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In this week\u2019s women\u2019s soccer news, Sophia Wilson scored for the USWNT; Brazil defeated the USWNT; the NWSL Championship location was announced; and more!<\/p>\n
Sophia Wilson has been on a tear since returning to the field after welcoming her first child last September. The forward made her return to the field for the USWNT during their April friendlies, but she scored her first goal for the national team since 2024 this weekend against Brazil. She\u2019s been in terrific form for the Portland Thorns, and that continued against Brazil. For Portland, she\u2019s scored five goals in their last eight games.<\/p>\n
Wilson scored in quick fashion in the second minute with a long-range shot from just outside the box. It was a hard strike on the ground that slid into the corner by the keeper. For the USWNT, an in form and healthy Wilson is a massive key for this team that is inching closer to the World Cup qualifying tournament that starts at the end of November.<\/p>\n
The USWNT ultimately fell to Brazil 2-1 in the first of two friendlies against the Brazilians. All three goals were scored early on in the match coming before the 15th minute. \u00a0Sophia Wilson\u2019s goal in the second minute opened the floodgates, and then Brazil scored twice in three minutes thanks to goals from Maranh\u00e3o and Bia Zaneratto. It was a really physical match, and the United States had trouble dealing with that. The shots on goal were lopsided as well, with the USWNT only having two and Brazil finishing with six. Despite the loss, though, it\u2019s really not the worst thing for this young team. The more competitive the friendlies are the more prepared this team will be when they get to tournament games. It was a good opportunity for them to travel to Brazil and not play in front of a home crowd as well. They had to deal with the crowd noise from 31,000 fans and the physicality, which they\u2019re not exactly used to. Brazil finished the match with 12 fouls called against them and three yellow cards.<\/p>\n
It is important to point out though that there was some experimentation with this lineup with a backline that had never played together all at once and a young midfield. Mandy McGlynn also got the start in goal after performing really well with her club team, the Utah Royals.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ll have the opportunity to get revenge when they face them again on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n
The NWSL Championship will be played at Audi Field; the league made the announcement this week. The match will be on November 21 at 8 p.m. ET and will be on primetime television yet again. It\u2019s been quite awhile since the championship was played on the East Coast, with the last time being in 2022 and also held at Audi. Audi Field has become quite the environment for the Washington Spirit with a consistent large and loud crowd every home game. In addition to the Championship game, Washington, DC will also host the NWSL Awards, Skills Challenge, and Fan Fest.<\/p>\n
Ireland got a shocking win over the Netherlands in dramatic fashion during UEFA Women\u2019s World Cup qualifiers. \u00a0Kyra Carusa got the scoring started in the 19th minute which would be the only goal until the 70th minute. Netherlands earned a penalty kick that Dominique Janssen buried. Then the Irish took the lead again just a minute later with Abbie Larkin. The Netherlands answered yet again with Victoria Pelova. Amber Barrett eventually scored the game-winner for Ireland in the 90th minute. Ireland also had some late game drama with Leanne Kiernan receiving a red card in second half stoppage time. Ireland is in second place of Group B, and they\u2019ll face off against France, who are the group leaders, on June 9.<\/p>\n
Spain got a commanding 4-0 win over England in their UEFA Women\u2019s World Cup qualifying match. Patri Guijarro got the scoring started in the 19th minute, and then Alexia Putellas scored a brace. Cl\u00e0udia Pina finished off the scoring in the 78th minute. Spain dominated all the statistics with 62% of the possession and 21 shots.<\/p>\n
Spain\u2019s four goals are the most ever conceded by England during a qualifying match. It\u2019s also the first time that they\u2019ve lost a qualifier in over 20 years. The loss for England means that their fate is out of their hands. If Spain wins their last game against Iceland, they\u2019ll automatically qualify for next year\u2019s Women\u2019s World Cup. England has to hope for Spain to drop points and for them to win in order to win the group. If England doesn\u2019t top the group, they\u2019ll have to play in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not an official signing, but it\u2019s being reported by The Guardian that Alexia Putellas will be joining London City Lionesses after leaving Barcelona. Putellas is one of the best players in the world so it\u2019s a huge signing for London City. She spent 14 years at Barcelona and made 508 appearances and scored 232 goals in her time with the club. She leaves as the best player to ever play at Barcelona, with just about every trophy that she could win, including four UEFA Champions League trophies. She also won the Ballon d\u2019 Or in 2021 and 2022.<\/p>\n
Cl\u00e1udia Mart\u00ednez scored an insane goal off a volley. Mart\u00ednez received a cross from just outside the left corner of the box, and she took one touch to lob it over the goalkeeper. She scored an impressive four goals and registered two assists in Paraguay\u2019s 8-0 win over Bolivia.<\/p>\n
\nCl\u00e1udia Mart\u00ednez fue la gran figura Paraguay en la victoria por \u00a18 A 0! sobre Bolivia en la Liga de Naciones:<\/p>\n
La joya que deslumbra el f\u00fatbol sudamericano marc\u00f3 un P\u00d3KER DE GOLES y puso un DOBLETE DE ASISTENCIAS.<\/p>\n
La calidad con la que define en el primero. \ud83d\udc8e\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddfe #LNF<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Ke2IQhklzG<\/a><\/p>\n