- Aline Gomes - 32'
- Manaka Matsukubo - 45'+4'
- Hanna Lundkvist - 84'
North Carolina Courage edge San Diego Wave FC 2-1
Aline Gomes scores 1st NWSL goal, hits the 'SIUUU'
Aline Gomes scores her first NWSL goal to put the Courage ahead and does Cristiano Ronaldo's famous "SIUUU" celebration.
The North Carolina Courage, buoyed by the efforts of Aline Gomes and Manaka Matsukubo, beat San Diego Wave FC 2-1 at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
Aline Gomes opened the scoring for North Carolina (12-2-9) in the 32nd minute with a right-footed shot from close range that found the bottom right corner of the net. In first-half stoppage time, Manaka Matsukubo doubled the Courage's lead with a header from the center of the box to make it 2-0.
San Diego Wave FC (5-7-11) managed to pull one back in the second half when Hanna Lundkvist scored in the 84th minute following a corner kick. Despite attempts on target by María Sánchez and Mya Jones toward the end of regulation time, the Wave couldn't find an equalizer.
Up next: The North Carolina Courage take on Angel City FC on Saturday, October 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET at WakeMed Soccer Park. San Diego Wave FC will next face the Houston Dash on Sunday, October 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Melinda Sopka
NWSL Standings
Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Orlando Pride | 25 | 17 | 6 | 2 | +25 | 57 |
NJ/NY Gotham FC | 26 | 17 | 5 | 4 | +21 | 56 |
Washington Spirit | 25 | 17 | 2 | 6 | +22 | 53 |
Kansas City Current | 25 | 15 | 7 | 3 | +24 | 52 |
North Carolina Courage | 25 | 12 | 3 | 10 | +7 | 39 |
Portland Thorns FC | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | +2 | 34 |
Chicago Red Stars | 25 | 10 | 2 | 13 | -5 | 32 |
Bay FC | 25 | 10 | 1 | 14 | -11 | 31 |
Racing Louisville FC | 25 | 7 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 28 |
Utah Royals | 26 | 7 | 4 | 15 | -18 | 25 |
Angel City FC | 26 | 7 | 6 | 13 | -13 | 24 |
Seattle Reign FC | 25 | 6 | 5 | 14 | -16 | 23 |
San Diego Wave FC | 25 | 5 | 7 | 13 | -13 | 22 |
Houston Dash | 25 | 5 | 5 | 15 | -21 | 20 |