USWNT Rewind: Rapinoe, Morgan Find the Mark in Second Week of NWSL Action

While a busy summer of international competition awaits, the U.S. Women’s National Team players are in full swing with their NWSL respective clubs, while those abroad have completed or are winding down successful seasons.

Another busy weekend of action kicked off Friday afternoon in France, as Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint-Germain both picked up three points heading into a May 30 matchup in Lyon which should determine the league title. PSG downed Stade de Reims, 4-0, on the road to remain in first place in the league standings with 58 points from 20 games. USWNT defender Alana Cook was available but did not see action in the win. Lyon sits just one point back of its rivals from Paris, courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Bordeaux. Catarina Macario played 80 minutes OL and impressed in the victory but saw her five-game goal streak come to an end as she was kept off the scoresheet for the first time since March 24. Lyon now sets its sights on the May 30 showdown against PSG and will be looking to avenge it’s 1-0 loss in Paris last November 20.

The second weekend of NWSL action featured Racing Louisville FC earning the first win in club history with a 2-0 victory over the Washington Spirit on Friday night at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville. The home side scored twice in the final quarter-hour to come away with the win while the Spirit remain in search of their first win of the season. Emily Sonnett and Andi Sullivan went the full 90 minutes and Kelley O’Hara played 64 minutes for Washington in the loss.

The Orlando Pride remain unbeaten on the young season, defeating the North Carolina Courage, 2-1, on the road on Saturday night. Alex Morgan scored her second impressive goal in as many games this season, scoring in the 79^th minute with a classic Morgan run behind the defense and left-footed finish. Morgan’s goal would prove to be the game winner as Orlando handed the Courage their first home loss since 2018. Morgan and Ali Krieger went the distance for Orlando while USWNT forward Lynn Williams put in a 90-minute effort for North Carolina and assisted Jessica McDonald’s goal in the 89^th minute. 

WATCH: Masterful Finish From Morgan

BIG MOOD @alexmorgan13 ❗️#NCvORL | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/kqrUmShvXB

— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) May 23, 2021

 

The Saturday night action continued with a 0-0 draw between the Chicago Red Stars and visiting NJ/NY Gotham FC. Chicago outshot Gotham, 13-7, though the New Jersey-based club held a 58-42% advantage in possession. Alyssa Naeher, Casey Krueger, Tierna Davidson and Mallory Pugh played the full 90 for the Red Stars while Carli Lloyd and Margaret Purce went the distance for Gotham.

 

The latest chapter in the Cascadia Rivalry between Portland Thorns FC and OL Reign lived up to the billing as the Reign came from behind to down the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup Champions, 2-1. Playing in front of their home crowd at Providence Park, the Thorns opened the scoring in the 4^th minute after Crystal Dunn whipped a cross into the area that was punched away by Reign goalkeeper Karen Bardsley. The clearance fell right to Canadian legend Christine Sinclair, who lifted a perfect looping volley over Bardsley to put Portland on top. The lead would be short-lived though, as USWNT forward Megan Rapinoe scored her first NWSL goal since the 2018 season, beating Adrianna Franch with a dipping free kick in the 9^th minute. The Reign scored again in the 15^th minute and saw the match out to snap a four-game losing streak against their Pacific Northwest rivals. Rapinoe played 69 minutes in the win for OL Reign, while Franch, Crystal Dunn, Lindsey Horan and Becky Sauerbrunn all played the full 90 for Portland. Sophia Smith added a game-high seven shots in 77 minutes of action for the Thorns.

 

WATCH: Rapinoe Scores Off Set-Piece

1,047 days since her last regular season goal, @mPinoe is back in style 🤯#PORvRGN | https://t.co/bONPZnnmCJ | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/PQ8cco2pnn

— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) May 23, 2021

 

The Houston Dash and Kansas City played to a 2-2 draw at BBVA Stadium, after Kansas City scored in second half stoppage time with just 10 players. The Dash looked primed to see out their first win of the season after Shea Groom headed in a well-served corner kick from midfielder Kristie Mewis in the 66^th minute. However, Taylor Leach provided the heroics for KC in stoppage time with an acrobatic header to beat Jane Campbell, who made four saves on the night.

There is little slowing down with eight NWSL games still to be played before the end of May. Information on upcoming matches featuring U.S. Women’s National Team players can be found below. All times listed are ET.

 

Wednesday, May 26
Orlando Pride vs. Portland Thorns FC	NWSL	7:00 p.m.	Paramount+
Washington Spirit vs. Houston Dash	NWSL	7:30 p.m.	Paramount+
Kansas City vs. Chicago Red Stars	NWSL	8:00 p.m.	CBS Sports Network
Friday, May 28
North Carolina Courage vs. Racing Louisville	NWSL	7:00 p.m.	Twitch
Saturday, May 29
Houston Dash vs. Chicago Red Stars	NWSL	7:30 p.m.	CBS Sports Network
Sunday, May 30
Olympique Lyonnais vs. Paris Saint-Germain	D1 Arkema	3:00 p.m.	Ata Football
NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Portland Thorns FC	NWSL	3:00 p.m.	Paramount+
Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City	NWSL	6:00 p.m.	Paramount+
OL Reign vs. Washington Spirit	NWSL	7:00 p.m.	Paramount+