heath in sight, Portland will have to figure out how to move on without her and made a good showcase of it Wednesday night. Their biggest thing will be if Adrianna Franch is on her game or will spell trouble for them in-goal this week against a strong Reign attack.
Game 5: FC Kansas City vs. Houston Dash
FC Kansas City record: 3-4-4
Position: 7th
Total Points: 13
Houston Dash record: 3-7-1
Position: 9th
Total Points: 10
FCKC, another team on limited rest, will be facing a Dash side who is in the same position. FCKC has yet to really figure out how to score goals, and after their mid-week loss to Portland, they will be looking to bounce back very quickly. FCKC needs more production from their forward line. Their defense has been putting in their time but cannot solely win the games for the team. After a not-so-great showing against Portland, they will need these three points as the playoff battle heats up. Their main goal this week, especially against a Dash side that is still figuring things out mid-season, is to score early and get their attack involved consistently throughout the game.
The Dash are coming in, after snapping a 6-game losing streak, on a win and draw in their last two matches. They want to turn their season around but just do not seem to have the game plan to do it. After a questionable call gave them the win against Boston, look for them to want to continue their small upward trend against FCKC. But in order to do that, the consistency of their backline and moving forward without Kealia Ohai, who is out for the season with a torn ACL, will be a tall task. The Dash seemed to struggle at the end of their draw with Boston, in just what to do next. In order to have success against FCKC this week, the team will need to come in at the very beginning with a solid way to win and also play with consistency.
The Scouting Report:
We went live on Monday night with our weekly TSR. A reminder that you can catch TSR live every Monday night at 8pm EST on our YouTube channel. Make sure to follow the podcast on Twitter @ScoutingPodcast.
In case you missed this week’s episode, catch up here:
We also went live for a special TSR last night to cover the four mid-week NWSL games.
This week in the NWSL, we saw two teams start to pull away at the top, and a shakeup at the bottom of the table. There were comebacks, a rare straight red card, and a few (maybe unexpected) shutouts. With four midweek games to look forward to this week, here are our takeaways from Week Ten
Nadia Nadim Meets with TAPS Family after Washington vs. Portland – Jordan Small
After Saturday night’s loss to the Washington Spirit, Portland Thorns forward Nadia Nadim walked over to the side of the field to meet with a group of fans that had been escorted down onto the field. The group was from an organization called TAPS. The Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors, or TAPS for short, is a program that offers resources and services to those who have lost a loved one while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
A young lady who lost her father in Afghanistan presented Nadim with a bracelet following the match. Nadim, whose father was also killed in Afghanistan, took the time to talk with the family and take a few pictures. This was just another reminder that life is so much bigger than sport and that win or lose, a simple gesture such as a bracelet or a small conversation can have a greater impact on someone’s life.
Does Portland Have Too Much Star Power? – Jordan Small
Looking at the Portland Thorns roster, it is incredible to see the amount of talent that they have. As a team, they have combined for over 625 caps for six different national teams. Against the Washington Spirit, they had 62.7 percent of possession. What do they have to show for all of that? Getting shutout on the road for their second straight loss. Against a team that’s only just barely broken away from the bottom of the table over the past few weeks.
In 10 games this season, the Thorns have scored 12 goals while only giving up nine. Not bad all things considering. But when you look at the goals, three have come via the penalty spot and two were own goals. Sure they are scoring, but they aren’t creating many opportunities for themselves. Against Washington, Lindsey Horan, Allie Long, and Christine Sinclair were nonexistent on the field. Amandine Henry was subbed out at the half and won’t be around for much longer because of the upcoming EUROs. Is Tobin Heath coming back from injury the answer to this struggling Portland attack? I’m not so sure. But I do know that they are going to have to figure some things out if they want to be in the hunt for a playoff spot come September.
Dash Put it Together (at Least for One Week) – Luis Hernandez
As unlikely as it seemed, the Houston Dash bounced back from the four-goal drubbing at home to enact payback against the Orlando Pride this weekend, taking home three points on the road for their effort. Head Coach Omar Morales made several key adjustments while taking advantage of the lackluster performance from Orlando. Perhaps the post-match comments from Carli Lloyd last week also lit something under her teammates as she took the field in just her second game back from the UK.
The Dash rolled out a new combination on the backline, the sixth different version of the season, to clamp down on the Orlando attack. Limiting the Pride to three shots on goal allowed Jane Campbell to bounce back for her second start of the season, a much better showing from the rookie even with the few shaky moments she had in the beginning of the match. As the Lifetime game of the week, Houston proved to the national audience which team wanted to win more. The result moves the Dash out of last place on the table and puts them in ninth, sitting just above the Boston Breakers, who they’ll host in their midweek game on Wednesday. Houston is positioned to give themselves some separation from the Boston while gaining confidence for the weekend showdown at FC Kansas City.
