SoccerWise - Weekend Recap Chaos Atop NWSL & Despair For LAG/MTL

Episode Date: May 5, 2025

David brings you the weekend recap with all the biggest highlights from across NWSL & MLS. The top four in NWSL all faltered this weekend in some wild games headlined by Angel City's 4-3 win at Row-di in DC. Then in MLS David digs in to the historically bad start for LA Galaxy & Montreal and then talked through the high flying attacks in the Eastern Conference. Soccerwise Live 2pm ET Every Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday on Youtube/Twitch/Twitter

Hey everybody, welcome back to Soccer Wise, your weekend recap. David Goss with you. We've got another big week of action coming up here on Soccer Wise. Tommy Scoops and Jordan Angeley back with me after a little bit of in and out. We had some really fun episodes last week. The Legend Charlie Bohm joining me on Thursday to recap all things Vancouver Whitecaps, talk about some of the highlights of the MLS season. Partie Catrie joining me on Wednesday to talk through the new NWSL Division 2 as well as the biggest storylines of the NWSL season so far. We've got US Open Cup coming up this week.

MLS joining the fray for the first time. So some really fun USL Championship, USL League one against MLS matchups coming up this week, which I think is one of the parts of the tournament we all enjoy. It's one of the ones we all missed when Major League Soccer decided that they were better than the US Open Cup and they want to pull their teams out and potentially ruin what is, I would argue, the best part of soccer in the United States. And so we are back at least a little bit closer and it is going to be a really fun week. We saw some awesome environments in USL this weekend. Portland Hearts of Pine finally opened their what will be permanent stadium after playing

temporary facilities for home games in the US Open Cup and man Rhode Island finally opening up Tidewater Stadium. It has been in the process being built for a few years now. It is an unbelievable soccer facility to have in Rhode Island. It just shows the growth of the game. I know as someone who went to college up in Boston with a lot of friends from Rhode Island, you would never have thought robust lower division soccer being successful, being a fixture in the community in the area. But the youth levels are there. We have seen the talent come out of the region and now it is awesome to see it happening at the pro rank. So we're going to talk about all of that throughout the course of this week. And of course we will have your MLS and NWSL coverage. Let's get you the headlines from the weekend and NWSL.

It is a very simple phrase. We know absolutely nothing. We know this league is filled with chaos. We know NWSL after dark. We know all the different things that can happen. But last year we have talked about it a number of times. The top four were so clearly the top four and outside of that for most of the season the top two were so clearly the top two. Orlando setting records in undefeated

streaks in shutout streaks in wins in basically every category you can. Kansas City going toe to toe with them for over half the season and Washington and Gotham right in line with them. Well this weekend all four of those teams I just mentioned they went they entered the weekend as the top four teams in NWSL. Three of the four of them lost two of them did so at home and Gotham drew a Chicago team that just fired their manager 0-0 at home as well. So upsets galore, chaos galore, and I think it shows what's indicative of this season, that it is much closer. That the teams in the bottom half of the table have gotten better, have gotten more cohesive, have clearer ideas of how they want to play, and you could say the teams at the top maybe are less dominant than what we saw last year,

whether that's because of injuries, which was a huge storyline, or because of the inability to keep the full rosters together, players retiring, players moving on. I think all of it mixes together for what has been a really, really fun league and really, really fun season. And we saw all of it on display on Friday night.

Angel City, young team, still under a temporary manager after announcing that their full-time manager will come over from Bayern Munich later in the summer. Friday night. Angel City, young team, still under a temporary manager after announcing that their full-time manager will come over from Bayern Munich later in the summer. You had just gone on the road to Orlando. You went up 2-0 last week against the reigning champions and you fell 3-2. The biggest comeback in Orlando City history, Angel City, had to carry that with them into this week in which they went on the road to play. The other finalists from last year in the Washington spirit, Washington heavy injuries still to deal with Lacey Santos added to that

list. Unfortunately for this weekend's game, so unavailable, but Angel City put on another show. They went up to zero. They gave up another two goal lead to make it two, two. They went up three, two. They gave up another goal to make it three three. But in the end, Riley Tiernan, her second goal of the game gets the winner. A Rutgers grad playing in front of her sister who also scored a goal in NWSL in her career in Madison.

