MIAMI, Florida – The women’s professional leagues across Concacaf are reaching a crucial point in the season, and on Saturday evening the North Carolina Courage won the NWSL Challenge Cup by defeating 2-0 Racing Louisville FC, becoming back-to-back champions.
The Courage are also standing in third-place in the NWSL regular table season, and will keep fighting to add more silverware to their shelves this season.
The defending champions started strong, creating chances from the start of the game. After a weather delay, the game resumed and saw a goal from Brazilian international Kerolin in the 28’, after a great midfield assist from Narumi Miura. The striker found space near the post and put the ball in the back of the net.
North Carolina secured the title in the 54’ through the services of Manaka Matsukubo, as she hit a volley in the box after a great collective play to score her first goal in any NWSL competition.
Week 10 of Liga MX Femenil brought some interesting results and new standings for the teams that are competing to reach the top eight places in the table for the Liguilla.
Cruz Azul enjoyed victory again on Monday afternoon after defeating Atlas by a 2-0 score. The goals arrived in the latter stages of the second half, Renata Huerta scoring the first goal of the day in the 76’ from a direct shot in the box. The second goal came from a free kick in the 89’ thanks Natalia Enciso, who fired past the defensive line of Atlas to secure the three points for La Maquina.
Club Tijuana added another three points to sit in fourth place in the table after downing Mazatlan FC 2-0 on Saturday evening. Monica Alvarado started Tijuana's scoring in the 47’, with a header in the box. Daniela Espinosa was the author of the second and final goal of the match via penalty kick in the 58’, putting the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
The Torneo de Clausura 2023 of Costa Rica has been going for 10 weeks, delivering performances that have left fans asking for more.
CS Herediano tasted victory again after defeating Dimas Escazu 3-1 on Sunday evening. Laurie Bautista gave Herediano an early lead in the 16’. The team kept that tally going, with Mallorie Olson scoring the second one in the 45+1’. The visitors didn’t stop trying to pull one back, doing so in the 83’ thanks to the services of Hilary Corrales.
With a few minutes left on the clock, in the 87’, Olson scored her second goal of the match, the third one for Herediano, securing the three points at home.
The last match of the week ended with current champions LD Alajuelense falling 2-1 at Municipal Perez Zeledon on Wednesday afternoon. Paola Calderon scored the first goal for the locals in the 22’ with a header in the box.
Calderon scored the second goal of the night in the 68’, however, it was an own goal for Las Leonas, trying to clear the ball after a corner kick. Perez Zeledon kept their spirits high and scored in 90+ 3’, with Kelsey Arroyo ready in the area to receive a ball from the left side, beatingthe GK and giving her team the win. With this result, LD Alajuelense now sits in second place of the table.
