The underdog Houston Dash defeat the Chicago Red Stars to with the NWSL Challenge Cup.
As the underdog Houston Dash celebrated winning the Challenge Cup title, forward Rachel Daly was asked if she could define the team’s identity after the month-long tournament.
“Winners,” the Dash cocaptain simply said.
Sophie Schmidt scored on an early penalty kick and Shea Groom added a stoppage-time goal to give Houston the trophy with a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday at Sandy, Utah.
The tournament was the National Women’s Soccer League’s re-boot after the regular season was shut down by the coronavirus outbreak. Houston, in its seventh year in the league, had never previously made the playoffs.
“Grit and determination and courage, I could use all of those cliche words but they actually mean something within our team,” Daly said. “After every postgame I say ‘Nothing breaks our circle, and if anything breaks our circle, we’ll lose.’ Today nothing broke our circle.”
The Red Stars went to the NWSL championship game last season, but were routed 4-0 by the North Carolina Courage.
Houston was aggressive from the start. Kristie Mewis was on the run when she was fouled by Kayla Sharples for a Dash penalty kick. Schmidt nailed the PK in the fifth minute. It was the tournament’s first penalty kick in regulation.
The NWSL was the first professional team sport to return in the United States. Eight of the league’s nine teams have been sequestered in Utah for the duration of the tournament, which started on June 27.
The league’s ninth team, the Orlando Pride, withdrew shortly before the start because of positive COVID-19 tests. But there were no positive tests in the so-called bubble in Utah for the duration of the event.
The Red Stars were the tournament’s sixth seed going into the knockout round. They advanced to the semifinals on penalties after a scoreless draw with OL Reign, then held off
Dash 2, Red Stars 0
Sky Blue 3-2 on Wednesday.
United, Chelsea into CL
Manchester United and Chelsea qualified for the Champions League at the expense of Leicester on a frantic final day of the Premier League season, while Bournemouth and Watford were relegated to end five-year stays in the top flight. United won 2-0 at Leicester through goals by Bruno Fernandes and Jesse Lingard to give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team a third-place finish.
Chelsea beat Wolverhampton 2-0 after a goal and an assist by Mason Mount and finished in the fourth and final Champions League qualifying place above Leicester, which has been in the top four for most of the season.
Leicester, instead, will play in the Europa League along with Tottenham, which drew 1-1 at Crystal Palace to secure sixth place — above Wolverhampton
on goal difference.
The battle to avoid the two remaining relegation places went to the wire as Aston Villa scored in the 84th minute, conceded a minute later, then held on for 1-1 draw at West Ham to survive. Bournemouth did what it had to do and beat Everton, 3-1, but ended up one point behind Villa. Watford was also relegated as the next-to-last team after losing 3-2 at Arsenal.
Toronto dumped
Jesus Medina scored in the fifth minute, Valentin Castellanos doubled the lead early in the second half and Maxi Moralez provided the clinching goal late as New York City FC beat Toronto FC 3-1 to advance to the quarterfinals of the MLS is Back tournament.
• Sergio Santos scored in the 63rd minute and the Philadelphia Union overcame a quiet first half to advance to the quarterfinals of the MLS is Back tournament with a 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution late Saturday night. The Union will play the winner of Sunday’s late match between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Sporting Kansas City in a quarterfinal on Thursday.
Elsewhere
Before the break for the coronavirus pandemic. After the lockdown. And now for nine years running. Juventus is the undisputed leader of Italian soccer. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the go-ahead goal and Juventus beat Sampdoria 2-0 to secure the Turin club’s record-extending ninth straight Serie A title.
• San Diego Loyal goalkeeper Jon Kempin made several keys as the home team ran its record to 3-1-1 in USL Championship play with a 2-1 victory over the Las Vegas Lights FC (0-1-1) late Saturday night at Torero Stadium. The Loyal received goals from Tumi Moshobane and Ir vin Parra.