“There weren’t too many spells in the game where we didn’t have control of it. It’s another step in the right direction.” Carla Ward was speaking after her Aston Villa side drew 1-1 away to Manchester City last weekend. Her pride related not only to the result, but the performance. Villa enjoyed plenty of possession and largely nullified their hosts. They tried to play out from the back, and often succeeded. It was a composed display, one that signaled the club’s ongoing evolution.
The Women’s Super League comprises 12 teams, split roughly into three sections. At the top, Arsenal, Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs — City and United — challenge for the title and Champions League qualification. At the other end, there are those trying to stay clear of relegation, a group including Brighton and Hove Albion, Leicester City, Reading and Liverpool. Then there are those looking up: Everton, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur. Aston Villa, under Ward’s management, have established themselves in that middle band.
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The National Women’s Soccer League season kicks off Saturday, and for the first time in four years, the start of the season coincides with the start of the ‘season.’ In other words, after the COVID-abridged 2020 season and two years of deferring the regular season for the Challenge Cup, this time we’re getting things started with the real thing right off the bat.
The streamlining of the schedule is one of the wins for commissioner Jessica Berman during her first year on the job. On Monday, Berman held a one-hour news conference ahead of the season. Although Berman offered a positive outlook about the future of NWSL, there was not much to be said in terms of news. Among the positive nuggets is that, with a week to go until opening day, season ticket sales are already up about 20% from the end of last season. The commissioner declined to go into team-by-team specifics on ticket sales.
On April 13, the NWSL will be a decade-old in terms of playing games. For those of us who remember those prehistoric days, the growth has been remarkable. And that growth is continuing. Look no further than the $35 million valuation pinned on the Washington Spirit last year and the $50 million the league is expected to fetch for pending expansion clubs in the Bay Area and Boston. The addition of Angel City and San Diego last season cannot rationally be considered anything but a dual success at the highest level. Meanwhile, Utah Royals are already in (at a long-ago negotiated discount price), and league owners have committed investment to launch Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for all matches beginning this weekend.
It sounds like a fairytale story of a league on the precipice of an explosion in growth and popularity. But are there landmines lurking that could stunt this growth? Or, is the NWSL on a collision course with a ceiling it is unwittingly setting far too low? These questions will shape the league’s future.
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Liga MX Femenil saw the top two teams in the league battle it out for first place this weekend. While the result didn’t change the standings position, the 2-2 draw was an entertaining match for lovers of the beautiful game.
C.F. Monterrey and Chivas de Guadalajara are the teams in question. A draw means that Monterrey keeps the top spot, but only hold the slim lead by two points. Rayadas entered the match undefeated and with a win streak, no draws on the season. Chivas entered with one draw, coming against Toluca in Week 5.
Monterrey flexed their muscles in the first half, scoring two goals to put Chivas — the home side — on their heels. American Carlee Giammona, an alum of Pepperdine University, earned the first goal. Giammona is in her first season in Liga MX Femenil, signing with Monterrey this past winter. Her start against Chivas was her fourth contest of the Clausura.
Christina Burkenroad scored her 10th goal of the season and is tied with Charlyn Corral and Jenni Hermoso, both of Pachuca, for the Golden Boot. Due to assists, Burkenroad currently tops the list. The Mexican international leapt high for a header on a corner kick, getting it past a punching Blanca Félix, Chivas’ goalkeeper.
However, at home, Chivas fought back, scoring in the 37th minute to bring themselves within one goal. Damaris Godínez found the back of the net, thanks to a header that bounced her way and into the open net. Goalkeeper Alex Godínez of Rayadas came off her line to punch the ball, colliding with a Chivas and Monterrey player alike, leaving the net open.
Chivas equalized in the 69th minute, thanks to Caro Jaramillo and a cooly slotted penalty kick past the experienced Godínez. While Chivas managed to equalize, no one took the reins late in the match and the final was a draw. Monterrey holds the top spot, but by a slim margin.
Both sides don’t have easy matches in Week 11, too. Monterrey will take on a Tigres team that is looking to avoid a record-fourth loss this season, but won this past week, while Chivas will hit the road against Club América.
Highlight: Necaxa 2, Club Tijuana 3
It’s almost as if you need to hold your breath when Club Tijuana plays a match. The same team that put up two goals against Tigres in Week 9 struggled on the road against Necaxa — last place Necaxa, at that.
Necaxa, the home team, got on the board first. Samantha Calvillo was flanked between two defenders inside the box, and just inched away from goalkeeper Siena Ruelas. However, on a cross, she managed to get the ball and tap it past the goalkeeper. It was a lazy play on defense. A slide tackle for the ball would have almost ensured an interception.
However, in the back-and-forth contest, Tijuana equalized, thanks to veteran striker Renae Cuéllar in the 47th minute. Coming out of the half, Lesly González gave up a penalty to Tijuana after taking down Connie Caliz, who entered in as a halftime substitute for Johana Rosas. Cuéllar stepped up to the line and put her shot past Necaxa goalkeeper Valeria Martínez.