Tiernan as well as her full family we saw in the crowd at the game supporting her. It was an unbelievable performance. The first goal, magical to go out, to make the run down the left channel and create the opportunity. And then the late goal to help this team where you have seen the talent,

you have seen the breakthrough, you have seen the ability to be a competitive team in NWSL, but they have not been able to put it together. Sam Lady talked about this at halftime of this game coming out of last game, the ability to close out performances. That wasn't what was on display, but I think you talk about the spirit and the fight to be able to close this out, to be able to still get the result to not be so negative, giving up the goals that you gave up to continue to play your soccer. They have such an ability in the open field to break out and create chances, especially

what they're attacking front three, Kennedy Fuller sort of providing for that front three Katie's a lem was incredible in this game had a goal herself that was as well taken as you will see receives it from the right rolls over going to the left and places it in the goal and I think Kennedy once again continuing to carry this group in central midfield some really cool um piece of history as well I talked about Tiernan and her sister scoring Um, piece of history as well. I talk about Tiernan and her sister scoring the Thompson twins or the Thompson sisters, excuse me, have now both officially scored in NWSL play. Giselle Thompson gets the goal off an assist from Alyssa Thompson. It was a great goal. Alyssa Thompson gets out wide left. Giselle Thompson makes the run in from the right fullback

spot across the six. Alyssa Thompson with the cross waist height and Giselle able to contort her body, get the outside of her right foot on the ball and see it pass the goalkeeper who was not Aubrey Kingsbury in this one. This is a big talking point coming out of this one. Alexandra Elena McIver, Scottish international goalkeeper brought over to be the backup to Kingsbury was we were told quote earned the spot to be the starter Aubrey Kingsbury I think has been one of if not the best goalkeepers in NWSL over the last two years but especially in this run under Yonatan Giraldez who was suspended for this game and Adrian Gonzalez who had started out as manager last year and was the head manager for this match. Of course not making that decision in a vacuum.

And I wouldn't say McIver was at fault for any of these goals. I think a lot of it was action around her and there's not much she can do about it. But I think it's something that's definitely going to be looked at. Croi Bethune thankfully made her return in this game for Washington. There's a moment where she peels out into the right channel ball over the top. She's able to get out on the run and you felt that excitement that energy from the crowd at Rowdy knowing this is what could be and this is what we saw last year. So something to look forward to for this team as Washington continues to just try and hold the fort and they've done so really well being as I said in the top

four coming into this weekend without all the players they're missing. Hal Hirschfeld a huge miss Lacey Santos on top of that and that doesn't even include the conversations around a Trinity Rodman and an Ulay Saar. Everyone though as I said at the top of the table struggling this weekend Casey Currant going on the road to Seattle on Friday night. They lose to Lynn B and dolo's first goal of her Seattle career. It was a goal off a set piece knocked down. Being dolo slams it into the back of the net and Seattle over the course of the game very clean in their defensive lines. Went with the back five under Laura Harvey.

It has gotten better and better as the weeks have gone along. I think being dolo gives them an outlet as well that makes it easier to play that way. You don't have to defend for as long of sequences of time. And Casey Currant dealing with the injury bug now themselves. No Schwinga in this one after coming off injured in the last game. That is huge to note. The leader, of course, atop the Golden Boot race, the XG race, I think the MVP race, every single thing inside of that, but that comes on top of Michelle Cooper's injury that we've seen this KC team have to deal with and shell Prince out this game as well.

So one of the players who has stepped in for Cooper in Prince unavailable, that's three of your attacking options out. So we saw Haley Hopkins once again, we know about the versatility of Dabinha. We know about the versatility of DiBernardo. So this is a KC team that should still expect results not able to get it done this weekend. And then Orlando, they also go to the Pacific Northwest. They go to Portland and lose rotation from Orlando more optional than forced. We saw changes at center back, both fullback positions and then in the central midfield left wing spot where they have moved pieces around.

