Head coach Mak Lind promised goals, and goals are what his North Carolina Courage side is delivering.
“We practice on our…finishing phase, how do we want to score goals,” Lind confirmed in his introductory press conference after being appointed head coach of the Courage earlier this year. “We want to create those behaviors…so we have been practicing a lot of that.”
Fast forward five months, and the Courage average the most goals per game in the National Women’s Soccer League. They hit four in their latest performance to seal a sensational win over the Washington Spirit on Saturday, in what must go down as one of the best games in NWSL history.
Let’s try to bring some tactical order to the chaos that was: Washington Spirit 3-4 North Carolina Courage.
Sanchez attacks the last line
One of the most significant developments since Lind took charge of North Carolina has been the improved goal threat of Ashley Sanchez. The 27-year-old had a previous best of five goals in a single season, and is renowned more for her close control and dribbling skill. But she opened the scoring against Washington in the second minute, notching her 11th goal of the campaign.
The Courage forced a turnover to regain possession deep in Washington’s half and Shinomi Koyama got on the ball. Koyama played a first-time pass over the top as Sanchez made a run between Washington’s right-back and center-back, stealing in to finish with her left foot.
