The NWSL Challenge Cup provided soccer fans with what they love about sports. Quality competition, goalazos, and upsets. Going into the quarterfinals the North Carolina Courage were the odds on favorite to go all the way. After all, they had gone 4-0 in the group stages and were the reigning NWSL Champions. But the Portland Thorns had other plans in mind. Despite being the eighth-ranked team the Thorns defeated North Carolina 1-0 to open up the quarterfinals. And that my friends is sports.
The quarterfinals of the NWSL had just one goal scored in regulation, and three of the four games were decided by penalties. Portland, Houston Dash, Sky Blue FC, and the Chicago Red Stars advanced with the semifinals on-tap starting on Wednesday at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Portland Thorns v Houston Dash @1230
Sky Blue FC v Chicago Red Stars @1000
The semifinals is also a switch in venues. Up until this point the NWSL Challenge Cup has been played at Zions Bank Stadium. Not only is this a switch in venue but also a switch in playing surface. At Zions Bank the field was artificial turf and Rio Tinto will provide players with Kentucky Blue Grass. In other words, a proper pitch.
Both matches in the semifinals will be streamed on CBS All Access. The tournament championship will flip to CBS proper on Sunday at 12:30 p.m..
One of the interesting conversations at the moment is what teams will do post-tournament. For the moment there isn’t anything official planned for the NWSL. Without a post-tournament plan players would have an extended layoff without playing. It would be interesting if the league puts on another tournament in the Fall or goes into a regular season of sorts like MLS is tentatively planning.
