Latest news with #NorthCarolinaCourage
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gift Monday scores her 4th goal this season and Spirit down Courage 3-1
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gift Monday scored her fourth goal of the season to cap a 3-1 Washington Spirit victory over the North Carolina Courage in Sunday's lone National Women's Soccer League match. Courtney Brown and Brittany Ratcliffe also scored for the Spirit, who are undefeated in four straight. Advertisement Brown scored her first goal of the season in the 24th minute for the Sprit (7-3-1). Just moments later, Casey Krueger sent a perfectly placed ball in to Ratcliffe, who headed the ball to the opposite post and into the side netting. The Courage (3-5-3) narrowed the game in the 31st when Manaka Matsukubo rushed forward and popped the ball over Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury and into the net. Monday scored the final goal for the Spirit in the 58th on a header off a cross from Narumi Miura. Earlier this week, French club OL Lyonnes announced that current Spirit coach Jonatan Giraldez would take over as head coach next month. He will replace Joe Montemurro, who was was named head coach of the Australian women's national team. Advertisement Assistant Adrian Gonzalez will take over at the Spirit's new coach once Giraldez leaves. Olympic gold medalist and Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, who is sitting out indefinitely as she rehabs a nagging back injury, was at the match. She had been undergoing treatment in Europe. ___ AP soccer:
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Gift Monday scores her 4th goal this season and Spirit down Courage 3-1
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gift Monday scored her fourth goal of the season to cap a 3-1 Washington Spirit victory over the North Carolina Courage in Sunday's lone National Women's Soccer League match. Courtney Brown and Brittany Ratcliffe also scored for the Spirit, who are undefeated in four straight. Brown scored her first goal of the season in the 24th minute for the Sprit (7-3-1). Just moments later, Casey Krueger sent a perfectly placed ball in to Ratcliffe, who headed the ball to the opposite post and into the side netting. The Courage (3-5-3) narrowed the game in the 31st when Manaka Matsukubo rushed forward and popped the ball over Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury and into the net. Monday scored the final goal for the Spirit in the 58th on a header off a cross from Narumi Miura. Earlier this week, French club OL Lyonnes announced that current Spirit coach Jonatan Giraldez would take over as head coach next month. He will replace Joe Montemurro, who was was named head coach of the Australian women's national team. Assistant Adrian Gonzalez will take over at the Spirit's new coach once Giraldez leaves. Olympic gold medalist and Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, who is sitting out indefinitely as she rehabs a nagging back injury, was at the match. She had been undergoing treatment in Europe. ___ AP soccer:
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Denise O'Sullivan ‘excited' by unique benefit she'll have over Ireland teammates when USA friendlies arrive
DENISE O'Sullivan is available for Ireland's back-to-back friendlies against the USA later this month. But captain Katie McCabe will, as expected, sit out the Stateside tour to prevent burnout. Advertisement 2 Katie McCabe earns a well needed rest 2 Huge boost for Ireland to have Denise O'Sullivan for US tour And manager Carla Ward revealed that 'a number' of players O'Sullivan, 31, is in the middle of a busy season with North Carolina Courage. But the Cork native pledged: 'I'll be in the US. It's my one week in the whole year I get off from Courage, but that's OK. "I'm happy to play because any chance I get to play for my country, I want to be there. Advertisement Read more on Irish football 'I'm excited. For once, I don't have to travel 20 hours. I won't have jet lag, but the rest will. "USA are a top, top team and we can go out to challenge ourselves. It will be a brilliant experience.' O'Sullivan's trip home ended with mixed emotions after Ireland secured a That fell well short of the four-goal win required for promotion to League A of the Nations League. Advertisement Most read in Football Live Blog Exclusive The star midfielder admitted: 'I'm definitely disappointed. We wanted to get the 4-0 win, but the team played really well, especially in the first half. "We created a lot of chances and we had to put those away. Watch Robbie Brady aim hilarious dig at Ireland teammates after winning Player of the Year award 'In the second half, we moved away from the game plan. We could have played a bit more. "The space was there to do it, to keep building, and that's how we created chances in the first half. Advertisement 'Definitely mixed emotions, but we gave it our all.' PLAY-OFF PROSPECTS The Girls in Green will get a second chance against one of Austria, Iceland, Belgium, or Denmark in a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off next October. The winners will also be guaranteed a play-off spot for the 2027 World Cup. Ireland's opponents will be revealed in a draw at midday tomorrow. O'Sullivan insisted: 'At least having another chance is a positive. We want to be at that World Cup in Brazil. Advertisement "That 'It still hurts a lot because the pain hasn't gone from that game.' The agony of missing out on Euro 2025 will only increase when the tournament kicks off next month in Switzerland. O'Sullivan said: 'I think I'll be switching the TV off, doing everything I can not to watch it. But I have team-mates from Courage playing in it. Advertisement Since 'I know I'm saying I'll be switching the TV off, but I'll watch to cheer them on. It's still devastating not to be there, for sure.' O'Sullivan believes the switch remains a work in progress, adding: 'It took a long time to find our feet. We're still trying to get used to the way Carla and the staff want us to play, but five wins out of six is positive. 'It will definitely take time. The way Carla and the staff are implementing her style of play, it doesn't happen overnight. Advertisement 'You can see even in the first half how we created a number of chances. As a team, we want to keep doing that and get better.'
The 42
6 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
'It's another chance for us. We want to be at that World Cup in Brazil'
FOR DENISE O'SULLIVAN, the disappointment of not completing the Nations League mission in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, soon gave way to the optimism that the impending play-offs bring. Preparation for that begins with an international friendly double-header against the United States in June. O'Sullivan has confirmed that she will be available for selection. She had over 40 family members in the crowd on Tuesday night, all watching on as Ireland tried relentlessly to get the four-goal victory they needed against Slovenia. Saoirse Noonan provided the only goal of the night as Ireland came up short at full-time. 'They're waiting for me up in the lounge and all having a beer,' O'Sullivan said after another one of her trademark performances that was built on workrate. She shared the pitch with two other Cork natives Saoirse Noonan and Megan Connolly and was thrilled to be playing in front of a home crowd again. 'A different buzz. I know there were fewer fans compared to France last year but the crowd was still really good. They were really noisy and I'm proud to come back here.' That 1-0 result means Ireland finish second in Group B2 and must go to promotion/relegation play-offs in October. Their opponents will be third-placed League A outfit, and a draw on Friday afternoon at 12pm will determine who Ireland will face in a two-legged tie. Austria, Iceland, Belgium and Denmark are all in the mix to face Carla Ward's side. League A status would significantly boost their 2027 World Cup qualification hopes. Advertisement 'All high level,' O'Sullivan said about the quality of those teams. 'We'll have to be ready for that but it's another chance for us. We want to be at that World Cup in Brazil. That defeat against Wales from last year can stand to us going into the playoff. We've learnt a lot, it still hurts a lot because the pain hasn't gone from that game.' That Wales defeat last December denied Ireland a place at the European Championship which gets underway next month. O'Sullivan will be trying her best to avoid the coverage of the games but will monitor the results for her North Carolina Courage teammates who will be playing. 'I think I'll be switching the TV off, doing everything I can not to watch it but I have teammates from Courage playing in it. I know I'm saying I'll be switching the TV off but I'll watch to cheer them on. It's still devastating not to be there, for sure.' Reflecting on the campaign as a whole, O'Sullivan is content with Ireland's record of five wins from six games. She points to the change in management which took place in January when Carla Ward took over from Eileen Gleeson to guide Ireland through the rest of their 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup campaign. O'Sullivan says the team is still learning to adapt to the former Aston Villa manager's preferred style of play. 'It will definitely take time. The way Carla and staff are implementing her style of play, it doesn't happen overnight. You can see even in the first half how we created a number of chances. As a team we want to keep doing that and get better. 'There's definitely been a lot of change. It took a long time to find our feet and way. In We didn't start well in any game but came out with wins which shows the team's character. I still think we're still trying to get used to the way Carla and the staff want us to play but five wins out of six is positive.' Looking ahead to the friendlies against the United States, O'Sullivan says she is looking forward to sidestepping the usual jetlag that comes with reporting for international duty. Captain Katie McCabe will not be travelling due to a hectic season which ended in Champions League glory with Arsenal recently. Ireland boss Ward says that there are others in similar circumstances who are likely to miss the trip. But O'Sullivan is happy to be involved. 'I'll be in the US,' says O'Sullivan. 'It's my one week in the whole year I get off from Courage but that's okay. I'm happy to play because any chance I get playing for my country I want to be there. 'I'm excited. For once, I don't have to travel 20 hours. I won't have jet lag but the rest will. 'USA are a top, top team and we can go out to challenge ourselves. It will be a brilliant experience.'
