Expected Own Goals

BONUS THURSDAYS: Barcelona Wins the Champions League Again! Plus, The State of NWSL Broadcasting, with Mike Watts!

Barcelona capped off their third Champions League title in four years by taking down their final boss, Lyon, to have no more rivals for best team in the world. How dominant were they in the game, though? Did Lyon actually knock them off their axis for a brief moment? Eric and Evan debate the merits of each team's performance (00:45).Then, veteran NWSL play-by-play announcer Mike Watts comes on (21:05) to talk about the wild times of calling Sky Blue FC games in 2014, the exciting opportunities that new media partners like Amazon and ION have created for games, what actually goes into calling a game, and most importantly, what his favorite Taylor Swift song is. This was a fun one. Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Week 10: Destiny's Children? (H-Town Screwed Mix)

Week 10! Two teams. Two massive victories. Two bright futures ahead? Eric and Evan ponder the meaning of Houston's staggering 3-0 home win over North Carolina and examine the implications of Racing Louisville's 1-0 away result in Chicago. H-town madness? Kentucky fried conquest? We're curious too. Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

BONUS THURSDAYS: The Big WSL Wrap-Up, and the USWNT Takes Custody of Emma Hayes, with Jessy Parker Humphreys!

It's the premiere episode of our new Thursday bonus episode series, where we explore other tactical and analytical corners of the global women's football landscape!To kick things off, Evan and Eric bring on Athletic columnist and Counter Pressed co-host Jessy Parker Humphreys to go swimming in how the 23-24 WSL season shook out. Chelsea (1:32) won their fifth consecutive title, but did they underperform? Manchester City (6:21) came so close and fell so frustratingly short once again, but they must be celebrated. Manchester United (14:01) were a clown show. Liverpool (27:16) did the impossible and finished fourth, but were they any good? Arsenal (37:13) were just sort of Arsenal-y. Jessy also takes us through Tottenham, Brighton, and other highlights further down the table (51:14).Then we dig into WSL vs. NWSL banter (55:13) before Jessy, representing Chelsea, hands custody of Emma Hayes over to the USWNT (1:13:57). What stands out about the June friendlies roster? What can USWNT fans learn about Hayes from her time at Chelsea? Will her press conferences be just as epic? Who's more likely to reap the whirlwind--Hayes or the players? It's a jam-packed bonus episode, friends! Let's get wild! Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Week 9: The Utah Royals Stare into the Void

Another week, another brutal Utah Royals loss. Though the scoreline was a mere 1-0 defeat on the road to the North Carolina Courage, the expansion side was under siege pretty much from minute one. Eric and Evan use the Royals' performance to figure out just how badly the season has gone for the club, and what bright spots may be on the horizon. Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Vibe Check, Part II: Double the Own Goals, Double the Fun!?!?

More transparency! More accountability! More Own Goals! Kieran guest stars as the Grim Reaper in Evan and Eric's Own Goal Bogus Journey!Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Vibe Check, Part I: xOG's Biggest Own Goals of the Season!

We here at Expected Own Goals are about transparency and accountability. That's why, at the point in the season when xG stabilizes and becomes sticky, we've decided to go back and cop to our best and worst own goals from our preseason predictions. Kieran's back to face the music along with Eric and Evan. Be sure to tune in later this week for Part II, where the gang digs into the players that have surprised and disappointed them the most!Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

What We Talk About When We Talk About The Red Stars, with Gal Pal Sports!

We've been putting it off all season, but after a tough loss to the Washington Spirit and an emphatic win against Bay FC, we can put it off no longer: we must discuss the fourth-place Chicago Red Stars. Eric and Evan were joined by Lesley Ryder of Gal Pal Sports to dissect the Laura Ricketts-Lorne Donaldson era of the team, if their early-season success is sticky or a mirage, and who will step up to score besides Mallory Swanson. Rep the 3-1-2, or the 7-7-3, or the 4-6-4, or whatever else people tear up about on The Bear! Listen to Football is Wife, hosted by Lesley Ryder and Emily AndersonArt by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Week 6--Spirit: Pride of the Cimarron

Is Orlando the best team in the NWSL right now? They just might be. An emphatic 3-2 victory over the Washington Spirit on the road cemented what could be a hyper-organized defense with Barbra Banda as the tip of the spear. Other teams, attack at your own peril. 
Evan and Eric dig into what made Banda so special, as well as what the future might hold for the Spirit--and Ashley Hatch--once Leicy Santos and Jonatan Giráldez arrive in June. (tl;dr they'll be fine.)Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Week 5: Angel Cities with Filthy Soles, NC Courage Cursed by The Soccer Gods

The NWSL spring trade deadline has come and gone, and somehow, both the Houston Dash and Angel City made some significant moves. Eric and Evan brought Kieran Doyle-Davis on to get into all of the gobsmacking behavior by both teams in moving some major players. Then, they dig into Angel City's victory over the North Carolina Courage, and how a team with 62% possession and who topped the home side on xG 2.1 - 0.5 managed to still leave Los Angeles without a result. Plus, we'll hear from Angel City head coach Becki Tweed with her tactical analysis of the match! Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Week 4: Gotham Gets Weird, and the Kansas City Current Put the "Fly" in "Chawinga"

We last checked in on the Kansas City Current in Week 1. What a difference a month makes! They're sitting atop the table on 10 points, have a potential superstar in Temwa Chawinga, and got a road point against Evan and Eric's preseason title favorite, Gotham FC. But is Chawinga the real deal? Were Juan Carlos Amorós's tactics too clever by half? Who looks like the better bet to keep succeeding in the weeks to come? Dive in, baby! Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs