Women's Football News
MLS 2021 Champions New York City FC: The Playoff Final, 2022 & Beyond
The sister club of Manchester City, New York City FC (NYCFC), was crowned MLS champions for the first time in their history, finally reaching common ground with their siblings’ dominant achievements. And although NYCFC isn’t close to owning the elite status that one of Europe’s most recognizable teams possess, they’ve now begun their dominance on American land as one of the best teams on the continent.
The MLS playoffs wouldn’t have entirely lived up to expectations without a drama-filled 90 minutes to conclude this 2021 season. The Boys in Blue celebrated their MLS Cup victory following an intense 4-2 penalty shoot-out over Portland Timbers.
New York fans believed their MLS Golden Boot winner Valentin Castellanos secured the trophy in normal time when the Argentinian forward laced home a 41st-minute free-kick.
But in true MLS fashion, a dramatic 94th-minute equalizer came when Portland substitute Felipe Mora delivered during the game’s dying minutes.
New York’s ground-breaking success in the championship game concludes a fine year for Ronny Deila, who’d already broken records when capturing the club’s first trophy with a 2-1 victory over Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference final.
Starman Castellanos has made a considerable impact, and his attributes have undoubtedly assisted NYCFC in winning 14 of their 34 games to place them in fourth during the regular season.
The most surprising result of the playoffs came when New York dismantled New England Revolution during the quarterfinals. Even the bookmakers at Caesars New York were astonished when NYCFC entered as +252 underdogs but snatched a position in the semi-finals with a 2-3 win on penalties. New York thrives in an underdog position, and with the recent announcement of the 2022 MLS schedule, perhaps the sportsbooks won’t hastily undervalue New York’s chance of success next season.
New York City 2022 Schedule
The team schedule for the 2022 MLS season was announced on December 15, and although it was a mere three days since New York captured the 2021 crown, the thoughts of a new season are already present.
New York fans learned that most home fixtures would be played at the Yankee Stadium. Ten of their games will be held in the Bronx, and six will be at Citi Field. One of their regular-season home games will be at the Red Bull Arena, but overall, it’s still a step in the right direction.
NYCFC fans made it known, and the front office listened, with a schedule that’s delivering over 90% of home matches in New York.
“We are pleased that our secondary venue for the 2022 season will be Citi Field and know that it is the best and preferred alternative for our fans and players”, said Brad Simms, NYCFC CEO. “Citi Field is a world-class facility, and we’ve experienced an incredible in-stadium atmosphere from our fans when we have played there in the past.”
More welcoming news arrived in the form of Western Conference matchups. Such games were lowered in 2021 due to the coronavirus protocols. Still, this season will see NYCFC face off against eight squads from the West – including a season opener against the LA Galaxy in Los Angeles and a future home meeting with the Western Conference leaders Colorado Rapids.
A Busy Year in New York
Excluding the fixtures outside of the MLS regular season, New York will hit a busy period in May and July. The squad will have six MLS games in two months. But the most questionable stretch of games will arrive in August, where the Pigeons have four meetings away from home. The 2022 season will be a true test when the 2021 season delivered such a poor away form. However, away from did pick up towards the season’s end and, in the playoffs, which makes for an intriguing section of the season to witness whether or not the away downtrend has genuinely been overcome.
The 2022 season begins in February because of the 2022 World Cup; this will bring the MLS regular season to an end on October 9. So, despite a jam-packed schedule for the Pigeons, a three-week rest period will come in June with an international break taking place.
All of the ifs, ands, buts, and maybes won’t matter if the defending MLS Champions continue their unbeaten run into the new season. The New York City FC schedule ahead is exciting and is just a few short months away.
Blackburn Rovers
Oxford United Still in Shock After Devastating Loss of 15 Year Old Academy Goalkeeper as Club Pays Tribute to Teenage Talent
Oxford United remains in shock following the devastating loss of a 15-year-old academy goalkeeper. Amelia Aplin collapsed during a Junior Premier League match against Fulham at the Oxford training ground in Horspath on March 7. The teenager had been described as a player with immense promise. Her passing has sent shockwaves through the football community.
Over the past weekend, teams across the Women’s Super League held a minute’s silence in memory of Amelia. Oxford United’s general manager Gemma Sims spoke about the impact on the club almost a fortnight after the tragedy.
Everyone Still in Shock at the Club
Sims said, “Everyone is still in shock, and obviously, the staff and the players who were present on the day are finding it tough. It’s obviously been devastating for everybody at the club, but something like this doesn’t just hit the whole club, it’s hit the wider community as well.”
Liam Gilbert, manager of Oxford Women’s first team, echoed similar sentiments, calling it an extremely difficult period. “Amelia was a very talented individual who had a really high ceiling and was very well thought of. The most important thing there’s been for us is just getting around each other, it’s really united the entire club,” he said.
