2021 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship

Last updated

2021 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship
Event 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup
Portland Thorns FC NJ/NY Gotham FC
11
Portland Thorns FC won 6–5 on penalties
DateMay 8, 2021 (2021-05-08)
Venue Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
Player of the Match Adrianna Franch, POR
Referee Natalie Simon
← 2020
2022 →

The 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship, the final match of the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, [1] was a soccer match held on May 8, 2021 at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, United States. [2] It was contested by Portland Thorns FC and NJ/NY Gotham FC, the winners of the West and East Divisions, respectively, of the Challenge Cup. The match finished drawn 1–1 after 90 minutes, with the rules specifying that the teams would not play extra time but would instead proceed to a penalty shootout. The Thorns won the shootout 6–5 after 7 rounds, thus winning the Challenge Cup. [3]

Contents

Road to the final

Portland Thorns FC won the right to host the final by finishing with the best record across both divisions. [4]

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first.

Portland Thorns FC Round NJ/NY Gotham FC
OpponentResultDivisional playOpponentResult
Kansas City 2–1Match 1 Orlando Pride 1–0
Chicago Red Stars 1–0Match 2 North Carolina Courage 4–3
OL Reign 2–0Match 3 Washington Spirit 0–0
Houston Dash 1–1Match 4 Racing Louisville FC 0–0
PosTeam
PldPts
1 Portland Thorns FC 410
2 OL Reign 47
3 Houston Dash 46
4 Chicago Red Stars 42
5 Kansas City 41
Source: NWSL
Final standings
PosTeam
PldPts
1 NJ/NY Gotham FC 48
2 North Carolina Courage 47
3 Orlando Pride 45
4 Washington Spirit 44
5 Racing Louisville FC 42
Source: NWSL

Match

Details

Portland struck first, with Christine Sinclair winning the ball near midfield and then scoring from just outside Gotham's penalty box in the 8th minute. Portland generated several more chances in the first half but Gotham's defense successfully kept the score 1-0 until halftime. In the 61st minute, Carli Lloyd scored a header on a cross from Imani Dorsey, evening the match at 1-1. That score held until the end of the 90 minutes of regulation time. Tournament rules specified that there would be no extra time, so the match proceeded to a penalty shootout. In the first five rounds, each team had a shot rebound back off the crossbar—one by Jennifer Cudjoe for Gotham and one by Meghan Klingenberg for the Thorns. Both teams made their sixth-round shots, but in the seventh round, Nahomi Kawasumi of Gotham had her shot saved by Thorns goalkeeper Adrianna Franch. Morgan Weaver of the Thorns scored on her seventh-round attempt, winning the game and the 2021 Challenge Cup for Portland. [3]


Portland Thorns FC 1–1 NJ/NY Gotham FC
  • Sinclair Soccerball shade.svg8'
  • Charley Yellow card.svg 79'
 Report
Penalties
6–5
Providence Park , Portland, Oregon
Referee: Natalie Simon

Player of the Match:
Adrianna Franch, POR [5]
Assistant referees:
Brooke Mayo
Deleana Quan
Fourth official:
Karen Callado
Reserve assistant referee:
Rachel Smith

Match rules

Broadcasting

The match aired on CBS and Paramount+ in the United States, and on Twitch internationally. [2] JP Dellacamera and Aly Wagner served as play-by-play announcer and analyst respectively on CBS, while Josh Eastern and Kaylyn Kyle did the same on Twitch. Marisa Pilla was the on-field reporter. CBS Sports soccer reporter Sandra Herrera and studio host Poppy Miller hosted the pre- and post-game shows on CBS Sports HQ along with Aly Wagner and Lori Lindsey.

Notes

  1. ↑ Each team was given only three opportunities to make substitutions, excluding substitutions made at half-time.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NJ/NY Gotham FC</span> Soccer team

NJ/NY Gotham FC is a professional women's soccer team based in Harrison, New Jersey. Founded in 2006 as Jersey Sky Blue, the team was known as Sky Blue FC from 2008 until 2020. A founding member of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in 2013, Sky Blue FC also played in the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) from 2009 to 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Women's Soccer League</span> Professional soccer league, highest level of womens soccer in the United States

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a professional women's soccer league at the top of the United States league system. Headquartered in New York City, it is owned by the teams and, until 2020, was under a management contract with the United States Soccer Federation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Thorns FC</span> Soccer team and National Womens Soccer League franchise in Portland, Oregon

