NWSL National Women's Soccer League

NWSL Players Continue to Dominate FIFA Women's World Cup Heading into Round of 16

Published on June 19, 2015 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release


CHICAGO (June 19, 2015) - With 42 NWSL players still participating in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, the league will play a big part in the knockout stages. Here's a look at how the countries with an NWSL player on their roster faired in the group stage of the World Cup.

Australia

NWSL players: 5

Record: 1-1-1, 4 pts - 2nd in Group D

Next: Will face Brazil on Sunday, June 21 at 1 p.m. ET

Australia emerged from one of the toughest groups at the tournament courtesy of their 2-0 victory over Nigeria and a 1-1 draw with Sweden in the final two games of the group stage.

Former NWSL players Kyah Simon, who used to play with the Boston Breakers, and Lisa De Vanna, formerly of Sky Blue FC, accounted for all three goals in the two games while fellow forward and current SBFC player Samantha Kerr added an assist.

Kerr is one of three NWSL players for the Matildas, along with defenders Steph Catley (Portland Thorns FC) and Caitlin Foord (Sky Blue FC), who have played every minute of the tournament thus far. FC Kansas City midfielder Katrina Gorry has started all three games for Australia at the World Cup but has yet to play a full 90 minutes.

Brazil

NWSL players: 1

Record: 3-0-0, 9 pts - 1st in Group E

Next: Will face Australia on Sunday, June 21 at 1 p.m. ET

Brazil has made efficient use of their offense at the World Cup, turning four goals into three victories and nine points.

Boston Breakers midfielder Rafaela Travalao came on for the last minute of the opening game of the tournament against Korea Republic to make her international debut.

Rafaela, also known as "Rafinha", has been playing as a forward for her country and got a longer run out in the final match of the group stage when she played the last 12 minutes against Costa Rica.

Cameroon

NWSL players: 1

Record: 2-1-0, 6 pts - 2nd in Group C

Next: Will face China PR on Saturday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Ranked No. 53 in the world, Cameroon came to Canada as the second-lowest rated team in the tournament. But the Indomitable Lions pulled off what was perhaps the shock of the tournament with victories over Ecuador and Switzerland in their first appearance at the World Cup to finish second in their group and advance to the knockout rounds.

Western New York Flash forward Ajara Nchout Njoya scored her first goal at the World Cup in the 90th minute of Cameroon's 2-1 loss to Japan in the second game of the tournament.

She must now be careful heading into her country's match against China PR in the Round of 16 after picking up a yellow card against Switzerland in the final group stage game. Another yellow card will see her miss the following match through suspension.

Canada

NWSL players: 11

Record: 1-0-2, 5 pts - 1st in Group A

Next: Will face Switzerland on Sunday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET

The hosts did not disappoint their home fans, combining a resolute defense with timely scoring to top a group at the World Cup for the first time in their sixth appearance at the tournament.

Portland Thorns FC forward Christine Sinclair delivered a dramatic victory over China PR when she stepped up to convert from the penalty spot in the 90+2 minute of the opening match of the World Cup.

Houston Dash goalkeeper Erin McLeod and her backline - which includes club teammates Lauren Sesselmann and Allysha Chapman - have been sensational at the tournament as Canada posted two shutouts and allowed just one goal in the three group games.

Chicago Red Stars forwards Melissa Tancredi and Adriana Leon have each played in every game at the tournament so far, while Sky Blue FC forward Jonelle Filigno started the first two games of the World Cup to earn her 69th and 70th international caps.

The NWSL contingents combined to play 1,525 minutes for Canada in the group stage.

England

NWSL players: 1

Record: 2-1-0, 6 pts - 2nd in Group F

Next: Will face Norway on Monday, June 22 at 5 p.m. ET

The Lionesses recovered from an opening-game loss to France with victories over Mexico and Colombia to grab second place in their group.

Portland Thorns FC forward Jodie Taylor appeared in the final group stage encounter as a second-half substitute. The 29-year-old came on in the 81 st minute to earn her ninth international cap with England.

Germany

NWSL players: 1

Record: 2-0-1, 7 pts - 1st in Group B

Next: Will face Sweden on Saturday, June 20 at 4 p.m. ET

Germany's reward for topping their group for the fourth consecutive time, and sixth-time overall, at the World Cup is a Round of 16 encounter with Sweden, the No. 5 team in FIFA's Women's Rankings.

The No. 1-ranked Germans were dominant in the group stage, posting a 10-0 victory over the Ivory Coast as well as a 4-0 triumph versus Thailand en route to massing a tournament-best +14 goal difference.

Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, who will retire from international soccer at the conclusion of the tournament, posted two shutouts in the first round and has allowed just one goal in 270 minutes.

Mexico

NWSL players: 4

Record: 0-2-1, 1 pts - 4th in Group F

Next: Eliminated

Mexico were unable to escape the group stage for their third-consecutive trip to the World Cup.

Washington Spirit midfielder Veronica Perez looked to have secured El Tri their first-ever victory at the World Cup when she scored in the 36th minute against Colombia in their opening game of the tournament.

However, the South Americans equalized with eight minutes remaining in the game as Mexico had to settle for their only point of the tournament.

Sky Blue FC forward Monica Ocampo made three starts and played all but four minutes of the group stage, while Boston Breakers defender Bianca Sierra and Washington Spirit defender each played 45 minutes at the tournament.

New Zealand

NWSL players: 1

Record: 0-1-2, 2 pts - 4th in Group A

Next: Eliminated

New Zealand took two points from three games to produce their best performance in four trips to the World Cup, but were unable to qualify for the knockout stages.

Chicago Red Stars defender Abby Erceg played all 270 minutes of the tournament for the Football Ferns and was instrumental for her country as New Zealand allowed just three goals in three matches and posted a shutout in their match against Canada.

Nigeria

NWSL players: 3

Record: 0-2-1, 1 pts - 4th in Group D

Next: Eliminated

Nigeria were eliminated following the group stage for the sixth time in seven trips to the World Cup.

Washington Spirit forward Francisca Ordega earned the Super Falcons their only point of the tournament with her goal in 87th minute to secure a 3-3 draw against Sweden in Nigeria's opening match of the tournament.

WNY Flash midfielder Halimatu Ayinde and Spirit defender Josephine Chukwunonye, who were signed during the tournament, played in all three games of the group stage.

United States

NWSL players: 22

Record: 2-0-1, 7 pts - 1st in Group D

Next: Will face Colombia on Monday, June 22 at 8 p.m. ET

The United States won their group for the sixth time in their seventh appearance at the World Cup.

Seattle Reign FC midfielder Megan Rapinoe scored twice and added an assist to lead the U.S. to first in one of the most difficult groups at the tournament.

Abby Wambach, whose NWSL rights are held by the Reign, scored the 14th goal of her World Cup career to pace the United States to a 1-0 victory over Nigeria to ensure her country held onto the top spot in the group.

Current NWSL players have played 2,771 minutes for the U.S. at the tournament - including 10 minutes by Sky Blue FC defender Christine Rampone, who became the oldest player to appear at a World Cup at the age of 39 years, 11 months and 23 days.

Check out the National Women's Soccer League Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



National Women's Soccer League Stories from June 19, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central