NWSL Results: Speck, Courage top Gotham;

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The Olympics may be over, but women’s soccer is still full steam ahead. The NWSL continued its action this weekend with three games on Saturday night.




Gotham 0, NC Courage 1



The Skinny: Gotham FC and the North Carolina Courage met up for the first time in the 2021 regular season at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night. The Courage came into the match and upset the home team, taking home the 1-0 victory. Meredith Speck — who earned an assist last week against the Houston Dash on Ifeoma Onumonu’s equalizng goal — earned her first goal of 2021.




Speck picked up the rebound from a shot originally attempted by Jess McDonald. DiDi Haracic made the initial save, but Speck’s timing on the rebound gave her good positioning and she slammed the ball into net. Speck has been with the Courage since its first season in the NWSL in 2017, and was part of the Western New York Flash 2016 squad.

The visitors strike through @meredithspeck25 #NJNYvNC | https://t.co/0LtSAUK1Jw | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/kHf1ty7ENH
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 7, 2021

One Key Moment: It’s always tough in a 1-0 victory to pick that one key moment. The game-winning goal from Speck showed off her awareness in front of goal. However, it was Casey Murphy that was just as important in the victory, keeping a clean sheet against a slew of international attackers. Nahomi Kawasumi tested her early with a volley, but Murphy dove at the perfect time to push away and then scoop up the ball.

It's just what @CaseyMurph does #NJNYvNC | https://t.co/0LtSAUK1Jw | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/B59zVShk17
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 7, 2021

Inside the Game: With the victory, the Courage have leapt up from fifth place to second place. Portland still has a healthy margin, especially after a victory tonight against the Washington Spirit. While there is still plenty of action left in the season, the Courage picking up a victory to accumulate four points in two matches will help their final standing.




In fact, Gotham previously held the second place spot with 20 points. Now, North Carolina has that spot with 21 points.




The Goals

1. North Carolina Courage — Meredith Speck, 38′

— Rachael Kriger



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