NWSL Round 9 Match of the Week

Welcome to Round 9 of Fantasy NWSL! We will preview the Match of the Week selected based on which fixture features the teams with the highest combined fantasy points per game played (FP/GP).

Angel City FC vs Portland Thorns:

With a combined FP/GP of 211.11, the match between Angel City FC and Portland Thorns is the highest ranked Round 9 fixture when considering teams’ average earning performance. 

Overview:

Angel City vs Thorns is the only Round 9 fixture featuring two teams within the top half of the league table. LA is sitting in 6th place while Portland is in 2nd. This will be the second regular-season meeting between the squads in 2022.

Angel City enters the match with a 4-4-1 record, including a road loss in their last fixture. LA has struggled to produce quality from match to match. In each of their losses, Angel City has failed to register a goal and now finds itself near the bottom of the league in goals recorded. With the team having difficulty putting the ball in the back of the net, they will have to rely on their defensive capabilities. The team has allowed an average of 1 goal per game, which ranks fourth best in the league.

After starting the season slowly, the Thorns have been gaining momentum in recent weeks. They have won their last two games decidedly, netting 10 goals and conceding none. Those results have helped Portland average a league-best 2.33 goals scored per game. Their defensive efforts have also vaulted the team to a second best average goals allowed of just 0.78 per game. Portland has built a balanced team that is showcasing its strengths on both sides of the ball.  

Players to Watch: 

Angel City FC

• Sydney Leroux (FW): Angel City made headlines this week by trading for the veteran forward. LA is clearly searching for an offensive spark following the season-ending injury to Christen Press. Leroux could be that weapon for Angel City as she has continued to demonstrate her proven goal-scoring ability. Playing for Orlando this season, Leroux has recorded two goals and an assist. 
• Cari Roccaro (MF): With the team searching for a winning strategy, it will be important for Roccaro, one of the squad’s mainstays, to provide a commanding presence in the midfield. The team depends on her to be a key transitional piece and provide for both the defense and attack. Since Vanessa Gilles, the team’s top-performing defender, is away on international duty, it could fall upon Roccaro to pick up the defensive workload. 

Portland Thorns

• Hina Sugita (MF): With Portland missing Sophia Smith, the league leader in fantasy points, Sugita will likely be relied upon to help lift the team’s offense. The midfielder has been a playmaker for the Thorns, recording two goals and an assist on the season. Her fantasy point production in the last three games has been particularly impressive.
• Bella Bixby (GK): Some of Portland’s top defenders will be away on international duty for the next few weeks. With turnover in the back line, it will be important for Bixby to provide a strong performance. She looks primed to do just that as indicated by her league-leading fantasy points amongst goalkeepers. 

Prediction:

Angel City and Portland appear to be heading in opposite directions. LA is searching for answers, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, while the Thorns have been the hottest team in the league. The history between the two teams is also not promising for Angel City as they suffered their worst loss of the season to Portland in early June.

Angel City will hope to ride home support and keep the game close in the early stages. However, Portland seems too strong at the moment and will likely open up an early lead. Look for the Thorns to continue their commanding form by emerging with a multi-goal victory.