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NWSL Match Preview: North Carolina Courage (1-0-0) at San Diego Wave FC (1-0-0)

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NWSL Match Preview: North Carolina Courage (1-0-0) at San Diego Wave FC (1-0-0)

Snapdragon Stadium | San Diego, California – Saturday, April 1 at 10:00 PM ET

Players to watch:

San Diego Wave forward Alex Morgan was top the scoring charts in the 2022 season (16) and has already shown no signs of slowing down with a goal in the club’s 3-2 win over Chicago last weekend. Morgan converted a penalty, something she did quite frequently last year, to help seal the win approaching stoppage time after forwards Amirah Ali (22’) and Jaedyn Shaw (32’) netted the first two of San Diego’s season. The winner from Morgan was the second-latest game-winning goal in her NWSL career after her goal in extra time in last season’s playoffs, also against Chicago, came in the 110th minute.

North Carolina may have seen a shuffle in the starting XI from 2022 to 2023, but one thing remains and that’s the work rate of Brazilian forward Kerolin. Kerolin led the team in shots (4) and shots on target (2) alongside the game’s lone goalscorer, Mille Gejl. Playing in her first NWSL game after transferring from BK Häcken, Gejl scored and became the third Courage player to net on her NWSL regular season debut and the first since Julia Spetsmark in 2019.

Match facts: Two winners from Week 1 come together on Saturday night in San Diego as Wave FC and North Carolina look to keep up their hot starts following wins in their respective cities last weekend. San Diego, backed by some 30,000-plus fans at Snapdragon last weekend, were able to clinch a late victory over Chicago while North Carolina grinded out a home win over Kansas City.

San Diego were almost shocked into action last weekend as Chicago took an early lead before two goals in ten minutes from Ali and Shaw allowed the hosts to jump in front from a losing position. Just before the half ended, Chicago won a penalty and Mallory Swanson converted to notch the game at two apiece. However, applying pressure late paid off for San Diego as the hosts were awarded a late penalty kick that Morgan converted to claim all three points. The win was the team’s seventh home win in 13 all-time NWSL home games including the playoffs (D4 L2). Only Portland has more home wins (regular season and playoffs) than San Diego since the beginning of last season.

On the opposite side, North Carolina secured a 1-0 win over the Current in its season opener, the club’s fourth consecutive shutout dating back to 2022. There have only been two longer such streaks in NWSL history: a five-game streak by the Courage in 2021 and a five-game streak by the Reign in 2016. The Courage had quite a few debutants in the starting XI, including the goalscorer Gejl, and Sean Nahas’s side had to fight to the end to stave off Kansas City and earn the win. 

San Diego shut North Carolina out in both meetings last season with a 1-0 road win in May and a 0-0 home draw in September. No team has ever shut out the Courage in three consecutive games since the team moved to North Carolina in 2017, though.

NWSL Match Preview: Washington Spirit (1-0-0) at Racing Louisville FC (0-0-1)

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NWSL Match Preview: Washington Spirit (1-0-0) at Racing Louisville FC (0-0-1)

Lynn Family Stadium | Louisville, Kentucky – Saturday, April 1 at 3:00 PM ET

Players to watch:

Racing Louisville FC goalkeeper Katie Lund was a standout performer in the club’s season opening draw with Houston, making a crucial seven saves en route to keeping a first clean sheet in 2023. That marked the seventh time she has made at least seven saves in a single game since the beginning of last season. That is more than twice as many games as the next closest NWSL goalkeeper in that time (Adrianna Franch and DiDi Haracic – 3 each). Though the club also failed to score, forwards Uchenna Kanu and Jessica McDonaldwere the only players to register more than one shot in the match, with Kanu’s three and McDonald’s two contributing to its attacking momentum. 

Washington forward Trinity Rodman scored her side’s lone goal in its 1-0 win in last week’s season opener. The distance strike with her left foot was just shy of 30 meters out from goal, the longest goal of her career and the furthest away from goal by a Spirit player since Jordan Baggett struck from 36 meters out in the 2019 season against the Thorns. In addition, Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury had an incredible opening outing against the Reign, making four crucial saves to help pick up the three points.

Match facts: Racing Louisville FC hosts its first regular season contest at Lynn Family Stadium on Saturday afternoon as the club welcomes the Washington Spirit, who are fresh off a great result against OL Reign, to the Butchertown area of Louisville. 

Louisville’s start to the year involved a scoreless draw in Houston. Statistically, the club has struggled in regular season play in the match immediately after having played to a draw, winning just twice in 15 such games (D6 L7) in club history. The club should be encouraged by its first performance though, with Kanu especially looking like she’ll get off to a quick start as the side introduced a few new faces to the starting XI compared to last season.