Missed Opportunity for FC Kansas City on the Road – Luis Hernandez
If you had told Vlatko Andonovski on Friday that his team was going to leave Seattle with a point on the road, he would have been happy. A point would have been a great result in the first of two road games for the Blues after already drawing against the Reign the week before. However, Seattle were left with just ten players on the field after Lauren Barnes was issued a straight red card in the 4’ for an armbar of striker Shea Groom. Kansas City took advantage of the imbalance early on, making Seattle pay in the sixteenth minute with a goal from Brittany Ratcliffe. However, FCKC couldn’t hold on to the lead, and the Blues leave the Emerald City dropping two points.
The draw keeps Kansas City one point behind Seattle, and barely keeps Orlando at bay. As FCKC go into the midweek match at Portland, they will have a challenge getting a result at Providence Park. If FCKC fail to make the playoffs, will they look back at this game as one of the reasons they miss the postseason, dropping two points when they had the clear advantage from almost the very start.
Sportsmanship– Elizabeth Wawrzyniak
Living just over an hour outside of Chicago has its benefits, and one of those is the ability to schedule a trip down to Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL, to catch matchups between the Chicago Red Stars (my “geographical” faves) and Sky Blue FC (my “absolute” faves). Last year’s trip down was actually my first live, in-person, soccer game ever, and it was an event to remember (and one that ended with a selfie with one of the greatest players of the game, Christie Pearce). This year I was looking forward to another good matchup, and the chance to see Kelley O’Hara play with her club team. She’d been on NT duty in 2016, and though I’d seen her play with them in Chicago and again in Minnesota late last year, club play is different, and brings out different sides of a player’s game.
Unfortunately, O’Hara didn’t play on Sunday, either suffering from a slight injury or being rested in anticipation of a midweek match-up against the Orlando Pride. But them’s the breaks and with any luck, I’ll get to see her play with Sky Blue at Toyota Park next summer.
The thing I noticed, though, that I want to call attention to, is just how much of a leader O’Hara is on and off the field. Sitting on the bench in trainers, she was coaching and offering tips to the younger members of the backline who were out there on the field. Before the game, during the slight break when Chicago’s GK Alyssa Naeher was down on the field and the Sky Blue players came to the sideline for some water, at the half, and so on, O’Hara was demonstrating how to defend against Chicago’s attack, reassuring her teammates, helping them out.
With the news that this year is almost certainly Christie Pearce’s final season with Sky Blue FC, it’s good to see that the backline and the team will have someone as focused on teaching and leading as playing. And most of all, for all the little girls and boys in the stands, for all the grown-ups in the stands, it’s an important and visual reminder that an athlete’s work doesn’t begin and end on the field, and isn’t simply the accumulation of their physical talents. How a player performs on the bench is maybe just as important as how they perform on the field.
And I just felt like this is a good moment to acknowledge that.
Tears and Tears– Elizabeth Wawrzyniak
We need to talk about ACL tears.
Obviously, we’re all tearing up about Kealia Ohai’s unfortunate injury over the weekend, or the fear that we’ll hear the same news from Danny Colaprico after she went down in Sunday’s game against Sky Blue FC. ACL tears are tearing up the league this season, and we need to talk about why that is.
Here’s the thing about this kind of injury. It’s three times (3x) more likely to happen to a female soccer player than a male one. And this year, it’s taken down a number of players in our league (or former NWSL players), starting with Amy Rodriguez and Joanna Lohman over opening weekend, Kim Little over in the UK, and Yuri Kawamura. (Did I forget anyone?) And Diana Matheson, Cali Farquharson, and Kelsey Wys are all still in recovery for injuries suffered late last season or during off-season play.
It’s no secret that the focus in sports kinesiology and physical therapy is imbalanced, that most teaching, studies, and practical therapies and preventative techniques are based on the male body and the way the male body reacts to usage and stress of joints, ligaments, etc. But the male body is not the universal norm, and there needs to be more attention given to the physiological differences of female bodies to male ones, differences that don’t make women weaker or inferior, but ones that requires us to pivot differently, shift our weight differently, run differently, than our male counterparts.
And women’s teams (and leagues like the NWSL) need to make it a priority to find and work with trainers and therapists who understand the different needs and abilities of female athletes.
Who understand the science of playing like a girl.
Well, that’s what we took away from Week Ten as we head to a slew of Wednesday matches. Give us your biggest takeaway in the comments or let us know where you disagree with us. Until next time, fair readers.
