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Week 6 is now in the rearview.

  • Writer: Jody Roginson
    Jody Roginson
  • Apr 23
  • 6 min read

Updated: Apr 28

A Tuesday match started the week early, means two teams have played one more match than all the rest, and had everyone, well, maybe not you, dear reader, confounded. But here's how it went from April 22 - April 27, or Week 6 the way we count it.


Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Providence Park on CBSSN at 10:30 p.m.

Gotham FC moved up the coast to face Portland on a Tuesday night, after they scored four in Los Angeles on the previous Friday night. And, the Thorns had also played on Friday night on the west coast, so... (We're guessing the wonky mid-week scheduling was, in part, one of those "Well at least they don't have to fly all the way back to the east coast" decisions.)


Anywhooo... here's how it went.


Portland got an early goal by Mimi Alidou (7' from Hanks). Gotham equalized a minute later when Esther González scored a close-range goal, assist to Portilho.


The match was back and forth until Caiya Hanks knocked a goal into the bottom left corner (61' from Coffey) and the Thorns took the lead for good. A PK by Jayden Perry (73') and a goal by Deyna Castellanos (80' unassisted) likely only hastened Gotham's desire to get on a plane and go home, leaving us to wonder why the league needs mid-week matches.


And, why do both teams play again in Week 6? (Yes, we know it all works out in the end, it's just odd.)


Friday, April 25, 2025

Shell Energy Stadium on NWSL+ at 8:00 p.m.


Delanie Sheehan (80') netted a top-of-the-box banger into the top right corner after several defenders deflected a free kick (set piece) in front of the goal to lead the home team to three points and the win.


Inter&Co Stadium on Prime Video at 8:00 p.m.


In what will likely be the best explanation of why this blogger hates calling it an own-goal (OG), it was nevertheless what happened at the 90+3' mark that allowed Orlando to overtake Angel City FC and escape with the win. Let me provide scoring details before the explanation.


The visitors took an early lead on a Riley Tiernan goal (8' assist Fuller). That stood until late in the first when Katie Zelem (44' unassisted) delivered a left-footed goal into the top left corner to send the visitors into half time with a two-goal lead. (Remember, Orlando lost their previous match so was staring into the potential of back-to-back losses, which is something the team hasn't done for more than two seasons. Because they came back to win, I didn't look that up, so don't expect that level of effort!)


Marta, of course, started the comeback with a goal (71') off a cross (assist) from Oihane Hernández that ignited the crowd and her teammates. Barbra Banda headed in the equalizer 5 minutes later off another cross that resulted in the assist from Pickett at the 76' mark and set up the additional time dramatics.


When Carson Pickett floated a beautiful lob forward into the front center of the box, defender M.A. Vignola perfectly closed on Ally Watt, as the attacker was quickly moving toward a redirected goal. The ball took a squiggly path on the bounce, glancing off Vignola and into the back of the net. "It's the defender's worst nightmare," was roughly the play-by-play remark.


So often an OG is really just a defender making the best attempt to stop a goal possible, rather than what the lay fan might think of as an "Oops the player shot it into the wrong goal" kind of a deal. This was definitely not that.


Bottom line, Orlando escaped a loss in front of their home crowd, while I sit fretting about how awfully this sport treats its defenders!


Saturday, April 26, 2025

Audi Field on CBS at 1:00 p.m.


The league's featured match of the week wound up being a first-half goal fest for the visiting rivals from the northeast. And it started early.


Sarah Schupansky (3') knocked in a cross from Reale (assist) to open the scoring. Nearly 30 minutes later Esther González converted a PK into the bottom right corner and as if that wasn't enough she headed in a Schupansky-cross (assist) 8 minutes later for a brace that vaulted her to the top of the league standings in goals (with 7 on the season) as we enter Sunday's play.


First Horizon Stadium on NWSL+ at 7:00 p.m.


In what should be considered the shock of the weekend (well, according to me), the Courage stunned the league leader with a comeback and win.


Haley Hopkins (39') netted a left-footed shot from the top of the box from an assist by Chawinga to get the scoring started and take the lead at the half.


Ryan Williams equalized 7 minutes into the second from a Matsukubo assist. They were only knotted for a few minutes when, amidst a flurry of attempts by Kansas City at 58' resulted in a goal by Bia Zaneratto off a pass from Hutton (assist).


So, with a 2-1 lead the Current conceded a corner and then, after the set piece resulted in a defensive stop, Kaleigh Kurtz took a loose ball and equalized in the 90th minute, unassisted, to send the home crowd into a frenzy. There were 5 minutes of additional time shown.


North Carolina only needed three of those minutes as Ashley Sanchez used her right foot from the right side of the box to net the winner into the bottom left corner, assist to Williams, and take 3 points for their table out of the match.


Spirit vs. Gotham may have been the rivarly game of the week, but this one is tough to beat as the shocker!


SeatGeek Stadium on ION at 7:30 p.m.


Of course the goals scored will follow, but to this viewer, the player of the match for San Diego Wave FC was their goalkeeper, Kailen Sheridan, who made a few early saves that otherwise would have provided the home club with some momentum, allowing them to revert to their defensive shape. (For the Chicago faithful, three attempts between the 12-18th minutes had to feel like their offensive shifts were going to pay off, but alas...)


Hanna Lundkvist (31') scored the first goal after a corner set piece off an assist by Armstrong. Then there was another bloody own goal by Sam Staab in the 81st minute (see rant from Saturday's Orlando vs. LA match). Kimmi Ascanio got a nice pass (assist) from Leon to net the final score three minutes into additional time and give the visitors 3 points, moving them into 5th on the table and sending the Stars to the bottom.


PayPal Park on ION at 10:00 p.m.


It had been a minute since the league had a draw. That ended in the final match of the night from the west coast as the teams each scored a goal to leave with a point.


Bay FC opened the scoring with a Racheal Kundananji goal (32') with the assist to Conti on a transition and fast-break opportunity. The equalizer came in the second half when Jordyn Huitema (50') knocked in her first goal of the season off a cross (assist) by Meza, following a corner.

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Providence Park on NWSL+ / P+ at 4:00 p.m.


There were five goals scored in the first half! And then for most of the second it felt as though the Thorns were not going to be able to equalize. But in the 11th-minute of additional time, Jayden Perry converted a PK and two minutes later, when the final whistle blew, the teams shared the same score and a point.


Savannah DeMelo opened the scoring early (9') for Racing Louisville, after a headed assist from Fischer on a set piece. Reilyn Turner (17' from Perry) headed in her third goal of the season to even things up. Kayla Fischer hung in front of the box and was able to tap in a goal in traffic to retake the lead in the 33rd minute. Emma Sears (39') put Racing Louisville up by two off a cross and assist by Sonis. There were 8 minutes of additional time added to the first half (largely because scoring 4 goals chews up time!) and the Thorns got a PK opportunity (45+5') that was converted by Jessie Fleming with a shot into the bottom right corner of the goal to end Week 6 in the league.



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