NWSL Week 20 results: Washington closes gap on Gotham, Ashley Sanchez is a scoring menace

NWSL Week 20 results: Washington closes gap on Gotham, Ashley Sanchez is a scoring menace The NWSL league leaders in clean sheets had one thrown against them this week, and the Golden Boot leader is aiming for a new record. Standings are tight up and down the table, and every point is at a premium with the season winding down. The week started off with a cracker of a match, with Boston upending Utah at home, and ended with San Diego giving their all after going a player down early. Kansas City, Denver and Angel City all scored important wins to strengthen their playoff chances, while the wheels have officially fallen off the wagon in Chicago. The lamp was lit several times in spectacular fashion in NWSL Week 20. Boston plays perfect road match to upset Utah This one started off early, with both sides on the board in the first 20 minutes. Visiting Boston tallied first 11 minutes in with a great hustle and effort from their leading scorer. Barbara Olivieri had the ball just outside the Utah box and sent a shot on net. Defender Kate Faasse blocked the shot off the post, from whence it bounced back out. Aissata Traoré was parked in front of goal where a goal-scorer should be, and she hammered home her eighth of the season. Just six minutes later, Utah answered with one of the most wonderful types of goals, the goalkeeper assist. Mandy McGlynn had just made a save and looked up to survey the field. She saw the Boston defense up high, and launched the ball into the path of the streaking Kiana Palacios. She took the pass, went in on Laurel Ivory, and put it just inside the far post. The sides went into the half all square, and the match was very evenly played and exciting. Embed from Getty Images Boston controlled the action of the second half, as Utah did not attempt a shot until the 82nd minute. Meanwhile, Boston tested McGlynn often, and were finally rewarded. Boston has been the best team in the league at scoring in the last ten minutes or later, and they did it again on this night. In the 86th minute, Nicolette Hernández sent a cross into the far post. Defender Aleigh Gambone was up on the play, and sent a beautiful diving header just inside the far post for the winner. The win snaps a four-match losing streak for the Legacy, and may have been the best match the side has played all season. Utah misses out on a chance to gain on the league leaders, while also losing their first match at home all season. Kansas City gets important road win at Bay Just as Boston had, Kansas City scored as the visitors in the 11th minute. The Current earned a corner, and Izzy Rodriguez stepped to the flag. She sent an absolutely perfect ball that curved toward the net and over Jordan Silkowitz for an Olimpico. Rodiguez’ first of the season was easily the goal of the week. The goal stood until late in the half, when a great effort from Alex Pfeiffer led to the equalizer. Cristiana Girelli sent the ball forward into the box, and Kansas City keeper Marisa Jordan came out to try to grab it. Pfeiffer got there just ahead of her and poked it free. The ball came to Karlie Lema, and she poked it home in the last moments of the half to level for Bay. Embed from Getty Images The match went late into the second half with neither side able to get the go-ahead goal. Then, just before injury time, the Current grabbed the winner. Croix Bethune controlled the ball in the box following good pressure from the Current. She sent it back to Rocky Rodríguez at the top of the box. The veteran took a look, then sent a great strike far side for the winner. Kansas City’s win keeps them solidly in a playoff slot. Bay remains toward the bottom of the table, having lot six of their last eight matches. Shores’ brace gives Angel City the win over Racing Louisville Angel City needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, while Racing Louisville was trying to get back to winning ways. Visiting Angel City controlled the match, and Evelyn Shores provided all the offense they would need. The first half saw several attacks by both teams, but only one shot that was on target. The teams certainly tested each other’s back lines, looking for a weakness. Both defenses held, and neither Angel City’s Angelina Anderson or Racing’s Jordyn Bloomer were worried at all. The half ended quietly, with Angel City dominating possession, but nothing to show for it. The second half was also quiet until halfway through. After Racing defender Ella Hase wonderfully shut down several Angel City attacks, the ball eventually came out Sarah Gorden in the midfield. She sent it to Shores just outside of the box. When no one challenged her, Shores took one touch and launched. Her strong shot went far corner