The Houston Dash announced today that forward and captain Kealia Ohai suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Orlando Pride this past Saturday.
NEWS: Ohai to miss the remainder of the season with left knee injury.
Ohai initially went down in the 67′ after trying to make a turn against Pride defender Ali Krieger, returning to the field after being checked over by Houston training staff. She went down again in the 74′ and had to be assisted off the field.
After a medical evaluation, Ohai was diagnosed with a Grade 3 ACL sprain and medial meniscus tear in her left knee.
“I am devastated but so excited to start my recovery and get back on the field,” Ohai said in a heartfelt post on Twitter.
Losing Ohai is a major blow for a struggling Houston team, who have three wins and seven losses on the season. Interim head coach Omar Morales had this to say about losing Ohai:
“The injury to Kealia is a big hit to the team, not only on the field but off the field due to the leader that she is. With her being the captain, you are losing a big piece of your team. We have to stay strong for her, push for her, win some games and build on the momentum from Saturday. We will keep her in mind because she has done so much for us this year.”
The Dash have confirmed that Ohai will be placed on the disabled list for the remainder of the season.
Promoting Pride in Courage Country: In her debut piece, Becca Kimble talks about her personal experience at the NC Courage’s first Pride night.
The Furt and the Fabulous: Episode 3: RJ Allen brought you her latest negatives and positives from the NWSL. This week she delves into a problem in Houston and the week of braces in NWSL play.
6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 9: Jordan Small, Luis Hernandez, and Elizabeth Wawrzyniak brought you the latest takeaways. This week they get into Marta, Pride nights in the NWSL, and more.
The Unused Sub: I Stand With You: Jacob Cristobal brings you his latest. This week he talks about his experiences at the Athlete Ally partnership event with Seattle sports teams, including the Reign.
Quick Fire Week 10 Game Previews:
We have arrived at Week Ten of the NWSL, not necessarily unscathed, but seeing plenty of parity between several teams in the league. Let’s dive into this week’s previews.
Game 1: Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash
Orlando Pride record: 3-3-3
Position: 6th
Total Points: 12
Houston Dash record: 2-7-0
Position: 10th
Total Points: 6
After last week’s dominant performance, (minus the last 10-15 minutes,) the Pride are coming into this week confident, really needing to start honing in and perfecting the little things. Big picture this week sees the Pride most likely coming away with the three points, if last week was any indication, but they will need to work hard on closing out games and remaining consistent. This week that will be their focus. They have seemed to have settled on a starting XI, at least until Alex Morgan is inserted back into the line-up in a few weeks. But their biggest enemy this week will be themselves. With Marta assisting in or scoring all four goals last week, the Pride will look to her for another solid performance. But they will also need to see others step up, especially defensively, to close-out the game. The last minute goals last week came at the cost of a goalkeeper and a defensive mistake.
The Dash struggles continue and look to continue for the foreseeable future. I have mentioned this a few times in my previews, but even seeing the return of Carli Lloyd, who, while not scoring, had some strong moments in last week’s match, they just do not seem to have much idea of what to do, or what game plan they want to have at any given moment. This was apparent last week, especially as the players seem to fatigue well before the second half began. Their key, even if they do not win games, is to find consistency amongst each other this week. Their defensive game plan should be their first step. The team needs to find a way to get everyone working together, especially as the Pride have started to find their groove. They may have lucked out not having to face a combination of Marta and Alex Morgan quite yet.
Game 2: Boston Breakers vs. North Carolina Courage
Boston Breakers record: 2-5-2
Position: 9th
Total Points: 8
North Carolina Courage record: 7-3-0
Position: 10th
Total Points: 21
Boston has a lot to figure out this week but I do not know if we will see much more of an improvement against a Courage side that has been playing pretty consistently this season. The Breakers have also been plagued with injuries and it was just announced that starting goalkeeper Abby Smith is out this week. We will most likely see the first start for rookie and 2017 NWSL draftee, Sammy Jo Prudhomme. While she was a great goalkeeper in college, going up against an attack like the Courage’s, she will be tested early and often. Boston’s main focuses this week are to not give up the early goals and find a way to curb the Courage attack. The Breakers also re-signed Libby Stout during the week, a former GK who made 9 starts and 42 saves for the Breakers in 2016.
The Courage were without a few key players last week with Lynn Williams and Jess McDonald injured, but the team was still able to churn out a quality product. If both players return to the line-up this week, the Courage won’t need to make many adjustments in what they have been doing. Their key is to stay patient and shore up their defense because the Breakers’ attacking side only needs a little bit of space to make the Courage pay. Look for the hopeful return of the injured players to the line-up and the continued solid performance against a struggling Breakers side.
