NWSL Results: Mid-week matches resume as players stand in solidarity

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After matches were postponed last weekend, the National Women’s Soccer League returned on Wednesday. In all three matches, players stopped play at the six-minute mark and gathered in the center of the field. Following The Athletic’s detailed investigative report released on Thursday about Paul Riley’s alleged sexual coercion of former players, current players linked arms as a sign of solidarity and to represent the six years it took for the voices of Meleana “Mana” Shim and Sinead Farrelly to be heard.




NJNY Gotham FC 0, Washington Spirit 0



NJ/NY Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit played to a scoreless draw on Wednesday in Subaru Park, in Chester, Pa. Gotham moved their home match to the greater Philadelphia area as a sendoff game for Carli Lloyd, who is retiring at the end of the season.




North Carolina Courage 3, Racing Louisville 1



The Skinny: Four first half goals told the tale of Louisville’s visit to North Carolina on Wednesday night. Lynn Williams opened the scoring early off when she knocked in a rebound given up by Louisville keeper Katie Lund. Amy Rodriguez added a second shortly after, when a beautiful through ball from Jessica McDonald found her en route to goal.




Louisville’s Savannah McCaskill pulled one back for the visitors just five minutes later, a rocket of a shot from the edge of the area. But the Courage extended their lead once again at the half hour mark, when Debinha picked up an errant clearance in the box and smashed it home.




One Key Moment: Just minutes after Louisville equalized, some beautiful combination play between McDonald and Rodriguez on North Carolina’s second goal restored their lead. That’s a sloppy giveaway for Louisville to concede in the middle of the park too.

And Amy Rodriguez makes it two for North Carolina! #NCvLOU pic.twitter.com/AVhWnFsQaJ
— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) October 7, 2021

Inside the Game: It was a dominant first half performance for the Courage, who scored early and often. With the win, the Courage sit in third place with 32 points, while Louisville occupy the other end of the table, in ninth place with 17 points.




The Goals:

1. North Carolina — Lynn Williams, 14′
2. North Carolina — Amy Rodriguez (Jessica McDonald), 19′
3. Louisville — Savannah McCaskill, 24′
4. North Carolina — Debinha, 30′

— Emily Dulhanty



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