Washington, however, are coming off of an incredible result as they beat the 2022 NWSL Shield winners OL Reign, 1-0, at Audi Field. Washington did well to not only limit the Reign in attack, but also create enough going forward the other way with Rodman finding a good amount of success dribbling inside from a wide position. That same sequence saw her score the game’s lone goal in the 54th minute, when she raced through the midfield and struck a powerful effort that nestled in the bottom corner of the far side of the goal. 

Unfortunately for Saturday’s hosts, Washington is unbeaten in its last four matches against Louisville (W2 D2) with Ashley Hatch having scored four goals over the four games. Only Debinha (five) has more goals in NWSL play against Racing.

NWSL Match Preview: Houston Dash (0-0-1) at Chicago Red Stars (0-1-0)

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NWSL Match Preview: Houston Dash (0-0-1) at Chicago Red Stars (0-1-0)

SeatGeek Stadium | Bridgeview, Illinois – Saturday, April 1 at 2:00 PM ET

Players to watch:

Chicago’s two goals against San Diego in their opener were scored by attackers Yuki Nagasato and Mallory Swanson. Dating back to last season and including the playoffs, each of the Red Stars’ last eight goals have been either scored or assisted by either Nagasato or Swanson, making them one of the most productive attacking duos in the league. Last year, Swanson’s 11 goals were good enough for T-4 in the league’s scoring charts, and Nagasato’s four goals had her tied for second among the Red Stars’ scoring leaders. 

Houston midfielder Sophie Schmidt attempted six tackles against Louisville, the most of any NWSL player in the season’s opening weekend. Since Schmidt joined the Dash in the 2019 season, she has attempted 168 tackles, the third-most of any NWSL player in that time behind only Denise O’Sullivan (223) and McCall Zerboni (193). Though Houston failed to score in their opening game, forwards Ebony Salmon and Diana Ordóñez both registered two shots on target, with Salmon leading the way in total shots with four. 

Match facts: The Chicago Red Stars welcome the Houston Dash to town for their 2023 home opener at SeatGeek Stadium, with both sides looking to pick up their first win of the season. Chicago is coming in off a 3-2 loss to San Diego that went down to the late stages, and Houston enters off the back of a scoreless draw with Racing Louisville.

Chicago got the scoring started in that loss to San Diego, with forward Yuki Nagasato scoring her first goal of the season following a failed clearance that resulted in a pinball situation in the center of the box. Waiting to swing, Nagasato pounced on the opportunity and ripped a shot into the roof of the goal. Then, after conceding two goals to San Diego, Chicago bounced back in added time as they won a penalty that Swanson converted. However, in the 88th minute, Chicago conceded a penalty of their own and San Diego’s Alex Morgan converted to seal the result.

Houston, on the other hand, fired plenty of shots at the Louisville goal last weekend, and though they did not find the back of the net they also did well to maintain a clean sheet as their season started scoreless. The Dash picked up momentum as the game settled and ended up getting the better of their chances midway through the opening half. However, outside of Ordóñez’s flying header attempt in the 68th minute, they failed to produce quality chances in the second half and were able to secure a point. 

Last year, Houston swept the season series, securing a 4-1 home win and 1-0 victory on the road. Entering the 2022 season, the Dash had just three wins in total over their 20 regular season meetings with the Red Stars.

NWSL Match Preview: Portland Thorns FC (1-0-0) at Kansas City Current (0-1-0)

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NWSL Match Preview: Portland Thorns FC (1-0-0) at Kansas City Current (0-1-0)

Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, Kansas – Saturday, April 1 at 12:50 PM ET

Players to watch:

Kansas City Current midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta won five fouls in the club’s opener last weekend, four more than any other Current player in the match. Since the beginning of last season, LaBonta has drawn 50 fouls in league play, behind only Savannah DeMelo (79) and Victoria Pickett (56) for most in the league in that span. Also in the opener, Current forward Michelle Cooper made her NWSL Regular Season debut and registered four shots, two of which were on target as the team was held scoreless.

Dating back to last season, Portland attacker Morgan Weaver has scored in three consecutive regular season games with four total goals in that time. Prior to her current run of form, the former No. 2 overall draft pick had scored five goals in her 37 league appearances. In Portland’s opener, Weaver opened the scoring in the 16thminute of a 4-0 win and was one of four goalscorers alongside teammates Sophia Smith (22’), Hina Sugita (49’), and Michele Vasconcelos (76’).

Match facts: The Kansas City Current host Portland Thorns FC on Saturday afternoon in a rematch of the 2022 NWSL Championship that will be televised nationally on CBS. The Current and Thorns were on opposite ends of the success spectrum in the opening weekend, with the hosts looking to bounce back after a 1-0 loss in North Carolina to the Courage and the visitors aiming to capitalize on a massive 4-0 win over Orlando in Portland to start the year.

