On Sunday, San Diego Wave FC defeated Chicago Red Stars 2-1 in the NWSL playoffs. After normal finished in a 1-1 tie in front of an NWSL playoff-record crowd of 26,215 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego,
the two clubs required extra time to choose a champion. For the hosts, Alex Morgan scored the game-winning goal in extra time.
Chicago’s goal came after an error by Wave FC goalie Kalien Sheridan, which led to a deft chip by Red Stars attacker Yuki Nagasato. The early goal aided the Red Stars’ momentum in the game, as they had 53 percent of the possession compared to San Diego’s 46 percent at halftime. Chicago, though, was unable to convert the game-winning goal.
IT ABSOLUTELY HAD TO BE ALEX MORGAN. 💥
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) October 17, 2022
The NWSL Golden Boot winner scores in the 110TH MINUTE to put San Diego in the lead. 💪 pic.twitter.com/r4cBImW2Ll
Attendance at the NWSL Playoffs The record is broken twice in one night.
Six clubs advanced to the National Women’s Soccer League postseason for the first time in league history. The quarterfinal matches were held in Houston and San Diego on Sunday night, and both cities established an all-time playoff record on the same night.
Houstonians turn out in record numbers.
The fourth-seeded Houston Dash faced the sixth-seeded KC Current in a 4:00 PM Central Time start at PNC Stadium. Fans in Texas and elsewhere thanked both clubs by purchasing the game.
The NWSL announced that the Houston audience totaled 21,284 people, making the game a sellout and setting a new league attendance record.
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A NEW RECORD 🤠 pic.twitter.com/HdG6lIcMYI
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 16, 2022
Houston fell down early against Kansas City until midfielder Sophie Schmid scored the first goal in Dash playoff history. The KC Current advanced to the semifinals against the OL Reign after scoring in the 10th minute of stoppage time.
The semifinals game at Lumen Field in Seattle, WA, will air on CBS Sports Network on Sunday, October 23, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Dash reported last week that they had sold over 14,000 tickets, breaking their previous home attendance record of 13,025 set on July 12, 2015, versus the Chicago Red Stars.
Alex Morgan scores for San Diego! Ten minutes left and the expansion side has the go-ahead goal!#SDvCHI | 2 – 1 pic.twitter.com/VC5qBAU6vK
— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) October 17, 2022
On Sunday at Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego Wave FC defeated the Chicago Red Stars 2-1 after extra time in the first round of the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League playoffs.
The game-winning goal was scored by Alex Morgan. On Oct. 23, the Wave will travel to Portland Thorns FC for the semifinals.
San Diego won their first playoff game in its debut season in front of a league-record playoff crowd of 26,215 people, shattering a mark established just hours earlier by the Houston Dash against the Kansas City Current. Kansas City advanced with a 2-1 victory.
The Short Version: The Red Stars took an early lead in this match, but San Diego equalized in the second half. Ninety minutes could not break the tie.
Inside the Game: The first goal came early in regulation time, after a flurry of opportunities. Yuki Nagasato chipped Kailen Sheridan only 10 minutes in to put Chicago on the board.
It was a poor error by Sheridan to pass the ball right to Nagasto in the center of the field at the top of the 18-yard box, and it was not a mistake Sheridan normally makes, but Nagasato kept her cool and punished the Wave.
Emily van Egmond, who was only 45 minutes shy of an ironwoman regular season, scored the equalizer in the 67th minute on a deflected cross.
NWSL playoffs: San Diego and Kansas City advance with last-second victories
The San Diego Wave defeated the Chicago Red Stars 2–1.
In the 110th minute, Alex Morgan scored past fellow US national team veteran Alyssa Naeher to secure the upstart San Diego Wave a 2-1 triumph against the Chicago Red Stars in their first-ever NWSL playoff game.
Yuki Nagasato scored for No. 6 seed Chicago in the 10th minute, capitalizing on a rare mistake by San Diego goalkeeper Kail Sheridan. Emily van Egmond of the No. 3 seed Wave leveled the game in the 67th minute, scoring her first goal in the NWSL since 2014 and exciting the crowd of 26,215 supporters – the most for a playoff game in league history.
Houston Dash 1, Kansas City Current 2
Kansas City’s Kate Del Fava scored in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time to ruin Houston’s first playoff game after nine years in the NWSL.
Lo’eau LaBonta put Kansas City ahead with a penalty kick in the fifth minute, which she followed with her newest viral goal celebration. Sophie Schmidt equalized in the 21st minute for Houston.
The Dash announced a crowd of 21,284 supporters, breaking the team’s all-time attendance record. The actual attendance was not so high, but it was more than the previous record of 13,025.
In Sunday’s second semifinal, Kansas City will face this year’s top seed, Seattle’s OL Reign (7:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network). It will be the first time.
How do the NWSL Playoffs work?
The top six clubs in the NWSL season’s final standings qualify for the playoffs and are seeded in order of record; the top two teams earn a first-round bye. Prior to 2021, the playoffs were only open to the top four clubs.
Who is in the NWSL playoffs?
The top six clubs in the final standings at the end of the NWSL season qualify for the playoffs and are seeded in order of record; the top two teams earn a first-round bye. Prior to 2021, only the top four clubs qualified for the playoffs.
Where can I Watch San Diego Wave?
Watching Red Stars at Wave: NWSL Live Stream, TV Channel
How to See the Chicago Red Stars Play the San Diego Wave Today:
Date of the match: October 16, 2022.
Match begins at 10:00 p.m. ET.
CBSSN is the channel.
FuboTV will broadcast the Chicago Red Stars vs. San Diego Wave match live: Begin your free trial now!
How much does an NWSL franchise cost?
The NWSL intends to expand to 14 clubs, with some estimating that the 14th club expansion fee will be over $40 million, in line with the other top NWSL franchise values. When you devote resources to women’s sports, the fans flock in droves.
Which women’s soccer league is the best?
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is the top level of women’s professional soccer in the United States. It was founded in 2012 as a successor to Women’s Professional Soccer and was managed by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) until 2020, when it became self-governing.
