Liga MX Femenil Liguilla race nearing thrilling finale

MIAMI, Florida – The Liguilla of the Liga MX Femenil is around the corner, and with five teams already qualified by the start of week 15 of the regular season, there were just three spots left up for grabs going into the matchday.

The sixth ticket to the Liguilla now has a name. Atlas qualified for the next round of the Clausura 2023 after downing current leaders Monterrey 3-2 on Friday evening. The Rojinegras started the scoring in the 43’ when Costa Rica international Carolina Venegas scored on a header. Just minutes after that, in the 45’, Chinwendu Ihezuo evened things out for Rayadas after a mistake from the Atlas goalkeeper.

In the 52’, Venegas showed up for her team again, this time scoring from outside the area. But Rayadas kept attacking, getting their reward in the 69’, with Aylin Avilez sending it to the back of the net after a great collective play. When the whole stadium thought the sides would leave with a draw, Alejandra Lomeli surprised everyone by stealing a ball and scoring the third goal that got Atlas into the Liguilla.

After a great start to the season, FC Juarez has had some trouble in the last few weeks, but they are still in the Liguilla mix after defeating Necaxa 1-0 on Monday afternoon. The only goal of the day came from the boots of Jasmine Casarez in the 9’. She recovered the ball, drove it all the way into Necaxa’s area and scored to give her team a much-needed win.

Liga Femenina Costa Rica

With just one week left in the Apertura 2023 of Costa Rica, the Clasico was played on Friday evening, giving fans one of the best games so far this season, with current champions LD Alajuelense marching past league leaders Saprissa FF 0-3.

La Sele legend Shirley Cruz opened up the scoring in the 25’. Alexandra Pinell came to the fore in the second half, in the 69’, scoring a rocket from outside the area. Kenia Rangel then closed out the game in the 73’, when she collected a short pass from Panama international Natalia Mills and finished.

COFUTPA got their second win of the season on Friday evening by downing Municipal Perez Zeledon 2-1. The game started with a Perez Zeledon goal in the 9’ through Laura Vargas. COFUTPA battled their way back into it in the 43’, as Ivonne Rodriguez equalized the game.

COFUTPA then completed the comeback in the 65’ when Melody Guerrero sent the ball to the back of the net, putting her team ahead. Perez Zeledon tried to even things out, but it wasn’t enough, as COFUTPA won for just the second time this season.

NWSL

It was another great weekend for the NWSL, which celebrated its 1,000th match among a number of exciting contests.

Current league champions, OL Reign, topped the Houston Dash 2-0 on Saturday evening, earning their 100th regular season win as a team. The first goal came in the 53’ thanks to Veronica Latsko, who was ready in the area to receive a pass from Megan Rapinoe, sending the ball to the back of the net.

Canada international Jordyn Huitema then doubled the advantage, scoring a header in the 53’ after a great collective play, helping send her side to the top of the standings.

Records were also broken on Saturday evening when the Washington Spirit defeated the San Diego Wave 3-1. The first goal came in the 55’ thanks to a great team build-up, finished by Trinity Rodman, who received a pass outside the area and finished with a right-footed shot.

Rodman then made history by becoming the youngest player in the NWSL to have 10 goals and 10 assists after she assisted Ashley Sanchez in the 70’, who scored a banger to give her team their second goal. The third and final one from the Spirit came from a header by Paige Metayer after a corner kick in the 79’. Alex Morgan was able to pull one back for San Diego in the 90’, after a defensive mistake from the Spirit.