Kansas City, who were unfortunate not to score in last weekend’s loss, registered 10 shots with three on target, but were far off evening possession (41.6%) and were edge in duels won (50-43) and tackles won (10-7) and just couldn’t seem to find their rhythm. Last season, the team only had one equal or lower share of the possession in a single match on only one occasion, 1-0 home win against Racing Louisville (40.2%).

On the other side, the Thorns had 16 shots on target in their 4-0 win over Orlando in their season opening, while allowing just one shot on goal. That is both the most shots on target by a team in a game and the largest shots on target differential in a single game in NWSL history. Last season, they beat the Current, 2-0, in the NWSL Championship and 3-0 at home in the season opener on April 30. Overall in 2022, Portland averaged 1.83 goals per game on the road, making them one of the highest scoring teams in that category.

Adding to the challenge, Portland is unbeaten all-time in all competitions against the Current, winning five of seven meetings (D2). Kansas City has scored just twice in those matches and has never held a lead against Portland in any match.

MLS Preview: Portland Timbers (1-3-1) at FC Dallas (2-2-1)

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MLS Preview: Portland Timbers (1-3-1) at FC Dallas (2-2-1)

FC Dallas has won each of the last three regular season home games against the Portland Timbers (W6 D2), going unbeaten in those contests. In 14 visits to Dallas during the regular season, Portland has only won by a 2-0 score in October 2014.

Since mid-July, FC Dallas has only lost one of its last 11 home games (including playoffs) (W7 D3), winning two of those games at Toyota Stadium. Since the start of the previous season, FC Dallas has won 12 regular season games at home, more than Los Angeles Football Club (16) and Philadelphia Union (14) combined.

When Portland Timbers last played in Texas, they beat Austin FC 2-1 in August. The Portland Timbers have one victory each in Dallas (2014), Houston Dynamo FC (2021), and Austin FC in their 28 visits to the Lone Star State (D10 L15). That victory was the Timbers’ third in the regular season.

Jesus Ferreira has scored three goals in FC Dallas’ two home victories this season, once against Sporting Kansas City and twice against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Since August 2019, the 13 home games in which Ferreira scored have been won by FC Dallas.

Since the end of last season, the Portland Timbers have lost three consecutive road games, allowing 11 goals in each one. Six of Portland’s last eight road games have featured three or more goals, and the team has lost five of those six games (a 4-4 draw at Minnesota United FC in July 2022).

MLS Preview: D. C. United (1-3-1) at Chicago Fire (1-1-2)

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MLS Preview: D. C. United (1-3-1) at Chicago Fire (1-1-2)

The only team against which the Chicago Fire had more than one victory this season was D. C. United, who the Fire defeated twice. In regular season play, the Fire have only shut out D. C. United more than twice in a row: from May 2002 to April 2003, when they had four consecutive shutouts (W1 D3).

In their last two games, the Chicago Fire have scored three goals (W1 D1). The only time Chicago has scored at least three goals in three games in the past decade was during a stretch of three games from June to July 2021 (W2 D1).

Despite giving up multiple goals in four of its first five games this season (W1 D1 L3), D. C. United managed to earn four points. In the past, D. C. United has only allowed multiple goals in four or more of its first five games. In 2000 (W1 L4) and 2010, they allowed multiple goals in each of their first five games.

Saturday’s 90’+2 winning goal by Kei Kamara for the Chicago Fire was his first goal in stoppage time, but it was his 145th goal in MLS (including playoffs). Throughout his career, Kamara has scored for ten different MLS clubs.

In Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to the New England Revolution, Christian Benteke scored the only goal for DC United. He now has three goals in his first five games of the season. After scoring one goal on 24 shots in his seven MLS appearances last year, Benteke has scored three goals this season on 17 attempts.

MLS Preview: Charlotte FC (1-3-1) at Toronto FC (1-1-3)

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MLS Preview: Charlotte FC (1-3-1) at Toronto FC (1-1-3)

Last season, Toronto FC defeated Charlotte FC by scores of 4-0 at home and 2-0 on the road, respectively. Last season, Toronto FC only lost to Charlotte FC twice.

After losing to D. C. United in the season opener, Toronto FC has won four straight (W1 D3). The Reds have kept continuous clean sheets subsequent to keeping only three in its past 45 MLS matches tracing all the way back to September 2021.

On March 18, Charlotte FC defeated Orlando City SC 2-1 in its previous away match. Along with two draws and 13 defeats, this victory marked Charlotte FC’s fourth on the road in MLS. Charlotte FC has never figured out how to stay away from rout in consecutive street MLS matches.

Last season, Federico Bernardeschi scored in both Toronto FC’s victories over Charlotte FC. Bernardeschi has scored six or assisted on three of Toronto FC’s last 15 MLS goals since the second of those games in August 2022.

