Five Matches key to Courage’s Third Consecutive Shield

WE'RE GOING American this week… ahead of the NWSL playoffs we’re reflecting on the North Carolina Courage’s campaign. The ‘Shield’, which is awarded to the team with the best regular season record, has already made its way back to the catchily titled Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park – for a third consecutive year. Here, D2B looks at five matches that were central to the Courage retaining their title...

Spotlight on AFC Wimbledon Ladies – Episode II

"Attack of the front four". We're back with the AFC Wimbledon Ladies. Now it’s battle stations with the Womble Alliance beginning their season at Ipswich, plus my first visit ever to an FA Women’s National League game, with Cambridge United the visitors to Colston Avenue…

Played in Chelsea

Our first ever FA Women’s Super League match. Top-flight footy? Chelsea versus WSL debutants Tottenham Hotspur? At Stamford Bridge? Free tickets? Even the wife got on board with that and she can’t stand football!

UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship Final: France 2-1 Germany

FRANCE edged a tight encounter at St Mirren Park to record their fifth U-19 championship title. Maëlle Lakrar’s deft flick from a Julie Dufour corner was the difference, but it could have so easily swung the other way had a couple of key moments gone the Germans’ way…

FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 31:

THE USA successfully defended their world crown, beating the Netherlands in Lyon to secure their fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup title. Golden Ball and Golden Boot Winner, Megan Rapinoe, gave Team USA the lead from the penalty spot after VAR correctly adjudged that Stefanie van der Gragt had fouled Alex Morgan. Bronze Boot winner Rose Lavelle put the result beyond doubt with a left-footed strike from the edge of the box...

FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 30:

SWEDEN took the bronze medal match in Nice, despatching England with a ruthless opening half hour in which they struck twice; then doggedly defending out the remainder of the game. Kosovare Asllani got the scoring under way on 11 minutes driving past Carly Telford following a poor defensive clearance. Sofia Jakobsson then added a second, cutting in from the left and curling past the England keeper. Fran Kirby halved the deficit on 31 minutes, and Ellen White had a goal ruled out by VAR for handball shortly after...

FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 27:

JACKIE GROENEN’S extra time strike was enough to take the Netherlands to their first World Cup Final. With chances at a premium, it was goalkeepers Sari van Veenendaal and Hedvig Lindahl that shone, making several world-class stops between them. But Lindahl could do nothing about Groenen’s low 20-yard drive that puts Sarina Wiegman’s European Champions on a collision course with the USA in Lyon this coming Sunday...

FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 26:

THE USA ended ten-player England’s hopes of contesting their first Women’s World Cup with a 2-1 victory in Lyon. The goals were all scored in the first half, but the drama really began after the break...

FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 23:

THE NETHERLANDS progressed to their first World Cup semi final beating Italy in the searing heat of Valenciennes with two straightforward set-pieces. Vivianne Miedema put Oranje Leeuwinnen into the lead on 70 minutes, heading in Sherida Spitse's free-kick from the left. Stefanie van der Gragt doubled their tally rising to nod home another Spitse dead ball delivery this time from the right...

FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 22:

A MEGAN RAPINOE brace, for the second consecutive match, set the USA on a collision course with England in the World Cup Semi-Finals. The winger scored early from a free-kick and then converted from Tobin Heath’s cross on 65 minutes just as the French were building a head of steam. Wendie Renard’s header 9 minutes before the end made it interesting but France, who were disappointing in the first half, couldn’t create the opening to force extra time...