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Denise O'Sullivan: Wales loss still hurts but it will stand to us with World Cup push
Initially Denise O'Sullivan admitted the pain from the Republic of Ireland's failure to qualify for this summer's Women's European Championship means she will be doing everything she can to avoid watching it. But quickly, upon a brief reflection, the Cork native would backtrack on that statement to insist she will tune in but only to support her North Carolina Courage teammates that will be involved in the tournament in Switzerland when it kicks off on July 2. Ireland had the chance to be there themselves and make history by qualifying for back-to-back major tournaments in the process, but a 2-1 loss to Wales at the Aviva Stadium in their playoff second leg last December dashed those dreams. 'I think I'll be switching the TV off, doing everything I can not to watch it, but I have teammates from Courage playing in it. 'I know I'm saying I'll be switching the TV off, but I'll watch to cheer them on. It's still devastating not to be there, for sure,' said the Cork native, speaking after Ireland's 1-0 win over Slovenia at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday night. And while it was nice for O'Sullivan to again taste victory in front of her home crowd, and the 40 or so family members in attendance, it wasn't the 4-0 victory they needed to leapfrog their opponents and secure automatic promotion to League A in the UEFA Women's Nations League. The Girls in Green (who are 26th in the FIFA world rankings) are now destined for the playoffs yet again where they will meet either Austria (ranked 18th), Iceland (13th), Belgium (20th) or Denmark (12th) with the draw taking place on Friday. 'It's another chance in October and we'll find out on Friday. We'll be ready for that. At least having another chance is a positive,' continued O'Sullivan, who also discussed the impact made by Carla Ward since she took over for Eileen Gleeson before the start of this Nations League campaign. 'We have experience under our belt. I've heard the team names, all high level so we'll have to be ready for that but it's another chance for us. Denise O'Sullivan in action against Kaja Korošec of Slovenia. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 'We want to be at that World Cup in Brazil (in 2027). That defeat against Wales from last year can stand to us going into the playoff. 'We've learnt a lot, it still hurts a lot because the pain hasn't gone from that game. There's definitely been a lot of change (under Ward). It took a long time to find our feet and way. 'We didn't start well in any game but came out with wins which shows the team's character. I still think we're still trying to get used to the way Carla and the staff want us to play but five wins out of six is positive. 'It will definitely take time. The way Carla and staff are implementing her style of play, it doesn't happen overnight. You can see even in the first half how we created a number of chances. As a team we want to keep doing that and get better. "Losing Louise, Fahey, Diane and Julie-Ann, so many at the same time, is really tough on the team so I think Katie, Courtney, myself and a few others must take the responsibility of driving the team on.' Rather than competing at the Euros, next up for Ireland is a glamourous friendly double-header against an extremely talented USA side (ranked number one in the world) in Colorado and Cincinnati on June 27 (Irish time) and 29 respectively. And while Carla Ward has announced that captain Katie McCabe will not be making the trip for fear of 'burnout' following her Champions League winning excursions with Arsenal recently, O'Sullivan confirmed she will be involved. And for once, she won't face an arduous journey to represent her country. 'It's my one week in the whole year I get off from Courage but that's okay. I'm happy to play because any chance I get playing for my country I want to be there. I'll be there. 'I'm excited. For once, I don't have to travel 20 hours. I won't have jet lag, but the rest will. 'I'm looking forward to it. USA are a top, top team and we can go out to challenge ourselves. 'It will be a brilliant experience,' concluded O'Sullivan.
