NWSL Week 17 results: Gotham extends lead at top of the table, Racing Louisville stays hot

NWSL Week 17 results: Gotham extends lead at top of the table, Racing Louisville stays hot For NWSL Week 17, the league’s hottest players stayed hot, stoppage time heroics decided two matches, and Mel Barcenas might just be in cheat mode. Just after losing one of their young stars to an ACL injury, Portland welcomed back another in Caiya Hanks, and she delivered a storybook ending for the Thorns. Clarissa Larisey’s brace gave Houston a rare road win, and Sam Kerr became Gotham’s all-time leading scorer. Racing Louisville’s recent charge has them thinking playoffs. However, they will have to surpass the equally determined sides in Seattle, Angel City, and Denver. Utah maintains pace with the top two sides, and Ally Sentnor was a show of her own in Angel City’s thrilling draw with Washington. Gotham runs unbeaten streak to eight with win over Kansas City The Bats are pulling away from the rest of the NWSL, going six points clear with their latest win. This one was not a sure thing, however. The match started terribly for Gotham and perfectly for the Current, as Amelia White tied a league record for fastest goal from kickoff. Just 22 seconds into the match, Kansas City broke up a Gotham attack, and Croix Bethune sent a through ball ahead. White was first to it, and she drove in and put the ball past Ann-Katrin Berger for a shocking start to the match. The lead did not last long. Just 12 minutes later, Gotham drew level through Midge Purce. Jaedyn Shaw sent a free-kick into the box, and the ball fell perfectly to Purce. She quickly fired past Marisa Jordan, and the sides were equal. The sides would remain knotted until late in the first half, which saw plenty of action. An insane save from Berger, a remarkable one from Jordan, a red card rescinded to a yellow, and then the legend herself stepped up. In the 41st minute, Shaw dribbled through the Kansas City defense on the left side of the box. She sent the ball into the middle, where Sam Kerr coolly tucked it in near post. Kerr is Gotham’s all-time leading scorer, with this tally giving her 31 regular-season goals. More importantly, the goal gave Gotham the win, as the Current could not grab the equalizer. The visitors had a glorious chance in the 50th minute, as Izzy Rodriguez’s cross was tipped and bounced off the post. The ball lay there waiting to be tapped in, but Guro Reiten blocked White’s follow-up. Gotham are comfortably atop the table while Kansas City is in a tight battle for the last playoff spot. Embed from Getty Images San Diego and Denver draw 1-1 after goals on either side of halftime San Diego is still eyeing a top four finish, and Denver is hoping to make the playoffs in their inaugural season. On a warm night in Snapdragon Stadium, each side earned a point in an entertaining tilt. The home Wave had a tremendous early chance when Trinity Byars blasted a shot from close range just two minutes in. Abby Smith was just as tremendous and made the save to keep it scoreless. Later in the half, the Wave’s Ludmila was alone against Smith, and the Summit keeper forced her wide, with the Brazilian international’s shot going wide. San Diego would not be held off forever, though, and opened the scoring later in the half. Mel Barcenas took a pass from Gia Corley in the midfield, then put on an absolute showcase of dribbling with both feet. She got herself free just outside of the box, then went low to Smith’s left for the lead. You’re going to want to watch that display as often as you can. The visitors equalized early on in the second half. Janine Sonis delivered yet another pinpoint pass into the box, and it yielded yet another goal. In the 58th minute, the Canadian international received the ball outside the box. She sent a chip into the box, and Yazmeen Ryan was right there to head it home. Ryan is streaking right now, and Sonis has been Denver’s best player all season. If the Summit do make the playoffs, it will largely be because of the play of those two. Late in the half, Adriana Leon put the ball in the net for San Diego, but she was offside, and the two sides finished all square. San Diego remains in fifth spot, one point behind Portland. Denver is three points behind eighth-place Seattle but has played one more match. Embed from Getty Images Seattle controls match, downs Chicago 1-0 Seattle is fighting to hold on to a playoff spot, and going up against last-place Chicago seemed like an easy way to get three points. And yet, even though the Reign dominated the Stars, they only ended up winning by the slimmest of margins. The first half started quickly for Chicago, as Mal Swanson had a great shot early on that was saved by Claudia Dickey. From there, the home Reign took over. The ball seldom left the Chicago end, and as she has many times this season, Katie Atkinson was called on to be the Stars’ best player. She made two big saves to keep it scoreless going into the half, and also benefited from a shot off the woodwork. Seattle pressed even harder