Women's Soccer
Christen Press Leads Tyreso To Champions League Final
The 25-year-old Los Angeles native took matters into her own hands in Tyreso's showdown with Birmingham. Also: John D. Halloran has updates from all around the NWSL.
THE LAST TWO WEEKS have been full of action for U.S. women at the club level, highlighted by the American contingent at Tyreso earning a place in the Champions League final. There's also been plenty to see in the NWSL—in particular, some great goals and assists.
Here's a recap of what's been happening.
Last Sunday, Tyreso—featuring Americans Christen Press, Meghan Klingenberg, and Whitney Engen—beat Birmingham 3-0 in the Champions League semifinal to secure a place in the finals. Press scored two goals (at the 0:06 and 1:23 mark of the video) and assisted on the third (at the 2:30 mark of the video) in the win. Yeah, she's pretty good.
Sarah Hagen has been back in action for Bayern Munich after missing nearly a month following hand surgery. Hagen has started the last two matches for the German side.
Sydney Leroux notched the game-winning goal (at the 4:51 mark of the video below) and set up the first goal in the Seattle Reign's 2-1 win over the Washington Spirit. Ali Krieger picked up the lone tally for the Spirit (at the 2:55 mark of the video) after hitting the post earlier in the match. Ashlyn Harris, who was recently called up for the upcoming United States women's national team game against Canada, had a number of outstanding saves to keep the Spirit in the match.
Kelley O'Hara notched the assist (at the 32:48 mark of the video) on the game-winning goal in Sky Blue FC's 1-0 win over the Boston Breakers.
Abby Wambach returned from injury this week and went 90 minutes in the Western New York Flash's 1-1 draw with the Portland Thorns. The Flash were without Carli Lloyd, who was issued a two-game ban for this foul against Vanessa DiBernardo back in Week Two.
Amy Rodriguez (at the 17:25 mark of the video) and Erika Tymrak (at the 49:30 mark of the video) scored and Lauren Holiday was credited with two assists in FC Kansas City's 4-0 win over the Houston Dash, but an issue with the live stream makes the video quality of the goals less than excellent. Rodriguez also scored the lone goal and game-winner in FCKC's 1-0 over the Chicago Red Stars in their midweek game.
Allie Long, who was recently called into the U.S. women's upcoming camp, had a goal and an assist in the Portland Thorns 3-1 win over FC Kansas City. Her goal (at the 1:04 mark of the video) came on a penalty that she earned and then converted while her assist (at the 2:20 mark of the video) was a beautiful layoff pass to setup the game-winning goal. In the match, Holiday scored Kansas City's lone goal (at the 1:34 mark of the video) on a penalty earned by fellow American international Tymrak.
