LAST UPDATE | 10 Sep 2023
DENISE O’SULLIVAN HAS captained North Carolina Courage to back-to-back NWSL Challenge Cup glory.
Courage were 2-0 winners over Racing Louisville FC on Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary. Brazil’s Kerolin and Manaka Matsukubo of Japan scored the goals, one coming in each half.
Midfield star O’Sullivan played 84 minutes, before lifting the trophy.
Back to back 🏆
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) September 9, 2023
Congratulations @TheNCCourage, the 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup Champions! pic.twitter.com/po04gX4fci
The North Carolina outfit have now won a league-record four NWSL finals in the club’s history and become the first NWSL team to win multiple Challenge Cups.
They have lifted seven domestic trophies — three NWSL Shields, two NWSL Championships and two Challenge Cup championships — breaking a tie with Portland Thorns to become the most successful team in league history.
O’Sullivan has been involved in all seven successes. “Seven years, seven trophies and still not done. Love this team,” she wrote on Instagram.
Meanwhile, there was plenty of Irish interest in the FA Women’s Championship on Sunday.
Hayley Nolan scored an excellent goal as Crystal Palace hammered Durham 9-1. The former London City Lionesses centre-half started the rout in the 14th minute, and Palace didn’t look back from there. Naoisha McAloon, Saoirse Noonan and Eleanor Ryan-Doyle all featured for the losing side.
What a strike by @Hayley__Nolan 🚀#BarclaysWC @cpfc_w pic.twitter.com/72SicrqjnF
— Barclays Women’s Championship (@BarclaysWC) September 10, 2023
London City and Reading drew 1-1. The Royals hit a 96th-equaliser past ex-goalkeeper Grace Moloney, while Ruesha Littlejohn and Niamh Farrelly also played for London City.
Lewes and Birmingham City couldn’t be separated in a stalemate, with Sophie Whitehouse, Kate Mooney, Louise Quinn and Jamie Finn all starting. Lucy Quinn and Lily Agg came off the Birmingham bench.
Tyler Toland again played the full game as Blackburn Rovers beat Sheffield United 2-1; Emily Kraft was introduced off the bench in Southampton’s 1-0 home defeat to Sunderland; and Alli Murphy came on in Watford’s 3-2 win at Charlton.