in the second, and did not allow a single attempt toward goal by the visitors. Atkinson continued her heroics, but even she could not stop the onslaught. Following an excellent buildup from the back, Sofia Huerta ran down the left side, then sent the ball to the middle. Sally Menti chipped it toward the back post, the ball bounced off a Chicago defender, and Maddie Mercado was right there. She tapped it in from one yard out, and that was all Seattle would need. Chicago’s offense, which earlier this week had a big influence on the firing of their head coach and assistant, once again failed to find the net. Chicago is mired in last place, with a paltry nine goals scored in 19 matches. Seattle holds on to the eighth and final playoff spot. Tanaka’s second-half PK gives Utah the win over Bay One of the most fun matches to watch, this one saw the two sides trade goals in quick fashion until Utah’s Mina Tanaka scored from the spot deep into the second half. The scoring started early, as both sides were on the board before ten minutes had expired. Visiting Bay got the first one off of terrific pressure from Karlie Lema. Utah’s Kayleigh Riele passed back to keeper Mandy McGlynn to start the attack, and Lema turned on the jets. She sprinted in front of McGlynn’s pass, and the ball rebounded off the striker straight into goal. Utah evened just a minute later, off of another excellent effort play. CeCe Delzer took a shot from straight on, and Jordan Silkowitz turned it aside. The ball came out to the side, and Royal defender Miyabi fought hardest to poke it home. The two teams traded goals again halfway through the frame, with Utah striking first this time. Cloé Lacasse spotted Narumi open in the middle of the field and sent it back to her. The Japanese international took one touch, looked up, then unleashed an absolute screamer to the far side for the lead. Bay answered seven minutes later off a corner. Kennedy Fuller sent the ball into the box where Hannah Bebar headed toward goal. Heather Golchrist finished the play with a header of her own, coming across goal for the equalizer. The sides would then remain knotted until the 80th minute when Tanaka was knocked down in the box. The referee pointed to the spot, and Tanaka stepped up to be denied by Silkowitz. However, VAR determined that Silkowitz had come off her line early, giving Tanaka a retake. This time she struck true, and Utah had the victory. With the win, Utah holds on to third in the table, while Bay is above only hapless Chicago. Racing Louisville wins third straight, thumps Boston Embed from Getty Images Don’t look now, but Racing Louisville is on a bit of a streak and is quietly moving up the table. After a brutal start to the season, the side has now won four of its last five, including three straight. Their latest effort was a comprehensive drubbing of the expansion Legacy. It took the home side a while to open the scoring, but once they did, it was a flood. Just before the halftime whistle, Kayla Fischer put Racing on the board. Makenna Morris fed Fischer deep in the box. She took her touch, made a vicious cutback to lose her defender, and put the ball into the far side netting. The home side would have to wait until the second half to extend their lead, and they did so with a vengeance. Five minutes in, Fischer drew a penalty on an attacking run. Katie O’Kane stepped up to the spot for Racing, and she blasted it past Casey Murphy. Just five minutes after that, O’Kane would assist on Louisville’s third. She worked herself open in midfield, then sent a curler into the box. Emma Sears was open in front and quickly poked it home to make it 3-0. Just three minutes after that, Sears turned distributor. She came down the right side and sent the ball into the box. Fischer was there and hit the ball directly out of the air for her brace. All Louisville had to do was hold on for its first clean sheet of the season. Alas, it was not to be. With but one minute left in stoppage time, Bianca St. Georges sent a wonderful cross into the box, and Sammy Smith headed home. With the win, Racing Louisville moves ahead of Boston in the table. Late sub Hanks plays hero for Portland against Orlando Portland came into this match hoping to stay in the top four. Meanwhile, Orlando is reeling, with just one win in their last four matches, and that was against cellar-dwelling Chicago. Portland would see a hero emerge late for the home side. This was another match that took a long time to see some action, as neither side could break through during the first half. Portland’s Mackenzie Arnold stopped three shots headed her way, while her counterpart Anna Moorhouse didn’t face a shot in the frame. The visiting Pride had the Thorns on their heels but couldn’t solve Arnold. Portland came out of halftime more determined, and they found the opener in the 58th minute. Pietra Tordin got herself open on top of the box with some fancy footwork, and fed over to Deyna Castellanos on the left side. The Venezuelan international sent a curling shot into the far corner that could be