Watford Held Applause in 15th Minute
Tributes to Amelia have been paid across the football world, including at Watford on Tuesday night, with many supporters also checking football live scores as clubs around the country paused to honour her memory. An applause was held during the 15th minute of the Hornets’ Championship game against Wrexham. Amelia had been a massive fan of the Vicarage Road club, which made the tribute particularly poignant.
Gilbert said the support from the wider football community had been astonishing. “Hopefully it’s something that we can use in a positive way as we move forward,” he explained.
Will Take Long Time to Recover
Members of Amelia’s family attended Oxford’s game against Blackburn Rovers last week alongside her teammates, who went onto the pitch before kick off. Oxford United legend Peter Rhoades-Brown addressed the Kassam Stadium crowd, saying, “She was a goalkeeper of immense promise, playing for our girls in the Under 18s side at just 15. Amelia was a teammate, a friend, a sister, a niece, and a daughter.”
Sims acknowledged the recovery process will be lengthy. “It’s going to take a long time. People will grieve differently at different times. For us, it’s just important that we take things slowly, that the girls only return to training as and when they’re ready. We’ll support them as much as we can,” she said.
Also read: Amy Carr Dies Aged 35: What Happened to the Late Arsenal and Chelsea Star?
Chelsea Dragon
USWNT Watch: Alyssa Thompson Wins League Cup With Chelsea While Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes Lift French Cup With Lyon as Silverware Galore
It has been a busy few weeks for members of the United States women’s national team who returned to major club competitions shortly after winning the SheBelieves Cup for the eighth time. Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes, teammates for both club and country, helped OL Lyonnes capture the French Cup title, defeating Paris Saint Germain 1-0.
Chelsea faced Manchester United in the League Cup final on Sunday, with USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson dressing for the Blues. Naomi Girma was ruled out with an injury, while Cat Macario was not included in the squad. Chelsea defeated Manchester United and goalkeeper Phallon Tullis Joyce 2-0 thanks to goals from Lauren James and Aggie Beaver Jones.
No Girma No Problem as Chelsea Find Way
Chelsea were without several key players in Sunday’s League Cup final, including USWNT center back Naomi Girma, who did not dress because of a calf injury. The Blues faced a difficult task against Manchester United without Girma, Millie Bright, Sam Kerr, and Ellie Carpenter, among others.
Still, Chelsea found a way despite the absences. “Hopefully it’s not too bad and she can be available for the next game,” Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor told the BBC when asked about Girma. The Blues return to action on Wednesday against Brighton.
Yohannes Shines as Super Sub for Lyon
While Yohannes was not involved in OL Lyonnes’ goal against PSG, she played an important role after entering in the second half, ensuring there was no drop off in the team’s rhythm. Subbing into midfield and maintaining the same level of play is a job well done, and Yohannes often delivers when asked to do just that.
Heaps All Over Pitch in Cup Victory
Lindsey Heaps was all over the pitch in OL Lyonnes’ victory over PSG. She was involved in several attacking runs, quick combinations, and one two moments throughout the match. Heaps’ dummy on a cross set up Melchie Dumornay for the go ahead goal, which proved decisive.
Chelsea
Joe Montemurro Makes Remarkable Juventus vs Chelsea Comparison After Matildas Gets Past Best Team at Asia Cup
Joe Montemurro showed a flexibility to his approach in the Women’s Asian Cup quarter finals that meant the Matildas prevailed by adapting to the circumstances in front of them, even if it was contradictory to the style that is in his DNA. Australia edged North Korea 2-1 in Perth to make the semi finals in what was a resilient performance against the tournament’s best team.
“Let’s be frank and honest here. Winning football games like that, it usually happens in tournaments,” Montemurro said after the victory. The Italian boss then turned to his captain, Sam Kerr, in the press conference and referenced one of his key wins in European football with Juventus against her Chelsea side.
Had 450 Million Shots and We Had One
“I’ve done it a few times like that in Champions League. I think there was a game against Chelsea, we got a draw. They had 450 million shots, and we had one,” Montemurro said with a smile. This Champions League reference perfectly illustrated the type of performance Australia needed to overcome North Korea.
He added, “We knew that they were a great side. They’re the best team in the tournament. They really are. So we just had to be methodical. Where we won the game were the little bits in between, as we were losing the ball or as we were winning the ball to keep our shape and keep our organisation. We didn’t create much. We had to resist a lot.”
It’s Who I Am But Part of Remit to Win
Montemurro was absolutely honest about abandoning his preferred style for tournament pragmatism. “Do I want to play a possession based game? Do I want to keep the ball? It’s who I am. It’s my DNA, but part of my remit is to win football matches,” he explained.
He continued, “Sometimes you have to have that flexibility. At this level, it’s all about moments. It’s all about taking those moments.”
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