Kicking Off … Sanchez Ties Single Season Scoring Record
It was a mixed bag for the North Carolina Courage (12-11-3, 39 Points) in Utah last night. On the one hand, Ashley Sanchez scored from the spot with another well-struck penalty kick to tie the NWSL single-season scoring record set by Temwa Chaŵinga (20 goals).
Even better, she did it in 26 matches — the same as Chaŵinga. There should be no asterisk when sharing the record.
Gianna Paul drew the foul, but there was no doubt who would take the penalty. The goal was Sanchez's 27th career regular season goal for the Lioness, and Sanchez now has 24 goal contributions this year, the second-most in a single NWSL season.
Unfortunately, Sanchez’s goal of the season was just an equalizer, and Utah Royals FC (14-9-3, 45 Points) found a second half winner to catapult to 4th place in the NWSL table. Utah struck first in the 17th minute after Miyabi found Cloé Lacasse for a point blank header. Cece Delzer found the winner for Utah lead in the 65th minute off of a Mina Tanaka assist.
The Courage continue to sit in 9th place after a weekend that saw them fall below the playoff line.
That sets the Courage up for a six-point match this Friday in Washington. If they beat Seattle Reign FC (12-10-4, 40 Points), the Courage are back above the playoff line; with a big win from the Courage, a Kansas City Current (12-9-5, 41 Points) loss and a bad loss from Angel City FC (12-8-6, 42 Points), the Courage could still finish next weekend as high as 6th.
If not, Seattle can pull away and stalking horses like Denver Summit FC (9-9-8, 35 Points) may have the opportunity to make a late run, further complicating the playoff picture for the Lioness.
Good news for the Courage, by the way: Riley Jackson made her return to the field after missing three matches due to a foot injury.
Watch: Ashley Sanchez’s Record-Tying PK
Lineups: What You Need to Know
We’ll start off talking about the international windows.
The U.S. Men’s National Team put on a clinic in Orlando on Saturday, September 26 with a 4-1 win against Peru.
The post-World Cup Poch Era is here.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino gave 11 players their first cap.
Justin Ellis and Julian Hall both scored in their USMNT debuts.
Malik Tillman scored his third goal in three matches, and traded assists with Sebastian Berhalter.
Soccer Sheet is in St. Louis as U.S. Soccer honors Tim Ream today and tomorrow.
Ream will participate in a Q&A with the American Outlaws supporters group tonight, and will talk to the press tomorrow before USMNT vs. Chile at Energizer Park in downtown St. Louis.
USMNT vs. Chile kicks off at 8:00 PM ET/7:00 PM CT (local time). After that, the Stars and Stripes play two October friendlies against perennial rivals Mexico and Canada.
Mexico vs. Colombia: Colombia and Mexico tied 1-1 at in Baltimore on Saturday. Jorge Torres was on the scene, and we’ll be sharing more updates and photos this week.
U-20 Women’s World Cup: Spain defeated North Korea 4-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw to win the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final on September 27, 2026, in Łódź, Poland.
Colombia won the bronze medal match on penalties over Italy, 1-1 (4-3).
We had a spirited conversation with Carolina Ascent coach and U.S. Women’s soccer ecosystem veteran Philip Poole about the U.S. U-20 team earlier this month:
U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes releases her international window roster tomorrow. Our big question remains: is Ashley Sanchez back in the squad ahead of Brazil?
As Philip Poole said, “What else does [Ashley] have to do?”
The USWNT will play top-ranked Spain, the defending World Cup champions, on Oct. 10 at Audi Field in Washington D.C. and on Oct. 13 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa.
Major League Soccer: The Berhalters had a good Saturday. In addition to Sebastian’s two goal contributions against Peru, Gregg’s Chicago Fire defeated Dean Smith’s Charlotte FC 0-1 at Bank of America Stadium in a match that inspired many complaints about the officiating.
Charlotte have lost four in a row to Chicago. Their last win against the Fire was in October of 2024.
Archie Goodwin sustained an injury and had to be helped off the field. It’s unclear whether it was his toe, or his Achilles.
Tim Ream got a late red card in a match that saw many calls go Chicago’s way.
USL Super League: Read more about the Carolina Ascent’s 1-1 draw against Sporting JAX in yesterday’s inaugural WoSo Sunday newsletter.
Video: Dean Smith on Ream’s Red
First Half: The Latest Stories from Soccer Sheet
WoSo Sunday: Swept Away by KC Current; Courage Slip Below Playoff Line; Ascent Dominate First Half of Short Season
Editor’s Note: Due to inconsistent (and often non-existent) women’s sports coverage in Charlotte and the Carolinas, Soccer Sheet is going in a different direction: a weekly newsl…
Halftime: Soccer Fact of the Week
In 2024, CPKC Stadium — home of the Kansas City Current — opened as the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women’s professional sports team. The stadium includes an exhibit honoring the 1985 U.S. Women’s National Team, the country’s inaugural women’s team.
Second Half: Social Media Shares
Postgame: Candid Comments
“I just felt during the first half, maybe, that VAR turned the telly off to have a little sandwich.”
- Charlotte FC Head Coach Dean Smith on Saturday’s officiating