FC Kansas City pulls away from Thorns

• by Soccer America , Aug 5, 2013

[NWSL REWIND: Week 17] The allocation of such players as Alex Morgan, Christine Sinclair, Tobin Heath and Rachel Buehler made the Portland Thorns FC prohibitive favorites in the NWSL's first season, but FC Kansas City instead looks set to claim the regular-season title after its 3-2 win at JELD-WEN Field Sunday before a crowd of 17,619 opened up a four-point lead at the top.

Lauren Holiday scored two goals to lead Kansas City and take over the NWSL scoring lead. Kristie Mewis’ first professional goal proved to be the gamewinner.

Danielle Foxhoven and Morgan scored for Portland, which is tied for second place with Sky Blue FC with three games -- all on the road -- left.

Saturday ...

Sky Blue FC used a second-half goal by Mexican forward Monica Ocampo to beat the last-place Washington Spirit, 1-0, and move into a tie with Portland for second place.

-- The Chicago Red Stars beat Seattle, 3-1, in front of a sellout crowd of 3,400 people to knock Reign FC out of the running for a spot in the NWSL playoffs. Inka Grings notched two goals and fellow German Sonja Fuss added a penalty kick. The Reign’s only goal was scored by Kaylyn Kyle off a penalty kick.

-- In Cat Whitehill's debut as interim player/coach, the Boston Breakers took a 2-0 over Western New York before the Flash fought to earn a 2-2 draw at Dilboy Stadium on late goals by Vicki DiMartino and Carli Lloyd. Kyah Simon and Lianne Sanderson scored for Boston, which had also blown a late lead and settled for a 2-2 tie against the Flash when they met in early June.

NWSL RESULTS, Week 17
Sunday, August 4
Portland 2 FC Kansas City 3
Saturday, August 3
Chicago 3 Seattle 1
Boston 2 Western NY 2
Sky Blue FC 1 Washington 0
Wednesday, July 31
Portland 3 Sky Blue FC 1
Western NY 3 Washington 0

NWSL STANDINGS
PTS TEAM W-L-T +/-
38 FC Kansas City 11-4-5 33/19
34 Portland 10-5-4 29/22
34 Sky Blue FC 10-6-4 27/22
31 Western NY 8-4-7 33/19
26 Chicago 7-7-5 27/31
24 Boston 6-7-6 31/31
18 Seattle 5-11-3 21/32
7 Washington 1-14-4 13/38

NWSL LEADING SCORERS
G PLAYER (TEAM)
12+2 Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City)
10 Abby Wambach (Western NY)
10 Sydney Leroux (Boston)
8+1+1 Alex Morgan (Portland)
7+1 Carli Lloyd (Western NY)
7 Diana Matheson (Washington)
6+1 Monica Ocampo (Sky Blue FC)
6 Christine Sinclair (Portland)
6 Erika Tymrak (FC Kansas City)
6 Sophie Schmidt (Sky Blue FC)
5+1 Meleana Shim (Portland)
5 Lisa De Vanna (Sky Blue FC)
5 Samantha Kerr (Western NY)
5 Renae Cuellar (FC Kansas City/Seattle)
5 Lori Chalupny (Chicago)

NWSL SCHEDULE, Week 18
Wednesday, August 7
Boston vs. Portland
Western NY vs. Seattle
Washington vs. Chicago
Saturday, August 10
Chicago vs. FC Sky Blue
Boston vs. FC Kansas City
Washington vs. Seattle
Western NY vs. Portland

NWSL SCHEDULE, Week 19
Saturday, August 17
Western NY vs. Boston
Seattle vs. Portland
Sunday, August 18
FC Kansas City vs. Chicago
Washington vs. Sky Blue FC

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