Big wins for our Roar Women overseas while we prepare for a pre-season clash on Wednesday night.
Hayley Raso provided the crucial assist in the Portland Thorns’ narrow victory against the Washington Spirit this morning in the American capital.
The Thorns had already secured their NWSL playoff spot but keep their top-two hopes alive following the one-goal win, with Raso making the final pass before the decisive strike from Tobin Heath.
The 14th minute goal earned Portland their 11th win of the 2018 campaign and keeps them within touch of second-place Seattle Reign with one matchday remaining. The two sides meet in a mouth-watering contest on Saturday (12pm KO QLD time) with the Thorns requiring a win to jump into second.
Raso was however taken off in the 59th minute following a heavy collision with the opposition goalkeeper.
Thank you all for the love & well wishes over the last 24 hours. Means a lot ❤️
— Hayley Raso (@HayleyRaso) August 26, 2018
In Norway, Mackenzie Arnold’s Arna-Bjørnar also recorded a narrow victory to hold their spot in fourth on the Toppserien table.
Arnold made her 12th appearance for the Norwegian outfit between the posts, who shot out to a 2-0 lead before holding onto a one-goal advantage for the final 20 minutes.
Their next test is fifth-place Kolbotn late Saturday night (11pm KO QLD time) with a chance to jump as high as third with a win.
In Texas, Clare Polkinghorne’s Houston Dash took yet another side to the sword with another big win on their home deck. After knocking off the Spirit 4-0 last weekend, the Dash saw off bottom-placed Sky Blue FC to the tune of a 6-1 scoreline.
Polkinghorne didn’t feature in the contest as the Dash’s playoff hopes were ended, despite the convincing win. Their 2018 campaign will finish away against North Carolina Courage next Sunday morning (9:30am KO QLD time).
Katrina Gorry’s Utah Royals’ season will also wrap-up next week against the Chicago Red Stars.
ON HOME SOIL
Our Roar Women will ramp up preparations for Westfield W-League Season 11 with a mid-week contest against a Mount Franklin Brisbane Women’s Premier League Invitational side on Wednesday night at the Logan Football Complex (6:30pm).
Five MFBWPL sides will be represented against the Roar with the new Westfield W-League campaign edging nearer.
The BRFC/NTC U18 squad has also booked a NPLW finals berth & will face either recently-crowned premiers The Gap FC or Lions FC in a do-or-die semi-final next weekend.
