This week in Aussies Abroad action saw a first goals for Caitlin Foord and Emily Gielnik, Aussie v Aussies action in Europe and a resurgent Matilda in red hot form in the United States.

Here is the report.

USA

The first game of the weekend in the NWSL saw the Houston Dash travel to face the Chicago Red Stars.  Lydia Williams was once again in goal for the Dash, who were looking to continue the momentum from their win last week.  Unfortunately an own goal in the first half saw the Dash go down early.  The team was not able to overcome the goal and the Red Stars were able to add to their lead in the second half winning the game 2-0.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS85BX-I-Tc

Fresh off claiming the 2016/17 W-League Player of the Year award, Sam Kerr and Sky Blue FC took on the Washington Spirit which ended up being a game filled with goals from both teams.  The Spirit opened up scoring early by netting a goal in the 5th minute.  Sky Blue would answer back in the 12th minute equalizing the score.  Heading into half Washington was able to notch two more goals and have a 3-1 lead.  Sky Blue FC did not go away and were able to score a goal early on in the second half.  The Spirit would not let up the attack and notched their fourth goal of the game.

Then in the 76th minute Kerr slotted a pass to her teammate who was taken down in the box and awarded a penalty.  Sky Blue would convert the penalty and be down by only one with 20 minutes to play.  Kerr and her teammates were in their attacking half with chance after to chance to find an equalizer, but the whistle blew before they could get the ball in the back of the net.  Sky Blue would lose the game 4-3.

Kerr is still without her first goal or assist of the season, but she continues to terrorize opposing defenses making her first point of the season sure to come.

https://twitter.com/SkyBlueFC/status/861005486048641024

https://twitter.com/SkyBlueFC/status/861011336574230528

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCjnhhsHQXU

The most notable rivalry in the NWSL took place this past weekend with the Portland Thorns hosting the Seattle Reign.  Hayley Raso made her second consecutive start of the season for the Thorns and played the entire game for the team. The Reign took an early lead when they scored in the second minute of play.  Scoring would seize for over 30 minutes of play until Raso sent a dangerous cross into the box that would be misplayed by the Reign resulting in an own goal.

https://twitter.com/ThornsFC/status/861049840515637248

The Reign would score another goal a few minutes before the first half ended.  The Reign’s 2-1 lead would loom over the majority of the game, but then in the 82nd minute the Thorns would find the equalizer.  The back and forth game deservedly ended in a 2-2 tie.

https://twitter.com/HayleyRaso/status/861244609061560320

Raso is fitting nicely into the starting lineup for Thorns and once again shows she can be a weapon in the Thorns offensive arsenal.

https://twitter.com/ThornsFC/status/861056948766113797

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgKG9QoR2wQ

The Orlando Pride would round out the Aussie play in the NWSL for the weekend.  Steph Catley and Alanna Kennedy were both in the starting lineup when the Pride took on FC Kansas City.  Laura Alleway would be an unused sub for the Pride.  The game would prove to leave all of the goal scoring until late in the second half.  The Pride looked to win the game in the 73rd minute with the first goal of the game, but in the 84th minute FC Kansas City would tie the game up.  The two late goals would be all the game had with the game ending in a 1-1 tie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI1MN6MDDfo

Europe

It was Aussie v Aussie in Germany with Emily van Egmond's top placed Wolfsburg up against Elise Kellond-Knight's second placed Turbine Potsdam.  Both Van Egmond (80th) and Kellond-Knight (76th) were second half substitutes as Wolfsburg tightened their grip on the title with a 3-1 win.

In Sweden the Aussies were among the goals with Emily Gielnik's first goal for Avaldsnes helping them stay top of the Toppserien.  Gielnik and Chloe Logarzo started in their 2-0 win over  Stabæk with Logarzo lasting 62 minutes and Gielnik 90 minutes before being subbed out late.  Gema Simon was an unused substitute.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTyI46NgjAP

At Klepp Tameka Butt continued her hot early season form as she scored a hattrick in her team's 5-0 win over Medkila.  Butt ended the game with a four goals and is currently joint top goalscorer with 5 goals.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BT07afVgdi2/

Both Butt and Gielnik were nominated for Goal of the Week.

Meanwhile Vålerenga picked up a point on the road against Trondheims-Ørn with Teigen Allen and Aivi Luik playing a full 90 minutes in the 2-2 draw. Hannah Bacon was an unused substitute for Trondheims.

Asia

After weeks of mixed results, Caitlin Foord and Katrina Gorry's Vegalta Sendai were back in the winner's circle with the tight 2-1 victory over second placed INAC Kobe Leonessa.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTxeWFNF1MS

Both Gorry and Foord played 90 minutes with the latter finding herself on the scoreboard for the first time in Japan after netting in the 34th minute to open the scoring.

https://twitter.com/TheWomensGame/status/862210871581331456

Over in South Korea, Rachael Quigley netted her second goal of the season as Hwacheon KSPO defated Gyeongju 2-1 at home.  The win sees Quigley's team in second place on 9 points - just one point behind ladder leaders Suwon FMC.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BT3tRPhDjhRRxoIRxbOdFvJ-n5hH430_U5Jz2o0/?taken-by=quigzy