The Portland Thorns FC is an American professional women's soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. Established in 2012, the team began play in 2013 in the then-eight-team National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), which received support from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The Portland franchise is owned by Peregrine Sports LLC, which also owns the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer (MLS). Alongside the Thorns, the Houston Dash and Orlando Pride are other NWSL teams with MLS affiliations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mana Shim</span> American soccer midfielder (born 1991)

Meleana Lokahi "Mana" Shim is an American women's soccer player and athlete advocate. Shim plays as a midfielder for NJ/NY Gotham FC, and previously spent most of her senior career with Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). After the revelations of the Yates Report, Shim was named chairperson of a new Participant Safety Taskforce at U.S. Soccer.

The following is a compilation of notable records and statistics for teams and players in the National Women's Soccer League, which started in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophia Smith (soccer, born 2000)</span> American soccer player (born 2000)

Sophia Olivia Smith is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Portland Thorns FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She played collegiate soccer for Stanford University, helping the Cardinal win the national championship in 2019. Smith was the #1 overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margaret Purce</span> American soccer player

Margaret Melinda Williams-Purce is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She previously played for Portland Thorns FC and the Boston Breakers. She played college soccer at Harvard University.

Freya Coombe is an English football manager and ex-player who formerly managed NJ/NY Gotham FC and Angel City FC of the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a professional women's soccer league owned by the teams, and under a management contract with the United States Soccer Federation. At the top of the United States league system, it represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The NWSL was established in 2012 as a successor to Women's Professional Soccer (2007–2012), which was itself the successor to Women's United Soccer Association (2001–2003). The league began play in 2013 with eight teams, four of which were former members of Women's Professional Soccer.

Marissa Everett is an American retired soccer player who played as a forward for Portland Thorns FC.

The 2021 National Women's Soccer League season was the ninth season of the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Including the NWSL's two professional predecessors, Women's Professional Soccer (2009–2011) and the Women's United Soccer Association (2001–2003), it is the 15th overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 NWSL Challenge Cup</span> Second edition of top womens soccer league cup in the United States

The 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup was a league cup tournament that took place during the 2021 National Women's Soccer League season. It began on April 9 and ended May 8, one week before the start of the regular season. It was the second iteration of the NWSL Challenge Cup tournament, which had started in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and was announced as a regular event later in 2020. Portland Thorns FC won the 2021 final over NJ/NY Gotham FC in a penalty shootout.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MLS Cup 2021</span> 2021 edition of the MLS Cup

MLS Cup 2021 was the 26th edition of the MLS Cup, the championship match of Major League Soccer (MLS) at the conclusion of the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. The soccer match was played on December 11, 2021, at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, United States. It was contested by hosts Portland Timbers and New York City FC to determine the champion of the 2021 season.

The 2021 NJ/NY Gotham FC season was the team's twelfth season as a professional women's soccer team and their ninth season as a member of the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. It is the first season following the club's change of name from Sky Blue FC, which it played under from 2007 to 2020.

The 2021 Racing Louisville FC season was the club's first season of play. Racing Louisville competed in the National Women's Soccer League, the top flight of professional women's soccer in the United States.

The 2021 Houston Dash season was the team's eighth season as an American professional women's soccer team in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

The 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship, the final match of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup, was contested by North Carolina Courage and Washington Spirit.

The 2022 Portland Thorns FC season was the team's tenth season as a professional women's soccer team. Thorns FC plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.

The 2021 Portland Thorns FC season was the team's ninth season as a professional women's soccer team. Thorns FC plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.

References

  1. ↑ "2021 NWSL CHALLENGE CUP SET TO BE PLAYED IN HOME MARKETS; KICKOFF SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 9". NWSL. January 27, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "NWSL Announces 2021 Challenge Cup Presented by Secret Opener in Houston". NWSL. March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Donovan, Mike (May 8, 2021). "Challenge Cup Championship Recap | Portland Thorns FC 1 (6), NJ/NY Gotham FC 1 (5)". Portland Thorns FC. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  4. ↑ Tannenwald, Jonathan (May 4, 2021). "Union offer to host NWSL Challenge Cup final at Subaru Park if game has to be moved from Portland". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  5. ↑ @NWSL (May 8, 2021). "AD, this Bud is for you 🍻@ADizzle23 is your @budweiserusa Player of the Match!#CC21" (Tweet) – via Twitter.