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NWSL Recap: Koyama Lifts Courage, Ryan Sparks Dash
Shinomi Koyama scored her first NWSL goal in dramatic fashion, striking in the 89th minute to give the North Carolina Courage a 1-0 victory over the Orlando Pride on Friday night.
The Courage improved to 7-7-7 (28 points) and jumped into the eighth and final playoff spot, edging ahead of Racing Louisville in the standings. Orlando dropped to 8-8-5 (29 points), holding a slim edge but now under pressure in the playoff race.
The decisive play began on a counterattack when Aline Gomes tested Anna Moorhouse, who blocked the initial attempt. The rebound rolled directly to Koyama, who buried the one-time finish to seal the points.
Goalkeeper Marisa Jordan earned a clean sheet for North Carolina, making her lone save in stoppage time.
Match Summary – Courage vs Pride
| Stat | Courage | Pride |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 (Koyama 89’) | 0 |
| Saves | 1 (Jordan) | 3 (Moorhouse) |
| Shots on Target | 4 | 3 |
| Possession | 47% | 53% |
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Yazmeen Ryan Leads Houston Dash
In Houston, Yazmeen Ryan delivered the difference-maker in a 1-0 win over the Chicago Stars.
Ryan pounced in the 28th minute by intercepting Sam Staab’s short pass inside Chicago’s defensive third. With quick footwork, she slipped into space and slotted a low shot past Alyssa Naeher.
Despite losing starting goalkeeper Jane Campbell to injury in the 13th minute, the Dash defense held strong. Backup Abby Smith came on and tallied six saves to preserve the shutout.
Ryan nearly doubled her tally in the 89th minute from the penalty spot, but Naeher denied her attempt to keep Chicago close.
Match Summary – Dash vs Stars
| Stat | Dash | Stars |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 (Ryan 28’) | 0 |
| Saves | 6 (Smith) | 5 (Naeher) |
| Shots on Target | 7 | 6 |
| Possession | 51% | 49% |
Houston (7-9-5, 26 points) remain in the postseason hunt, while Chicago (2-10-9, 15 points) continue to struggle near the bottom of the table.
Playoff Picture Tightens
The NWSL playoff race is heating up as only a handful of points separate teams battling for the final spots. North Carolina’s late heroics pushed them into playoff position, while Houston kept themselves alive with a gritty home win.
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