The Courage shut out the Reign 1-0 to climb above playoff line
Forward Gianna Paul scored her first National Women's Soccer League goal to lift the North Carolina Courage over the Seattle Reign 1-0 on Friday night. In the first game of the NWSL’s Friday lineup, the San Diego Wave beat the Orlando Pride 2-1.
Gianna Paul became the first player in the National Women's Soccer League to score a goal, as the North Carolina Courage edged out the Seattle Reign 1-0 on Friday night. The San Diego Wave also secured their playoff berth, defeating the Orlando Pride 2-1 in the other NWSL match of the night.
Paul's only goal of the game came in the 48th minute after a deflected shot found the back of the net. Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan kept her team in the game with five saves, earning her eighth clean sheet of the season.
With the win, the Courage climbed above the playoff line and are now sitting seventh in the standings. The loss snapped the Reign's seven-match home unbeaten streak, dropping them to ninth place and below the playoff threshold.
Elsewhere, the Wave claimed the second playoff spot of the night. Goals from Lia Godfrey and Gia Corley gave the Wave a 2-1 win over Orlando. Kennedy Wesley's foul in the box led to Barbra Banda's penalty kick, which narrowed the gap to 2-1 for the Pride.
Seattle's loss marks their second consecutive home defeat. The Wave joins Gotham FC as the first two teams to secure playoff berths in the NWSL.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- The Courage shut out the Reign 1-0 to climb above playoff line winnipegfreepress.com
