Also in today’s roundup, Sam Kerr takes down another award, Carli Lloyd rules herself out for Saturday, and Nikki Izzo-Brown to be inducted into the West Virginia Soccer Association Hall of Fae
Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier between Denmark and Hungary will go forward as scheduled after the Danish team reached a temporary agreement with the DBU over wages and other issues. Danish captain Pernille Harder made the announcement on Danish television early Monday. A friendly last week against the Netherlands had to be scrapped when players did not report for camp in protest.
According to tweets by Karja Kragelund, final details of a long-term agreement could be worked out following the match. The Danish team was expected to arrive in Hungary on Monday evening.
Over the weekend, the Danish men injected themselves into the stalemate by offering to have a portion of their earnings transferred to the women so they can have the same deal as the men. At the heart of that issue is the claim by the DBU that the women are not employees and therefore not subjected to the same labor laws.
Meanwhile, several USWNT players took to Twitter Monday to voice their support for Denmark players.
We stand w/ the #denwnt?? in their fight to #changethegame and urge the DBU to bridge the gap so WCQ play can resume.
— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) September 18, 2017
Denmark is exiting a summer run to the final match of the European Championship where they lost to hosts Netherlands. That result leaves them as no worse than co-favorite with Sweden to win Group 4 and book passage to the World Cup in France. Croatia and Ukraine are also in the group along with Hungary. The four best runners-up will play off for a final UEFA spot in November 2018.
Sam Kerr nabs another award
Sam Kerr’s remarkable year continued over the weekend when she was named best female footballer of 2017 at the Australian Professional Football Association (PFA) awards. Kerr’s 2017 began at home in the W-League where her season landed her the Julie Dolan Medal as that league’s best player.
The best was yet to come though when Kerr returned for her third season with Sky Blue. On the strength of two dramatic hat tricks—one of which became NWSL’s only four-goal game—Kerr currently sits on 16 goals. One more and she will stand alone as the greatest single-season scorer in NWSL. Over the summer Kerr scored a hat trick for Australia during a Tournament of Nations match against Brazil. She added another against Japan to help the Matildas clinch the trophy.
Kerr is also a finalist for FIFA World Player on the Year which will be announced in January.
In other Australian award news, the PFA presented former skipper Cheryl Salisbury with the Alex Tobin Medal for service to the game. Salisbury, who played for the New York Power under Tom Sermanni in 2003, is the first woman to receive the Tobin Medal. This is the 10th year of the award’s existence.
Carli Lloyd ruled out for final Dash match at BBVA
Carli Lloyd will be in Houston when the Dash host the Red Stars on Saturday night but will not play per her own Twitter account.
Looking forward to being back in Houston for game 9/23 7:30pm. Although I won't be ready to play I will be excited 2 be back! #Houstonstrong pic.twitter.com/Jboo7Axxb1
— Carli Lloyd (@CarliLloyd) September 18, 2017
Lloyd injured her left ankle August 14 against FC Kansas City and has not played since. Jill Ellis did not include Lloyd on the roster for this week’s matches against New Zealand. Prior to the FIFA break, Dash interim coach Omar Morales said it was 50/50 whether Lloyd would play for the team again this season.
The match is a significant one for the visiting Red Stars who will clinch a playoff berth with a win. It is also the Dash’s final match of 2017 at BBA Compass Stadium. They will host the Courage in a makeup game on September 27 but that mathch has been moved to Einburg, about a five-hour drive from Houston. The Dash then conclude their season October 1 in Kansas City.
Nikki Izzo-Brown to be inducted into WVU Hall of Fame
Nikki Izzo-Brown, who coached West Virginia to the College Cup final last season, will be inducted into the West Virginia soccer Association’s Hall of Fame as a meritorious member.
WVSA to induct @WVUIzzoBrown into WVSA Hall of Fame as meritorious member on 3/3/18 in M'town. Congrats coach! @wvuwomenssoccer @WVUSports pic.twitter.com/hj4MKTQk0A
— WV Soccer Assoc. (@wvsoccer) September 18, 2017
Izzo-Brown is the founding coach of the women’s program at West Virginia which launched in 1996. In 21 seasons, the Mountaineers have never had a losing record and only once failed to win 10 games. Last season the school graduated Canadian stars Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence, both of whom signed overseas contracts. West Virginia’s win over LaSalle on Sunday was the program’s, and Izzo-Brown’s, 316th.