But this has sort of been the rotations for Sabheim so far this season and Portland were awesome in this game. They've been really fun to watch. They've been really impressive. The young attack has been really good. But Ali do the Canadian international coming over from Benfica has been a really nice addition to the attacking front three. And one of the things I love about this Portland group with all their young attackers, you've got rookies, you've got players who are in their second

year who are making a difference is we are seeing the full extent of Sam Coffey's ability on both sides of the ball. We already knew ball dominant ball winner. We already knew ability to cover ground. We already knew that she could be an option, be close, come and recycle possession and play quick passes. But you're seeing the through balls. You're seeing her intelligence to go and get quick throw ins and take quick restarts to

restart the attack when she sees openings to push into the attacking play as well. It has been awesome to just watch Sam Coffey be the leader of this group and this young talent come along with her. Reynia Reyes, unbelievable goal in this one. Not one you would fully expect from the starting fullback. And this wasn't a flash in the pan. Portland went toe to toe with Orlando throughout the game. Both teams could have scored more. I think a fair result in Portland getting the win. And once again, it's not going to be consistent from this Portland group because they're so young and inexperienced, but it is talented and they are must watch every week. And I think for their fan base, that is a welcome result. And I think for their team, it puts them in every game and they can go on the field every single game knowing they've got a chance. Olivia Moultrie, another fantastic

performance for her. So you see these young attackers carrying this group. For Gotham, a disappointing performance. No Jess Carter for this one, a huge loss for them. So Neely Martin playing her third starting position of the season so far. Gabby Porcio out as well. So Jace got the start in this one. The attack doesn't come together for this team and this Gotham team, I think a disappointing zero zero draw. And for Chicago, you get the emotional boost coming out of losing your manager

that maybe this starts to be the results you expect. They look much healthier as well. They don't have, as we've said, as many resources that they've put into their roster, but you'd like to see all of them at a minimum be available for them. A funny little note in this one, Midge Pearse made her Broadway debut in the show, Chicago,

and then her team went out and played against Chicago in NWSL action. I am a Broadway nerd. Midge Pearse plays the legendary character Velma Kelly, who opens the show, gives the exposition. It's one of the iconic characters in all of Broadway, I would say. An epic to see an NWSL star get that opportunity, show her talent. She has spoken on a couple different interviews about this sort of sabbatical that she had last year in which she had the injury. She was still able to go out and do things in the world, just couldn't play soccer.

And so had this moment where she stepped away from the game, thought about other parts of her life, other facets. We have seen her coming back into the game now, looking fully energized. She has attacked every game she's gotten out there on the field and now to see her do it off the field as well is really, really cool. Last big game to close out on for the weekend,

North Carolina got a second win after their first victory of the year against Kansas City last year. the field as well is really really cool. Last big game to close out on for the weekend, North Carolina got a second win after their first victory of the year against Kansas City last year, so that's a big result. Houston gets a back-to-back victory as well, but San Diego, they have been the team to watch so far. It was a really fun match against Bay in an all-California affair. It was an early goal for Wesley McNabb equalized by Karli Lima a really well taken goal for Bay. But this game was all San Diego. They hit the post twice. They had a penalty kick saved Delphine Cascareño drew it Maria Sanchez had her shot saved by Jordan Silkowitz an unbelievable full extension save in the bottom right corner to keep Bay

in it. But this game was all San Diego and once again, Cascorino and Corley are must watch, worth the price of admission. They're creating chances, Cascorino this game coming in off the wing creating chances, getting out wide, just that extra burst. When you see someone in central midfield wait a through ball for Cascorino, if she catches up to at a similar time as the defender, often that's where an attacking player will choose to pull back, recycle possession because you've already lost the foot race or maybe at that time you try and cut inside to see if you can get a defender

off weight and be able to create an opening. Cascarino waits a half second and then explodes past her defender to the end line, creates chances out of that over and over again and defenders have to be on their heels because Casparino can come inside, which is what we saw on the penalty kick that she drew. In the end it was the young defender Trinity Armstrong who they have so much promise for, who looked very good at center back, got misfooted by Lima's goal in which Armstrong stepped a little too strong to try and intercept the pass. It allowed Lima to take her first touch past Armstrong and create the goal in the first half. Armstrong heads the corner kick down into the ground and is

able to get it to bounce just over the outstretched fingertip of Silkowitz and get her team the goal and the victory as San Diego move into the top four in NWSL. Well on the Major League Soccer side of things we could talk about the top like we did with NWSL but I think you have to start at the bottom. The LA Galaxy and Montreal still winless 11 matches in to the 2025 season. I did not perfect any of this, but I went back and looked and my understanding is this is probably the worst start in major league history for multiple teams at the same time. The 2019 Rapids went winless in their first 11 matches as did 2007 RSL. Every other team had at least two wins in 2007. In 2019, on one other team, I think

