Women’s leagues ready for NWSL Final and Liguilla

MIAMI, Florida – The final stages of the season of the different women’s leagues across Concacaf are upon teams and fans, with championship titles and more to play for each time the players take the field.

Under the rain and in front of a sold-out stadium, NJ/NY Gotham clinched the spot for their first ever NWSL final after downing the defending champions Portland Thorns 1-0 on Sunday evening in Portland. After 90 minutes of regular time, the winning goal of the evening came in the 107’ from FW Katie Stengel, who fired the ball into the top left corner from just inside the area, securing Gotham’s first Championship game.

The second finalist will be OL Reign, who defeated Shield winners San Diego Wave 1-0 on Sunday evening in front of 32,262 fans, reaching the final for the first time since 2015. FW Veronica Latsko found the back of the net in the 47’ when her intended cross from the right wing instead found the left side of the San Diego net, giving her team the advantage, they needed. Even though the hosts tried to score the goal that would even the game, OL Reign was the team that secured their spot in the Championship match next Saturday.

Liga MX Femenil

The regular season of the Liga MX Femenil came to a close, with the eight teams that reached the Liguilla now finalized and ready to begin the road to become champions of the Apertura 2023.

The Golden Boot for the regular season has two names on it, as FW Maricarmen Reyes from Tigres UANL and FW Alicia Cervantes from CD Guadalajara finished as the top scorers with 15 goals each.

Pumas was the winner of the battle for the last ticket to the Liguilla, as they won 2-0 over FC Juarez on Friday evening. Liga MX Femenil all-time top scorer FW Desiree Monsivais started the scoring in the 2’ by finding the ball in the área and shooting past the Juarez defense and goalkeeper. The goal that would secure Pumas’ spot in the Liguilla came in the 62’ when MF Aerial Chavarin received the ball past midfield, surged into the Juarez area and fired into goal, nailing down the three vital points.

Another team that secured their spot in the next round is Toluca FC, who added their last three points of the regular season on Sunday afternoon in topping Atletico San Luis 1-0. Both teams looked for the goal, with Las Diablas finding it in the 69’ from an own goal from DF Laura Parra while trying to clear a pass. With this result, Toluca finished in the seventh position in the table, and now have a chance to advance to the next round of the Apertura 2023.