Wednesday saw the Semifinals of the NWSL Challenge Cup take place, with the Houston Dash and Chicago Red Stars moving on to Sunday’s tournament final. The Pride Stan went 2-0 on the day after holding an 0-4 record following the Quarterfinals and we think it’s all because of the special sage.
Off to the burner account to see Dash content. #PrideStan pic.twitter.com/SpzRMK1QGa
— Challenge Cup Stan Account (@ORLPride) July 22, 2020
Imagine blocking us and not being able to see this awesome content.
— Challenge Cup Stan Account (@ORLPride) July 22, 2020
Their loss but we still stan. #PrideStan pic.twitter.com/hzd5bGOtUn
No. 4 Houston Dash 1, No. 8 Portland Thorns FC 0
In the first semifinal of the day, the Houston Dash punched their ticket to the NWSL Challenge Cup Final, defeating the Portland Thorns 1-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
The difference came off the head of Rachel Daly in the 69th minute for the eventual game-winner, her third finish of the tournament. The goal served as the first for the Dash in over 300 minutes of play, their last coming in the second match of the preliminary rounds in a 2-0 victory over OL Reign.
Off to the burner account to see Dash content. #PrideStan pic.twitter.com/SpzRMK1QGa
— Challenge Cup Stan Account (@ORLPride) July 22, 2020
Imagine blocking us and not being able to see this awesome content.
— Challenge Cup Stan Account (@ORLPride) July 22, 2020
Their loss but we still stan. #PrideStan pic.twitter.com/hzd5bGOtUn
While we were blocked by the Dash with the belief in the curse still very much alive, we still continued to stan throughout the afternoon.
Off to the burner account to see Dash content. #PrideStan pic.twitter.com/SpzRMK1QGa
— Challenge Cup Stan Account (@ORLPride) July 22, 2020
Imagine blocking us and not being able to see this awesome content.
— Challenge Cup Stan Account (@ORLPride) July 22, 2020
Their loss but we still stan. #PrideStan pic.twitter.com/hzd5bGOtUn
No. 6 Chicago Red Stars 3, No. 7 Sky Blue FC 2
Wednesday’s second Semifinal gave us five goals...I know, you’re shocked.
The Red Stars jumped out to an early two-goal lead with finishes from Bianca St. Georges and Rachel Hill, scoring in the eighth and 11th minutes respectively and would then add to that lead in the 60th minute off the foot of Savannah McCaskill.
what a way to score your first goal in the #NWSL!@biancastgeorges fires @chiredstarsPR ahead.
— NWSL (@NWSL) July 23, 2020
0-1 | #NJvCHI
Tune in now on @CBSAllAccess and @Twitch.#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/RslCYwjN7B
We love to see it!#PrideStan | #CHIvNJ https://t.co/b2UeABlc9G
— Challenge Cup Stan Account (@ORLPride) July 23, 2020
Let’s keep up that momentum! #PrideStan | #CHIvNJ pic.twitter.com/xOmb42odbh
— Challenge Cup Stan Account (@ORLPride) July 23, 2020
Blink and you'll miss this @chiredstarsPR counter.@smccaskill_21 makes it !
— NWSL (@NWSL) July 23, 2020
3-0 | #CHIvNJ
Tune in now on @CBSAllAccess and @Twitch.#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/o1AocPNFV9
Sky Blue wouldn’t take that lying down however, with Evelyne Viens cutting the advantage to two in the 72nd minute followed by a Julie Ertz own goal five minutes later to slash the Red Stars’ lead to one.
The rally came up short in the end however for Sky Blue, sending Chicago through to the final of the NWSL Challenge Cup. Sunday will mark the second-consecutive final for the Red Stars, who fell to the North Carolina Courage in last year’s NWSL Championship match.
The Red Stars followed suit with the Dash and opted to block our Stan, but once again the sage pulled through and Chicago will face Houston on Sunday, July 26 in the NWSL Challenge Cup Final. That match will kick off at 12:30 p.m. ET and will be nationally televised on CBS.
All set for Sunday. #PrideStan | #NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/3QD1gAi7JA
— Challenge Cup Stan Account (@ORLPride) July 23, 2020