and past Bloomer for the lead. Louisville came within an inch of equalizing in the 85th minute, when Maja Lardner’s looping shot bounced off the crossbar. Embed from Getty Images Shores would put the game on ice in the first minute of stoppage time. Ally Sentnor drove at the Racing defense on the left side, and passed ahead to Shores in the box. She again went far post, and the ball was just beyond Bloomer’s reach. The win puts Angel City two points out of the last spot, while Racing Louisville have dropped three in a row following a four match win streak. Denver keeps playoff strong with shutout of Gotham When someone hears that a Gotham match ended in a clean sheet, they assume that Gotham earned it, as they have 13 in the season. However, Denver was the team that held firm in this match, and bolstered their playoff bid in their inaugural season. The Summit started the match on the front foot, with Megan Reid putting the ball in the Gotham net just two minutes in. Unfortunately for the Denver faithful, the play was ruled offside. Denver used the momentum and controlled play for the half. Gotham’s Ann-Katrin Berger made a huge save to deny Melissa Kössler 12 minutes in, and the home side kept pressing. The Summit was not able to find the back of the net, but that would change quickly in the second half. Just five minutes into the second frame, Ayo Oke sent a great ball into the box and directly on to the run of Yuzuki Yamamoto. Her perfect one-touch finish put the home side ahead, and they would only add to that. The teams traded a few chances, and then rookie Olivia Thomas produced the moment of the match. Yazmeen Ryan fed Thomas at midfield, and Thomas ran at the Gotham defense. Just as she got in the box, she put her shot between Tierna Davidson’s legs and into the far corner, leaving Berger no chance. Embed from Getty Images Denver finished the scoring five minutes later, when Ryan called her own number. Tash Flint sent her the ball at the left corner of the box. Ryan ran to the center, then sent a shot back into the post. Denver’s win puts them four points out of the final spot with eight matches to go. Gotham stays top of the table, but their lead has shrunk to just two points. Sanchez and North Carolina dominate Chicago The last thing the Chicago Stars wanted to see was an in-form Ashley Sanchez and the North Carolina Courage. The Menace made their fears come true, as Sanchez picked up a hat-trick to lead her side to an absolute pummeling of floundering Chicago. This one started as expected, with Sanchez striking just 11 minutes in. The visiting Courage sent a ball forward to Chioma Okafor who was so wide open on the wing that she must have felt lonely. She easily cruised into the box unchallenged and cleared across. Erica Parkinson’s attempt was blocked, but the ball came straight to Sanchez, who tapped home. Six minutes later, Okafor doubled the lead. Evelyn Ijeh had the ball on the goal line and sent it center. Okafor ran on and blasted home. Carolina continued pressing, but Chicago was able to hold them off for the rest of the half. The second half came, and the Courage were relentless. 15 minutes into the half, Ryan Williams cleared across goal. Okafor got a touch on it, and the ball continued to Shinomi Koyama. She blasted it just underneath the crossbar for Carolina’s third. A mere two minutes after that, Williams got one of her own. Sanchez took a shot from the wing that was stopped by Alyssa Naeher. The rebound came right out to Williams, and she quickly slotted home. Embed from Getty Images Five minutes after that, Sanchez got her brace from the spot. Erica Parkison was taken down in the box by Aaliyah Farmer, and the foul was called after a VAR check. The Golden Boot leader stepped to the spot for Carolina and fired past Naeher. Sanchez would get her hat trick ten minutes before full time, when Williams sent a cross in. Sanchez met it in the air and headed home an exquisite strike for the final tally. With the win, North Carolina moves third in the table. Sanchez now has 18 goals the season, and is well on pace to break Temwa Chawinga’s single season record of 20. Chicago, meanwhile, is a team in complete disarray. The side has given up six goals each in their last two matches, and their defense looks lost on the pitch. Hopefully, they can turn things around in their last seven matches. Washington moves closer to top with win at Portland In an excellently played match, two of the top sides matched each other throughout, with visiting Washington getting the late winner. Portland got on the board early in the first after Nina Nijstad was brought down in the box by Washington’s Monique Ngock. The referee pointed directly to the spot, and Sophia Wilson stepped up. The Thorns’ top scorer made no mistake and