Jason Anderson

Do you want my thoughts on the Washington Spirit and D.C. United? This is where they're going to be. Introducing Green Line Soccer:

When this guy goes out (probably via suitably stupid and absurd animal attack), I will be buying champagne

We're digging our heels in. 🥾👠 TJA is raising $25,000 by Dec 1 for trans and gender-expansive journalists, because we're in this work for the long haul. And we're just getting started! Give today: bit.ly/DiggingOurHeelsIn

These teams are gonna have to shape up when they face the Mystics in the next round

Joan Laporta answered a question about the importance of winning the women's Champions League with an answer about wanting to win the men's Champions League and La Liga...while accepting the award for best women's club.

TY to everyone who sent me tips, info, and statements for this one — www.portlandmercury.com/sports/thorn...

The Spirit put together a good defensive showing at CPKC Stadium, but were left lamenting some early troubles on the ball (and an injury for Hal Hershfelt) in what became a 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Current. Your Green Line Soccer went live a while ago but I forgot to post it here:

Shades of the 2024 West final when he ran down Jordan Morris. Only CB in the league who has a prayer against either of those guys in a footrace.

Simple math for the Spirit: • Win + Wave loss = home field thru the final • Home quarterfinal with any of a win, draw, KC non-win, or Angel City non-win • Loss + KC win + Angel City win = road quarterfinal

Kansas City Current: 2 (0.44 xG) vs Washington Spirit: 1 (1.54 xG) #KCvWAS | #KCBABY | #ThatsTheSpirit | #NWSL | 🤖⚽

Big day in the NWSL for home teams playing the reverse card

The Spirit will undoubtedly underline the defensive showing as a good one. They've held KC & Gotham to 1.07 xG across their last 180 minutes. But it's also a game where KC didn't have to chase once they got ahead, & for ~60 of the last 70 minutes they dropped their lines & protected the lead.

Spirit are probably en route to a loss despite a +1.11 xGD on the day. Even if you take Luvanga's goal off the table, they've had the better chances. But, the defensive performance is only half of the battle, & the 1st half wasn't good enough in possession.

KC going into a back 5 with the Ball sub. Debinha all alone up top, Hopkins now out on the right in a 541. Spirit have used all 5 subs. Going to be really important to get runs in behind as well as players finding the seams between lines to open this up.

I understand not needing to break fire code but the only bonus numbers that should count are standing room only, etc. and not a watch party on a screen. Absolutely not an attendance record, even if all teams cook those numbers to some extent.

I know this isn't the most important story in the world, but apparently the Current are going through with claiming the people watching on a screen next door to CPKC Stadium as being in attendance. I'm not the boss of journos, but I think this is something where media should push back.

Given the (IMO generally confusing) way this game has been refereed, KC might have needed to get Bethune off the field for being on a yellow as much as for her minutes cap. Both teams on the end of some puzzling calls.

Better from the Spirit so far. Not seeing a ton of tactical changes in here, though Rodman receiving in the space she was in before slipping Luvanga through wasn't really happening in the 1st half.

Rose Kouassi is coming on for Washington. No KC Current subs. #KCBaby

This has been a real C-, maybe even D+, performance from the Spirit. KC's press is some part of that, but for me it's much more that the Spirit simply haven't brought their best at a venue where it takes an A- or better to get results.

The Spirit have had some real imprecision creep into their possession since the 2nd goal/Hershfelt sub double whammy. You don't see Rudd & Santos badly misplacing passes under token pressure more than a couple times a season, & both have happened in the last 10 minutes.

Really interesting choice from González in going with Bethi over Ngock, whose profile is much more similar to Hershfelt's. But: Bethi has already won 2 fouls in the attacking third, & her quick feet make her more press-resistant (which matters vs KC).

3-4 games worth of incidents packed into the first 20 minutes of KC-Spirit, but this injury for Hal Hershfelt is potentially the one with the longest-reaching consequences

That said, this is looking more 4231 than 433, so it's not a complete carbon copy (which, given the differences between Gotham & KC, is sensible)

After the win last week Hal Hershfelt told reporters that the Spirit weren't put off by giving away some early fouls, because the intent was to announce "Hey, we're here!" to Gotham. 2 fouls in the 1st minute, feels like the idea has remained in place.

For those watching at home, volleyball has run long on ESPN. Be sure to tap in with ESPN2 for the start of this match. bsky.app/profile/riss...

Unchanged starting 11 for the Spirit, though we'll see whether they have Hershfelt deep as the 6 (they've been toggling her & Sullivan between that role lately depending on how transitional the opponent is, & KC is very transitional).

FC Cincinnati made it two wins in four days over DC United last night with a match winning effort from Evander and a defensive effort that did the basic stuff. My takes here: www.preseasonstreams.com/three-things...

Women’s sports face enough real problems. Don’t buy into this made up one villainizing the Trans community.

🚆🏈 New from Green Line Soccer, which again is a soccer website 🏈🚆 Spirit FFB is back with a major update from Kate Wiesner. On everything pertaining to her team Weezy F. Baby, what the last-place punishment might be come season's end, and how one copes when the draft extends beyond bedtime:

Anti-trans bigots are coming to NWSL games looking to provoke violence or other incidents that could go viral. This is the back-up plan: harass and endanger anyone who stands up to them. NWSL is going to have to contend with this. Kicking the can down the road will put too many fans at risk.

Regarding the discrimination protocol during RSL-St. Louis tonight: Timo Baumgartl says he alerted referee Drew Fischer after he saw a group in the stands "making monkey sounds" towards Fallou Fall. "We have to stand up for Fallou in that moment." "There's no place in the world for that."

here is the full 2+ minute set up of Zinckernagel's goal off of an indirect free kick in the box #cf97

I’ve never seen my idiot men’s team close the comments section on Instagram until tonight obviously bodes well for the stage of the club www.instagram.com/p/De5itG4AlAG/

From Audi Field, your latest Green Line Soccer gamer after D.C. United simply couldn't find solutions against one of MLS's worst defensive sides in recent memory. A 2-0 loss to FC Cincinnati didn't eliminate United from the playoff conversation, but they're in near-miracle territory now.