Enzo Copetti is the second player in Charlotte FC history to score in both of their away games this season—A. Shinyashiki did it in June and July 2022). Copetti could turn into the third player in MLS history to score in his initial three street games in the association, after Cucho Hernandez (2022) and Juan Pablo Heavenly messenger (2007).

MLS Preview: Sporting Kansas City (0-3-2) at Philadelphia Union (2-3-0)

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MLS Preview: Sporting Kansas City (0-3-2) at Philadelphia Union (2-3-0)

This will be Sporting Kansas City’s most memorable visit to the Philadelphia Union since September 2018 and the principal meeting by and large between the sides since the quarterfinals of MLS is Back in 2020. Sporting Kansas City hasn’t won out and out at the Philadelphia Union beginning around 2013 yet won the US Open Cup on punishments after a 1-1 attract the 2015 last in Chester.

Two of the longest home streaks in MLS history were ended on Saturday when Orlando City SC defeated the Philadelphia Union 2-1. Philadelphia had won 13 consecutive MLS games at home (including playoffs), the second-longest streak in the league’s history, and had been unbeaten in 24 consecutive home games during the regular season, the third-longest streak in the league’s history.

For the second time in the club’s history, Sporting Kansas City has lost all five games (D2, L3), including two breakaway shootout defeats. The only times Sporting Kansas City has had fewer than six points after five games are this year (two points) and 1999 (no points).

On March 18, the Philadelphia Union lost 3-2 to the CF Montreal Impact, and Daniel Gazdag was involved in both of their goals. Gazdag has added to 28 objectives (17 objectives, 11 helps) starting from the start of July 2022, five a larger number of than some other player in MLS in that time, with 20 of those (13 objectives, 7 helps) coming at Subaru Park.

After Thiago Almada (113), Cucho Hernandex (113), Hany Mukhtar (111), and Lucas Zelarayan (103), Erik Thommy has been directly involved in 93 shots (58 attempts, 35 chances created) since making his MLS debut at the end of July of last year.

NFL Transactions 3-30-23

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NFL Transactions 3-30-23

The following are the NFL transactions for Thursday, March 30. Transactions will be published each day after they are circulated to NFL clubs. This public version will include waiver requests, assignments via waivers, terminations, free agent signings, reserve list and practice squad additions and deletions, and trades.

WAIVER SYSTEM TRANSACTION


TERMINATION VIA WAIVER SYSTEM

DETROIT
    Penisini, JohnNTUtah 



FREE AGENCY SYSTEM TRANSACTIONS


SIGNING:  PLAYER WHOSE CLUB RETAINED EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS

DETROIT
    Daly, ScottLSNotre Dame 


SIGNINGS:  UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

ARIZONA
    Fenton, RashadDBSouth Carolina 
         Old Club: ATLANTA
    Woods, JoshLBMaryland 
         Old Club: DETROIT

ATLANTA
    Miller, ScottWRBowling Green 
         Old Club: TAMPA BAY

CAROLINA
    Chark, D.J.WRLouisiana State 
         Old Club: DETROIT

CINCINNATI
    Smith, IrvTEAlabama 
         Old Club: MINNESOTA

CLEVELAND
    Martin, WesGIndiana 
         Old Club: WASHINGTON

LAS VEGAS
    Bars, AlexGNotre Dame 
    Carter, DeAndreWRSacramento State 
         Old Club: LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

TAMPA BAY
    McLaughlin, ChaseKIllinois 
         Old Club: INDIANAPOLIS

MLS Preview: Nashville SC (2-2-1) at Orlando City SC (2-1-2)

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MLS Preview: Nashville SC (2-2-1) at Orlando City SC (2-1-2)

The most recent meeting, in the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup last year, saw Orlando City SC advance on penalties. Six of the nine matches between Nashville SC and Orlando City SC have ended in draws across all competitions. The first time the two teams met, Orlando City SC won 3-1 at home in August 2020 (l2).

Saturday’s 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union brought an end to Orlando City SC’s five-match losing streak in all competitions. Since their five-match winning streak in August and September of last year, when they defeated Sacramento Republic in the US Open Cup Final, the Lions have not won in a row.

Nashville SC has lost three matches in a row, the third since the start of the 2021 season, making it just the fifth time in club history that they have lost consecutive matches. In the club’s history, Nashville SC has never lost three games in a row in all competitions.

At Philadelphia Union on Saturday, Orlando City SC scored twice in the first nine minutes, the second-fastest pace in the club’s MLS history (8 minutes at Toronto FC in 2021) Both goals were assisted by Mauricio Pereyra, who now has seven multi-assist MLS games, more than any other Orlando City SC player (Kaka has four).

Nashville SC has only won one of the last 16 games in which it has conceded at least one goal in all competitions (D7 L8) since late June of last season. Both of Nashville SC’s losses came by scores of 1-0, first against the New England Revolution and then at home against FC Cincinnati.

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