sent it by Sandy MacIver for the lead. Portland should have had a 2-0 lead, but MacIver made an incredible recovery save in the 29th minute on Carolyn Calzada. The Thorns were unable to get a second, and that would come back to haunt them. Portland had the first best chance of the second, but Pietra Tordin’s attempt in close went off the post. Then, 15 minutes in, the Spirit equalized with a penalty of their own. Sofia Cantore was driving across the box when Sam Hiatt ran into her without playing the ball. After review, the foul was called and Tara Rudd stepped up for the Spirit. She sent a great shot top bins, and Mackenzie Arnold had no chance. Embed from Getty Images The sides played even until the 80th minute, and then the Spirit sent the Providence Park crowd home unhappy. Following a corner that was cleared by Portland, Washington came right back. The ball came to Trinity Rodman on the wing, and she sent it center. Mélissa Bethi sent it straight on. Arnold got a piece of it, but could not keep it out. Portland had one last chance late in stoppage time, but MacIver gobbled up Tordin’s free kick from the top of the box. Washington moves to within two points of league leaders Gotham. Those two sides will meet in a huge match on 17 October. Portland remains in sixth, missing a chance to move up. Orlando scores first three to take down Houston This match featured two sides on the outside looking in, with the home Pride taking advantage of early chances to grab the victory. Orlando’s first tally came off of an own goal by Houston. Just 14 minutes in, Orlando’s Barbra Banda came down the left side and sent the ball across Jane Campbell. Houston’s keeper got a hand on it, but the ball bounced right into to defender Leah Klenke’s leg and back in. Klenke’s night got worse in the 42nd minute, when she was whistled for taking down Orlando’s Summer Yates in the box. Banda stepped to the spot for the Pride, and she tucked the ball just inside the post for a 2-0 lead. Embed from Getty Images In the second half, Houston came out firing, and Cosette Morché made two big saves for the Pride to maintain the lead. Orlando tallied their third in the 64th minute through Haley McCutcheon. Banda and McCutcheon came down the left side together, with Banda sending her teammate forward. McCutcheon uncorked a rocket into the top corner to seal the deal. Houston got one back when Keke van Zanten headed home a terrific cross Khyah Harper, but that was as close as Houston would get. Orlando and Houston sit 11th and 12th in the table, respectively. Both sides still can hold out hope for a playoff berth, but they will have to go now if they want to make it. Seattle nips 10-woman San Diego Seattle currently holds the final playoff spot, and a win against one of the league’s top sides in San Diego would certainly help their chances at the post-season. A fateful moment early on tilted the match, and the Reign were able to earn that all-important victory. The moment came early on. Nine minutes in, Seattle’s Maddie Dahlien was breaking on a loose ball to go in on goal. San Diego’s Mimi van Zanten came across and knocked Dahlien down before playing the ball. After review, the referee ruled that van Zanten had interfered with a clear scoring chance and showed her the red card. Seattle used the extra space to press the Wave, and were rewarded in the 29th minute. Dahlien sent a cross into the middle, and Maddie Mercado sent a terrific header into the back of the net. Following the goal, San Diego sorted out their spacing and pressed on their own, but could not find the equalizer. Embed from Getty Images The home Wave were all over the Reign in the second half, and only the heroics of keeper Claudia Dickey kept them at bay. Dickey’s best stop came late in the half, when she stopped Ludmila point blank. The Wave sent nine shots at the net, with three on frame; meanwhile, Seattle only managed one. However, it mattered not, as Seattle was able to hold on for the victory. The win keeps Seattle in eighth place, two points ahead of Angel City. San Diego falls to fifth, even on points with North Carolina and Utah, but trailing on goal differential. NWSL Week 20 results in full Utah Royals 1-2 Boston Legacy Bay FC 1-2 Kansas City Current Racing Louisville 0-2 Angel City FC Denver Summit 3-0 Gotham FC Chicago Stars 0-6 North Carolina Courage Portland Thorns 1-2 Washington Spirit Orlando Pride 3-1 Houston Dash Seattle Reign 1-0 San Diego Wave More articles from Her Football Hub: Liga F match-day 2 recap: Real Sociedad difficult start continues as Real Madrid slip up against Eibar Serie A Women’s Cup round-up: Inter among semi-finalists confirmed as group stage concludes Barclays WSL 2 results: Sunderland hit four as Ipswich hold Forest and Leicester hang on for a win