Expected Own Goals

NWSL Week 11: Rappelling Down the Seattle Reign Cavern, with Sylvs of Shea Butter FC!

The Seattle Reign got smoked by the Kansas City Current over the weekend. That such a result would be par for the course shows what kind of season Laura Harvey's crew have had. Sylvs of Shea Butter FC hopped on to talk about Reign history, the struggles of the team in the void of the team sale yet to close, and what glimmers of hope Jordyn Huitema's two goals could represent. Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

USWNT Recap: The Emma Hayes Era Kicks Off With Goals Goals Goals!

The day has come: Emma Hayes is now the head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team. The side demolished South Korea for a combined scoreline of 7-0. Sam Staab and Lily Yohannes each earned their first caps. The law firm of Smith, Swanson, and Rodman served papers to their opponents over and over again. Alex Morgan--well, she was present. What did we learn about how Hayes wants the team to play? Eric and Evan uncover all the tactical nuggets across the two friendlies, then project the USWNT's likely 18-player Olympics roster. The takes get spicy.Need a pick-me-up? Four out of five doctors recommend SoMalloTrin!Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

BONUS TUESDAY: Wrapping Up the Liga MX Femenil Season, with Adriana Terrazas!

The international break has flipped our schedule this week, so for this week's early bonus episode, we bring you a great conversation Evan had with Our Futbol co-host Adriana Terrazas to break down the recent Clausura final and all the storylines from Liga MX Femenil this season. 
Team by team, we look at how C.D. Guadalajara ("Chivas") came up frustratingly short (11:20). C.F. Pachuca (17:01) won the transfer window heading into the Clausura. Why did they look so limp once they got into the Liguilla? UANL Tigres (26:57) were once again dominant across the entire year, welcoming Jenni Hermoso and Thembi Kgatlana to their ranks. After their semifinal drubbing, are they ready to transition to the next generation? Club América (33:32) looked unstoppable until those chaotic final few minutes in the second leg of the Clausura final. Was it bad luck or a bottle job? C.F. Monterrey ("Rayadas") (42:57) won the most dramatic of penalty shootouts in front of nearly 32,000 screaming home fans. Did new head coach Amelia Valverde built a functional unit that will contend next year? 
Finally, Evan and Adriana talk about the state of the Mexico Women's National Team (51:22), Pedro López's evolution of the side, and which players can expect to make a contribution over coming months. Back to regularly scheduled programming on Thursday with our recap of Emma Hayes's first two games in charge of the USWNT!Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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