it was Cincinnati had one win, and everyone else had at least two as well. So to have two teams at the same time be winless this far into the season is pretty incredible. And the way the LA Galaxy did it this weekend is the cherry on top. Sporting Kansas City had zero shots in their 1-0 victory over the LA Galaxy at home. Yes, this is not that Sporting Kansas City didn't score their own goal because the lone goal in this game was an own goal from the LA Galaxy, Maya Yoshida putting it in his own net. It's not that they didn't score a goal actively, one of the players. It's not that they didn't have a shot on goal. Sporting Kansas City did not attempt a shot in this game and they won the game 1-0. It's the first time in Sporting Kansas City history that they've never, uh, that

they've had a match where they did not attempt a single shot. It is the first time in Major League Soccer history that a team has won a game without attempting a single shot. And from a lot of the research I'm seeing, this might be the first time in any of the leagues that any of us follow or keep any sort of data that this has happened. It is a new low for the LA Galaxy. It had one good chance for John Nelson in this one. Payne still picked up a yellow early on for diving and then went off with an injury late in this one, Payne still picked up a yellow early on for diving and then went off with an injury late in this game, as did Gabrielle Peck. So you've got one DP on the sideline for most if not all of this season you already knew in Ricky Pooj and now the potential that Gabrielle Peck and

Joseph Payne still could also be out with injury as you try and find any sort of victory. And on top of that, listen to the scheduled rest of this month for this Galaxy team. This weekend, they travel to New York for an MLS Cup rematch against the New York Red Bulls, a Red Bulls team that hasn't been in perfect form, but a high level match. Then you go to Philadelphia, a team who just beat Montreal, who are also winless,

we'll talk about in a moment moment currently sitting second in the Eastern Conference You come home as the galaxy for an L Trafico against LAFC then you travel for a rematch against the successful expansion site San Diego who beat you at home To open the season and then to follow that the galaxy come back home for a Cali the season and then to follow that the Galaxy come back home for a Cali Classico against San Jose and finish the month at home to RSL which is probably the most winnable of all these games. It's MLS you never know what's gonna happen results make no sense it's wacky it's crazy both these leagues are but that is not the schedule you want to see for a team that is winless that is

asking the question Can they turn it around? How do they turn it around? We have a thousand questions in our discord chat about Greg Vanni and his future and his potential with this team And what is the point of no return and all of that? So me and Tom will dig into that a little bit more tomorrow as I said Philadelphia knocked off Montreal so Montreal the other winless team one in the East one in the West in Philadelphia now Sit in second place in the Eastern Conference a really strong performance for this group once again I thought Dan Lee Jean Jacques was awesome in this game in midfield for this

Philadelphia team in D. Vasilev stepping into the guys dog role has looked really really good Indy Vasilev stepping into the Gazdag role has looked really really good for this Philadelphia team as well as they continue to put together high level performances for Montreal. The one good news Giacomo Veroni a goal now in his second straight game winning Canadian Championship play against TFC and now one in league play the lone DP on this roster. They are hoping to be able to get a ton of offensive production out of him and try and make life a little bit easier for some of the young players on this team. Coming into the weekend, we highlighted the San Jose Portland match as a potential high offensive game and boy did it deliver. San Jose three goals in like a 15 minute span in the first half, a 3-1 win for the Quakes. Espinoza got pushed higher into the attack with the

absence of Joseph Martinez as well as with the addition now of Dewan Jones who played down the right side in a 3-4-3 setup whatever you want to call it for this San Jose team and you saw the best of Christian Espinoza getting on the end of all the pullbacks that this team creates with their with Abel able to get shooting opportunities from the left and the right side put away an early goal for this team. They were rampant in that first half cruising and this Portland team just looked a step slow. In this one, you could say they struggle defensively. You could talk about some of the individual issues. I thought Kamal Miller had

another tough game in this one. You see the deficiencies of Bravo when he's out there on the field but overall this was a Portland team that should fit a matchup like this they want to play open games they want to play in the attack and it did not feel like they were ready for the speed and the energy in this matchup of this San Jose team so another big result for San Jose. They're not the only team in California pouring in the goal. San Diego, five zero win over FC Dallas,

