The NWSL Fall Series reached the midway mark this weekend with three matches played on Saturday.
The action kicked off with the weekly nationally televised game on CBS, in which the Chicago Red Stars and Washington Spirit played to a 1-1 draw. Alyssa Naeher (3 saves) and Morgan Brian Gautrat went the distance for Chicago while Tierna Davidson made her Fall Series debut for the Red Stars, entering the match in the 69th minute. Davidson saw limited action during the NWSL Challenge Cup while battling a foot injury but was active in her Fall Series debut on Saturday.
Utah Royals FC and OL Reign also tied in their meeting at Utah’s Rio Tinto Stadium, playing to a 2-2 draw. The game got off to a spirited start, with all four goals coming in the first 30 minutes of action. Allie Long commanded the midfield during her 45 minutes of action for OL Reign, which was making its Fall Series debut after a series of postponements due to air quality concerns in the Pacific Northwest.
The Houston Dash handed the Orlando Pride a 3-1 loss in the nightcap, converting a penalty in the 55th minute for the go-ahead goal. Ashlyn Harris made seven saves in the defeat, while Ali Krieger also went the distance for the Pride.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩. 𝘼. 𝙎𝙖𝙫𝙚. 😧
— NWSL (@NWSL) September 27, 2020
Did @Ashlyn_Harris just earn herself another @Verizon Save of the Week award?
2-1 | #HOUvORL
Tune in now on @Twitch.#NWSLFallSeries | #VerizonCommunityShield pic.twitter.com/OTooX0V5wF
The NWSL Fall Series continues with a midweek matchup between Portland Thorns FC and OL Reign which originally slated to be played on Sept. 12 (Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET on Twitch), with three games to come next weekend.
In Sweden, Emily Sonnett played the full 90 minutes in Koppabergs/Göteborg FC’s 3-0 victory over Piteå. Sonnett has made four appearances – including three starts - for Göteborg since arriving in late August on a short-term deal. Göteborg currently sits second in the Damallsvenskan standings, one point behind league-leading Rosengård.
Elsewhere abroad, Samantha Mewis came on midway through the second half of Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Leicester City in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup quarterfinal. City, the reigning champions of this tournament, will now face 14-time FA Cup champions Arsenal on Thursday for a spot in the final, which will crown the 2019-20 champion after the competition was put on pause due to COVID-19. Arsenal defeated Tottenham, 4-0, in Saturday’s chilly North London Derby. Alex Morgan was available off the bench but did not make her Spurs debut.
FA Women’s Super League Action resumes on Sunday with all three WSL clubs featuring USWNT players in action that day. Manchester United host Brighton & Hove Albion (7:00 a.m. ET) while Tottenham will visit Manchester City (7:30 a.m. ET). Most FA WSL games are available for viewing through The FA Player.