accurately described as indescribably beautiful. Orlando answered quickly, as Jacquie Ovalle equalized just five minutes later. Oihane Hernández sent a ball into the box that Arnold tried to punch away. Her clearing attempt went directly into Ovalle and back into the goal. Sophia Wilson nearly won it in the 86th minute for Portland, but Moorhouse stopped her close-range shot. And then, in the 88th minute, Portland’s soon-to-be hero stepped on. Caiya Hanks replaced Tordin up front, and fate put her where she needed to be. In the 96th minute, M.A. Vignola came down the left side for the Thorns. She sent the ball over to Hanks just at the top of the box. In her first match since tearing her ACL last season, Hanks worked herself open and sent a wonderful curler into the far side as Castellanos had earlier. The win keeps Houston within reach of the playoff line, while North Carolina sees its three-match win streak snapped. Larisey gets late winner for Houston over North Carolina This excitement-packed match saw the sides trade goals until Houston’s Clarissa Larisey gave the visitors the win late in stoppage time. The match started with both sides pressing, and Houston nearly scored early on a miscue from Carolina keeper Kailen Sheridan. The home side survived and got the opener through one of the league’s hottest combinations right now, Evelyn Ijeh and Ally Schlegel. Ijeh took a terrific pass in the middle from Erica Parkinson and sent a shot at Jane Campbell. She made the save, but the rebound came right out to Schlegel, who quickly blasted it home. Houston evened just five minutes later off of a corner. The ball fell into the box, where it was sent forward to eventually come to Kate Faasse on the doorstep. She poked it in, and the sides were level. The second half saw the Courage take the lead back early on. Just five minutes into the frame, Schlegel and Ijeh switched roles. Schlegel came down the right side and sent a ball to Ijeh in the middle. She easily tapped it in, and the home side had their second lead of the night. The match continued until Larisey tied it late. In the 80th minute, Avery Patterson sent a cross into the box. Larisey was positioned perfectly and sent a deft little flick past Sheridan. Larisey would then bring the Dash home happy in stoppage time. In the 93rd minute, Lisa Boattin dropped a ball into the box, and Larisey was again placed right where she could easily head home for the winner. The win keeps Houston’s playoff chances very strong, while North Carolina sees their three-match win streak snapped. Sentnor’s late tally saves a point for Angel City against Washington Embed from Getty Images The week’s late match saw the Spirit travel to Los Angeles for Disney Princess night, where the sides ended up sharing the spoils. Washington sits second but has been struggling of late, dropping two straight. Angel City is locked in a battle with Seattle for the last playoff spot and has not won in three matches. Washington had the best chance to start the scoring midway through the first half, when Hal Hershfelt got alone on Angelina Anderson, but Angel City’s keeper was up to the challenge. Ally Sentnor sent a beautiful strike into the back of the net for Angel City, but her teammate had committed a handball in the buildup, wiping out the goal. It would not be until halfway through the second half that either side would break through, and it would be one of the league’s most dangerous players. US international Trinity Rodman has been on a tear, scoring seven goals in her last eight matches before this one. And on this night, she made it eight in nine. In the 65th minute, Tara McKeown spotted Rodman on the left side and fed her a through ball. Rodman turned on the jets and outraced the Angel City defense, then roofed a shot for the Spirit lead. That lead held until the 85th minute, when Sentnor equalized for the home side. Sentnor was a woman possessed all match, and her efforts finally paid off. After a buildup, Savy King gave the ball to Sentnor on the left side. She cut into the middle, then let loose an absolute rocket that, had the net not been there, might still be going. The final highlight of the night was when US and league legend Sydney Leroux subbed on in stoppage time to the delight of the crowd and her fellow players. With the draw, Washington sits six points behind Gotham at the top of the table. Angel City is in ninth, two points behind Seattle for that final playoff spot. NWSL Week 17 results in full Gotham FC 2-1 Kansas City Current San Diego Wave 1-1 Denver Summit Seattle Reign 1-0 Chicago Stars Utah Royals 3-2 Bay FC Racing Louisville 4-1 Boston Legacy Portland Thorns 2-1 Orlando Pride North Carolina Courage 2-3 Houston Dash Angel City FC 1-1 Washington Spirit More articles from Her Football Hub: Red Bull Studios confirm release date for ‘Reggae Girlz’ documentary on Jamaica women’s national team ÖFB-Frauen Bundesliga results: Pfanner saves Austria Wien, First Vienna grab first win, Graz stay top FAWNL: Can Bournemouth turn last season’s disappointment into promotion?