a Dallas team with an emotional win last week against Miami. Chucky Lozano had the PK to help open up the scoring, but he and Dreyer were super dangerous coming off the wings, coming into the gaps that were left in the channels for this Dallas team and the San Diego group. Once again, they play through pressure. I thought the understanding of when Dallas stepped a little bit higher, when to bypass that first line,

play into the second level, into midfield, and then find the runners past them to threaten this Dallas team was really impressive. San Diego, wherever the results have gone, the style has stayed and it may not be perfect, but it's just year one. And I think they've answered that question over and over again of if they get punched,

if they get knocked on their heels, will they be able to maintain their confidence in their style, their belief, their cohesiveness? And they did so once again. Big game for the Seattle Sounders. They get back to winning ways and Danny Musavsky continues to look dominant. Four straight games with a goal for him

and his performance right now, pure center forward play. His ability to shoot with both feet to create chances out of half chances to make hard runs to open up the play for his teammates. Looks really, really good. Pedro De la Vega, another lively game from him, popping up in a number of different areas, being aggressive, having a couple of goal dangerous shots as well. That's promising for a Seattle team that's dealing

with a couple injuries. Obed Vargas gets a goal. He looked really aggressive in this one, and that's what Seattle wants to see. In the Eastern Conference, towards the top, Columbus all over Charlotte. A mistake from Schulte kept Charlotte in the game maybe a little longer than expected, but at no moment did Columbus look like they were going to lose this game. Arfsten looked good. A.Z. Jackson's looked really good over the last few weeks, playing in that role behind the two center forwards. That's taken a little pressure off Jason Russell-Roe, who I think is starting to round back into form as well. The movement of Farsi and Marrera still elite down the right wing and Charlotte, they don't get enough possession to be able to relieve pressure at any point in this game. So you saw the individual quality in transition,

Pep Biel popping in moments, Patrick Augemange, but none of it enough to keep Columbus at bay as the crew move to the top of the Eastern Conference in Miami. Big rebound off the CONCACAF Champions Cup loss to Vancouver with a 4-1 win over Red Bulls. Purely dominant in this one. Messi playing at his highest level, Suarez gets a goal, and we saw why Fafa Picot was brought into this team, and we saw why a lot of the fans in our conversations over the last two weeks have asked why he didn't get to play more in the Vancouver series. He can stretch the field. He's confident in possession to create for some of Messi and friends.

He can do a little bit of both, which maybe Robert Taylor only did one side of things. Campagna maybe only did one side of things. Allende only does one side of things. Ability to stretch. Segovia can come inside and create, but maybe not both sides to open up the game. And I think Fafapico, both a veteran presence and his versatility helps this group a ton.

Vancouver also coming off CONCAC champions cup. They remained at the top of the Western Conference with a 2-1 win over RSL. They made things more nervy at the end than they had to, allowing RSL back into the game and hurting themselves a little bit, but overall able to get the victory. And then the weekend to close out a bizarre performance from Austin, but I guess also in line. Austin a 3-0 loss at home to Minnesota. Minnesota had zero of the ball. The opening 25-30 minutes

of this one. Brad Stuever a tough mistake on a deflected cross that he lets through his legs. That puts Minnesota ahead without ever having any of the ball. Minnesota settles off that one and they're able to ride it all the way to a 3-0 win over Austin FC. It continues to be a wild and wacky Western Conference. So no team can really establish themselves besides Vancouver. Minnesota sitting second right now. Portland even after their loss sitting in third with San Diego and LAFC off a 2-0 win over Houston

right behind them in the Eastern Conference. Columbus and Philly, as I said, at the top with Cincinnati tied with Philly in second, Miami with one game in hand right behind them. And then you get into the mix of Charlotte, Nashville, NYCFC a win over Cincinnati this weekend at home, at Citi Field, Orlando City, and New England, who got another victory this time over Toronto.

So that makes it four straight for the Rebs going into one of the tastiest US Open Cup matches of the midweek that is on the road against Rhode Island at the new Tidewater Landing Stadium. And of course, former Rebs player Kano Smith at the helm with this Rhode Island team. You've had you've got a couple of former Rebs players in this group. You've got current Rebs players on loan So this is gonna be a tasty one It is gonna be a phenomenal week of US Open Cup action and we will have all your coverage for you right here at Soccer wise we'll talk to you again very very soon