RD Welch

NWSL: Boston’s badly botched branding unveiling

The week of October 14, 2024, did not go as planned for the new Boston NWSL franchise.

U-17 WWC 2024: Match Day 3A — Highlights and Final Group Standings

With all three of its group stage matches in the books, the USA are through to the quarterfinals of the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup following a 5-nil victory over Korea Republic.

In the other Group B match, Colombia took an early lead over Spain when Isabella Diaz collected a loose ball from a Spain player who slipped on a worn section of the pitch, dribbled toward goal and sent a low shot beyond goalkeeper Ziara Vega who could only partially deflect the ball with an outstretched hand. Spain would equalize in the second half from the penalty spot. Then, with about 30 minutes to go in regulation, Diaz slapped a Spain player on her upper chest and was sent off following a video support review. The match remain tied until about 15 seconds before the clock hit 90:00.

In Group A action, Nigeria, who like Spain, were already guaranteed to advance, struggled to score against the host, Dominican Republic. Of Nigeria’s 36 shots, just 3 were on target. Their breakthrough came just before the end of regulation when Shakirat Moshood’s long-range effort sailed beyond the reach of goalkeeper Jaylene Rondon.

Meanwhile, in Ecuador’s 4-nil victory over New Zealand, Caprice Chiuchiolo, who is a verbal commit for Grand Canyon University, notched a brace.

In the quarterfinals, the USA will face Nigeria for the second time in a row. In 2022, the USA fell on penalties to Nigeria, who ended up finishing third. The USA-Nigeria quarterfinal match will be on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

Spain will play Ecuador on Sunday. That match will also kick off at 3:30 p.m. EDT

U-17 WWC 2024: Match Day 2B — Highlights and Group Standings Plus Advancement Scenarios

On the fourth day of matches at the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, both of the marquee match-ups, Brazil versus Japan and England versus Mexico, featured comeback victories.

In Group D’s Brazil-Japan match, a sluggish looking Japan defense gave up an early goal, but two second-half goals, including an equalizer from UCLA-bound Momo Saruang Ueki Sato, means that Japan now only needs a draw in their final group stage match against eliminated Zambia, who fell nil-2 to Poland.

Mexico’s hopes of staying alive were dashed by two late goals conceded against ten-player England. The Young Lionesses played the final 40 minutes of the match, included 12 minutes of added time, down a player yet scored three goals in that time.

For Group C, both England and Korea DPR, who defeated Kenya 3-nil, now know that they have secured a spot in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Mexico and Kenya are eliminated.

In Group D, only Zambia is out of the running for the quarterfinals, while none of the other three teams — Poland, Japan, and Brazil — have locked up a spot in the knockout stage.

U-17 WWC 2024: Match Day 2A — Highlights and Group Standings Plus Advancement Scenarios

On the third day of group stage matches as the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, the USA defeated Colombia 2-nil via goals from Micayla Johnson and Kennedy Fuller. Two teams, Spain and Nigeria, secured their spots in the quarterfinals round. In Group A, the hosts, Dominican Republic, kept their hopes alive with a salvaged draw against New Zealand.

Spain will be without two players for their third group stage match. In Spain’s 5-nil victory over Korea Republci, forward Alba Cerrato earned a straight red card in the final minutes of the match, after a video support review. Meanwhile, defender Irune Dorado, who was carrying a yellow card from her match against the USA, was given another yellow card just before halftime.

NWSL News of Note: Merritt Mathias and Desiree Scott announces retirement, Alexa Spaanstra and Shae Holmes extend, Wave sale completed, Expansion update

This week, two long-time NWSL players, who both played in the NWSL’s inaugural season, Angel City defender Merritt Mathias and Kansas City Current midfielder Desiree Scott, announced their retirements.

Meanwhile, three players —Portland Thorns forward Alexa Spaanstra, Seattle Reign center-back Shae Holmes, and Orlando Pride forward Summer Yates — are set to stay in the NWSL through the 2026 season.

Also, Racing Louisville back-up goalkeeper Olivia Sekany has been loaned to the Brisbane Roar of the A-League until early March 2025.

In team news, the sale of the San Diego Wave from Ron Burkle to the family of Lauren Leichtman and Arthur Levine has been completed.

Regarding expansion, an article from Sports Business Journal has added Nashville and Philadelphia to the list of known bids in the hunt for the second 2026 expansion franchise.

Finally, the Red Stars are not the only professional soccer team in Chicago looking to build a new soccer-specific stadium.