Game 3: Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns
Washington Spirit record: 2-5-2
Position: 8th
Total Points: 8
Portland Thorns record: 4-2-3
Position: 4th
Total Points: 15
The Spirit are coming in this week with a new weapon in their arsenal. Estefania Banini, who was their leading goal-scorer last season, as returned to the Washington roster. There has been no word if she will be available for this match but the signing alone is good news for a team that’s been struggling. After holding the Red Stars to a draw last week, the Spirit will once again have their hands full against the Thorns. The Spirit are starting to put a few more pieces together but are still missing what Tori Huster brings and also may be potentially be without Mal Pugh again as she continues to recover from an injury suffered during the FIFA break. Washington will be looking for another consistent game from Steph Labbé, who has saved their butts on numerous occasions this season. But in order to get past the Thorns this weekend, the Spirit will need to keep the pressure and attack at a high level.
The Thorns are coming in this week after a loss to Sky Blue last week at home, a subpar performance that left them disappointed and maybe a little embarrassed. Look for them to want to bounce back very quickly this week. The Thorns are starting to show where the injuries are hurting them, mainly with a gaping hole left by Tobin Heath, who has experienced a setback with her back injury and looks to be even longer now. The weaknesses of Franch were exposed last week as well, so she will need to make sure her decision making is on this week as anything can happen against the Spirit. While also suffering more injuries than just Heath, if the Thorns can bounce back quickly this week, they should see a different result.
Game 4: Seattle Reign vs. FC Kansas City
Seattle Reign record: 3-2-4
Position: 5th
Total Points: 13
FC Kansas City record: 3-3-3
Position: 7th
Total Points: 12
The Reign have been quite the puzzling team this season. They started off the strong but have seemed to level out and been a bit inconsistent with their play. They really need work on closing out games and finding a bit more consistency defensively. While the backline is set and we have seen some great play from Haley Kopmeyer, it has been inconsistent. While FCKC won’t be a huge threat for them, with their inconsistencies, the attack from their post-season nemesis could cause some problems. Seattle needs to get back to their previous form and find a way to make their team gel better. If this means a shake-up in the line-up, then so be it. Granted, even though a few players such as Diana Matheson and Larissa Crummer, who they had planned on for the season, are still injured, they have several key pieces that coach Laura Harvey could move around. Jess Fishlock will need to become a little more dominant in the middle if Seattle is going to have a better chance at moving up the table.
FCKC has also been a bit puzzling this season. With Amy Rodriguez no longer a part of the picture, the FCKC attack has seemed to start to find the light of their rhythm. Sydney Leroux seems to be coming into her own a bit more, which is really the key for them, especially going up against the Reign, who have been a bit unpredictable. With FCKC fairly solid in the back with the Nicole Barnhart holding it down, if FCKC can spur their attack, they should see success this week.
Game 5: Chicago Red Stars vs. Sky Blue FC
Chicago Red Stars record: 5-2-2
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 17
Sky Blue FC record: 5-4-1
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 16
Chicago will have its hands full this week with Sky Blue. With a somewhat disappointing performance against the Spirit last week, there will be some things they look to improve on come Sunday. They’ve faced difficulties connecting their passes or in their ability to string them together, and the Red Stars will need to work on that against Sky Blue this week. The backline will also be fully tested with Sam Kerr, as most teams have been this season. She had herself a game last week against Portland, so Chicago will need to contain her throughout the game. If Chicago can connect more passes and be more consistent this week, this should be a great match-up to watch.
Sky Blue will want to continue their climb towards the top with another dominating performance this week. Look for them to rely again on Sam Kerr to spur the attack and get them on the board in Chicago. The biggest thing for Kerr, however, is consistency. She can have dominating games like she did last week and then be unable to buy herself a goal in the next. So working on her consistency, especially this week, will be key. Christie Pearce has also had to work all season with a young backline and, for the most part, they have been able to handle the tests of the NWSL play. But this week, with the Chicago attack led by Christen Press, Pearce and the rest of the backline will be tested frequently. Where Kelley O’Hara plays this week will be anyone’s guess, but if she causes as many fits on the field as she did last week, Chicago will have their hands full.
The Scouting Report:
We went live on Tuesday night with our weekly TSR. A reminder that you can catch TSR live every Monday night at 8pm EST on our YouTube channel. Make sure to follow the podcast on Twitter @ScoutingPodcast.
In case you missed this week’s episode, catch up here:
Backline Soccer Archive 