"The NWSL's quarterfinals blitz is over. Have you caught your breath? In less than 48 hours this weekend, the league that practically trademarked chaos outdid itself with two stoppage-time equalizers, three extra-time matches -- and one that progressed to a penalty shootout -- and an upset of arguably the best team in league history. It was like the telenovela that is the NWSL crammed a marathon of new episodes into one binge-worthy weekend."
"Who's left standing? Not the No. 1 seed Kansas City Current, who smashed NWSL records for points (65), wins (21) and goals allowed (just 13). Instead, the semifinalists are the last four league champions: the Orlando Pride, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Portland Thorns and Washington Spirit. NWSL SEMIFINALS: - (2) Washington Spirit vs. (5) Portland Thorns, Nov. 15, noon ET - (4) Orlando Pride vs. (8) Gotham FC, Nov. 16, 3 p.m. ET Here's how we got here."
"The Kansas City Current are the deepest team in the NWSL, but as head coach Vlatko Andonovski lamented after his team's loss on Sunday, "the game is totally different" when they're missing MVP and two-time Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga and breakout forward Michelle Cooper, and they only have "half of Bia" Zaneratto due to a sprained MCL. The weight of Chawinga's absence specifically was best illustrated"
The NWSL quarterfinals produced a frenetic weekend with two stoppage-time equalizers, three extra-time matches, a penalty shootout and a major upset over Kansas City. The No. 1 seed Kansas City Current, despite record-setting regular-season totals, were eliminated. The four remaining semifinalists are Orlando Pride, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Portland Thorns and Washington Spirit, all past league champions. Kansas City entered the match without Temwa Chawinga and breakout forward Michelle Cooper and with a limited Bia Zaneratto. A key moment saw Debinha beat two defenders to set up Nichelle Prince for a one-on-one that was saved by Ann-Katrin Berger.
Read at ESPN.com
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