NWSL: Angel City FC’s statement on disciplinary sanctions

On Monday, Angel City FC posted a statement via social media regarding the three-point standings deduction and other disciplinary sanctions imposed by the league in response to the club violating the salary cap and other league rules.

Angel City’s statement includes two major notables:

First, it appeared that childcare benefits were the (or at least one of the) “undisclosed benefits” which caused Angel City to exceed the salary cap.
Second, Angel City “formally requested a reconsideration of the three-point deduction” by the NWSL. However, the league “confirmed that, based on the totality of their findings, the sanctions stand as is.”

Additionally, Angel City claims to have had the understanding that “childcare payments [did] not count against the salary cap”, which is hard to square with the text of the NWSL Competition Manual.

Regarding the first notable, on Friday, a The 19th article revealed that only one of the undisclosed supplemental agreements covered childcare payments:

A league source told The 19th that child care payments were only part of the reason Angel City was over the cap and got sanctioned. Only one of the five side letters addressed additional child care payments; the rest of that side letter and the other four letters were for additional amounts covering other terms.

U-17 WWC 2024: Match Day 1B — Highlights and Group Standings

On the second day of matches at the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, the most eye-opening result was the nil-nil draw between Japan and debutantes Poland, while the least surprising one was Korea DPR’s 4:1 victory over Mexico. Meanwhile, Brazil and England both earned wins against their African opponents.

As with the opening day, three USA-based players found the back of the net: Mexico’s Citlalli Reyes, Brazil’s Juju Harris, and England’s Lauryn Thompson.

USWNT: Roster Announced for October 2024 Friendlies — 6 Uncapped Players, No Trinity Rodman — Plus Match Schedule and TV/Streaming Details

Update (25-Oct-2024): Jane Campbell has been withdrawn due to a “muscle injury during training” and is replaced by Utah Royals goalkeeper Mandy Haught, who has U-20 USWYNT experience. (U.S. Soccer)

On Thursday, U.S. Soccer announced the United States Women’s National Team roster for its upcoming domestic friendlies against #13 Iceland and #33 Argentina. For the three matches, head coach Emma Hayes has called up 26 players, including six who are uncapped at the senior international level.

Among the players not called in are Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, who is rehabilitating a back injury, and Catarina Macario, who was a late scratch from the USWNT’s Olympic roster. The reason given for Macario’s absence is that she is not back to being a regular starter at Chelsea (x.com post quoting Emma Hayes).

The six uncapped players include Olympic alternates Hal Hirshfelt and Emily Sams, defenders Alyssa Malonson and Eva Gaetino, plus forwards Yazmeen Ryan and Emma Sears.

Notable returnees include Kansas City Current outside-back Hailie Mace, who was last in camp with the USWNT back in January 2023, plus two members of the USWNT’s 2023 WWC roster: Angel City forward Alyssa Thompson and North Carolina Courage midfielder Ashley Sanchez.

U-17 WWC 2024: Match Day 1A — Highlights and Group Standings

On Wednesday, October 16th, the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup kicked off in the Dominican Republic with four group stage matches.

In Group B, the USA lost 1:3 to the defending champions, Spain, but are in good shape to advance as the other Group B match, between Colombia and Korea Republic, ended in a draw, which eliminated the possibility of three teams each finishing on six points.

The hosts, Dominican Republic, which has 10 USA-based players, opened its campaign with a respectable 0:2 loss to Ecuador.

In all, three USA-based players scored on Wednesday, including two NWSL professionals: Mel Barcenas of the San Diego Wave for the USA and Casey Phair of Angel City for Korea Republic. The third goal-scorer was Colombia’s Ella Martinez, who is an academy player for USL Super League side Tampa Bay Sun and is a verbal commit for Duke University.

NWSL Referee Assignments: October 18 to 20, 2024

Friday, October 18th:

Reign vs. Dash: Brad Jensen (VAR: Alexandra Billeter)

Saturday, October 19th:

Current vs. Wave: Iryna Petrunok (VAR: Shawn Tehini)
Racing vs. Thorns: Calin Radosav (VAR: Kevin Broadley)
Bay FC vs. Courage: Elijio Arreguin (VAR: Corbyn May)

Sunday, October 20th:

Spirit vs. Red Stars: Adam Kilpatrick (VAR: Greg Dopka)
Gotham vs. Pride: Ricardo Fierro (VAR: Brad Jensen)
Angel City vs. Royals: Sergii Demianchuk (VAR: Abdou Ndiaye)

Source: PRO