Three minutes later, Necaxa took the lead again. Diana Anguiano walked to the spot after a handball was called and a penalty was awarded to the home side. Anguiano shot to the right and put Tijuana back down by one.
Tijuana, once again, equalized. This time, it was Verónica Pérez who scored, shooting from about 30 yards out. It wasn’t a ‘goalazo’ by any means. The shot was taken low, and skipped through about seven players before going past Martínez. The goalkeeper made the decision to split instead of diving.
In the 74th minute, after plenty of twists and turns in the match, Paola Villamizar scored the game-winning goal. Villamizar picked up a deflected ball at the top of the box and struck on first touch, sending the ball toward the far corner of the net. Four defenders stood in front of her, or in the pathway of the ball.
Necaxa is out of Liguilla contention, but the result could have been their second win of the season. However, Xolos were able to out-muscle the home side for three valuable points.
Tijuana is a club that has settled for too many draws in the past. Three points puts them in much better playoff position down the stretch with 18 points — and gives them a chance to compete for a higher spot on the table.
Highlight: Tigres 1, Club América 0
A match between Tigres and Club América was exactly what you thought it would be: gritty, with a lot of defense. In fact, the game-winning goal didn’t come until the 100th minute.
Mia Fishel hasn’t been the scoring machine that she was in the Apertura last season. However, Fishel got her groove back with a penalty kick late in the match to earn three points against América. In her celebration, Fishel tugged her jersey and crossed her arms, signaling to América — and to the league — that she’s back to scoring.
Tigres has three losses this season, a club-first. However, despite being in fifth place, Tigres seems almost a lock for a playoff spot. Of course, there are teams with 19, 18 points behind the Amazonas. However, if Tigres can get back to their dominant form, they’ll show teams they’re still the dominant side not be messed with in the Liguilla.
News: América’s Scarlet Camberos to join Angel City FC
Scarlet Camberos is on the move to Angel City FC — although, at time of publishing, Angel City has not made an official announcement — after Liga MX Femenil confirmed she was a victim to online harassment in February. The league and Club América released a statement.
“In support of the request from our player Scarlett Camberos and in seeking to contribute to her psychological and emotional recovery, the clubs of America and Angel City FC are in the process of reaching a deal for her transfer,” Club América stated in the release. “The response from [Mexican] authorities does not give the player and her family sufficient guarantees for her emotional stability, development as a person and or for a life free of violence.”
Camberos had her social media accounts hacked into in February. América has taken legal action on behalf of Camberos, and the suspect — identified as “Jose Andres N” — was sentenced to 36 hours of house arrest.
Due to concerns about her safety, América and Angel City FC agreed to the transfer. Camberos — a dual national from Los Angeles who chose to represent the Mexican women’s national team — leaves after one-and-a-half seasons in Liga MX Femenil. A former UC Irvine college player, Camberos joined Club América in January 2022 after college. She has scored 16 regular-season goals, with a career best 11 in the Clausura 2022 season.
She will be the 26th player on Angel City FC’s roster, once officially announced.
Other Clausura Week 10 Scores
Atlas 1-1 UNAM Pumas
FC Juárez 3-2 Atlético San Luis
Cruz Azul 2-2 Club León
Puebla 1-1 Querétaro
Santos Laguna 0-2 Toluca
Pachuca 2-0 Mazatlán
Liga MX Femenil Clausura 2023 Table | Week 10
NOTE: The top eight teams in Liga MX Femenil will qualify for the Liguilla, which are the playoffs.
Team
W
D
L
GA
GD
PTS
C.F. Monterrey
9
1
0
3
27
28
Chivas de Guadalajara
8
2
0
8
18
26
Club América
7
2
1
5
28
23
Pachuca
7
0
3
15
14
21
UANL Tigres
7
0
3
10
13
21
FC Juárez
6
1
3
10
10
19
Club Tijuana
5
3
2
11
2
18
Atlas
4
1
5
25
-10
13
Cruz Azul
2
5
3
12
0
11
Atlético San Luis
3
2
5
18
-2
11
UNAM Pumas
2
4
4
16
-2
10
Querétaro
2
4
4
8
-2
10
Santos Laguna
2
3
5
18
-8
9
Toluca
2
3
5
19
-9
9
Club León
2
2
6
20
-11
8
Puebla
2
2
6
21
-14
8
Mazatlán
1
1
8
35
-31
4
Necaxa
1
0
9
28
-23
3
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Looking Ahead: Clausura 2023 | Week 11
*All Times in Eastern Time.All matches on ViX streaming for free.
Friday, March 24: Club América vs. Chivas de Guadalajara at 9 PM
Friday, March 24: Querétaro vs. UNAM Pumas at 11:05 PM
Saturday, March 25: Cruz Azul vs. FC Juárez at 2 PM
Saturday, March 25: Pachuca vs. Club Tijuana at 7 PM
Saturday, March 25: C.F. Monterrey vs. UANL Tigres at 11 PM
Sunday, March 26: Toluca vs. Mazatlán at 2 PM
Sunday, March 26: Santos Laguna vs. Atlas at 7 PM
Sunday, March 26: Atlético San Luis vs. Necaxa at 7 PM
