NC Courage Continue Streak With Week 2 Win
Week 2 of the 2017 NWSL season concluded on Sunday as the NC Courage sit atop the table after recording its second win this campaign. The Chicago Red Stars defeated FC Kansas City at home, while the NWSL Match of the Week between the Spirit and the Pride concluded a 1-1 draw.
Related Articles: The Rising Chicago Red Stars; Seattle Reign’s Christine Nairn; The Road Ahead for Sky Blue FC
NWSL Soccer News: The second week of the 2017 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season came to a close on Sunday as the North Carolina Courage remain the lone club unbeaten on the year.
The Chicago Red Stars hosted FC Kansas City in their first home match of the season at Toyota Stadium. FCKC was without Amy Rodriguez who suffered a torn ACL during Week 1 — she will sidelined for the remainder of the season.
The Red Stars recorded their first win with defender Julie Ertz (Johnston) scoring the lone goal of the match in the 41st minute. Forward Sofia Huerta took her defender to the end line on the right flank and played a low, driven ball that Ertz finished with ease.
The match concluded with a 1-0 advantage to Chicago. Both clubs have one win and a loss on the season.
In the Match of the Week, the Orlando Pride hosted the Washington Spirit at Orlando City Stadium. Both clubs were looking for their first win of the season, but a deciding goal did not find the net as the matchup ended a 1-1 draw.
Brazilian international Marta made her debut for Orlando, coming on in the 59th minute for Monica Alves. The opening goal of the match came a minute later with Line Sigvardsen-Jensen heading home a cleared ball off a corner.
The hosts would strike in the 86th minute with a moment of magic by Danica Evans who collected the ball at the top of the box and dribbled around the goalkeeper for the finish. Both clubs have a draw and loss on the season.
North Carolina Courage welcomed the Portland Thorns to Sahlen’s Stadium in the third Saturday matchup. The Courage hosted its first match of the year as the 2016 NWSL Champions remain the only unbeaten team after two weeks.
The hosts dominated the match with 14 shots on frame to Portland’s three. Debinha de Oliveira recorded the winner in the 81st minute as Jessica McDonald sent in a cross from the right flank that found her wide open for the header.
The match concluded 1-0. Portland is with a win and a loss in 2017.
Seattle Reign FC recorded a 5-1 victory over the Houston Dash in a dominating victory at Memorial Stadium. Five players were on the scoresheet for Seattle, with Kristen McNabb tallying an assist as well. Poliana Barbosa Medeiros scored for Houston in the 84th minute to cut the lead to four.
Seattle sits in second behind the Courage with four points — one win and a tie. Houston remains among the pack with a win and loss.
The Boston Breakers recorded their first win of the season over Sky Blue FC at Jordan Field on Sunday. Both clubs recorded nine shots on target, but forward Natasha Dowie’s strike proved to be the difference.
In the 37th minute, Rose Lavelle — the No. 1 draft pick in 2017 — played Dowie who was unmarked as she ran down the center of the pitch. She collected the ball and put a strike in with authority to give the hosts the lead. Sky Blue was unable to convert as the match ended 1-0.
Boston has a win and loss on the year, while Sky Blue is winless with a draw and loss.
