Hayley Raso, Ellie Carpenter and Caitlin Foord's Portland Thorns locked in an NWSL semi-final against no other than Sam Kerr and Mackenzie Arnold's Chicago Red Stars. But there's one particular battle we're most excited for.
It's going to be one of the most titanic NWSL matches in recent memory and a huge occassion for Australian football, with four Aussies set to take centre stage in the world's biggest league (Arnold, as Chicago's reserve keeper, will most likely to be stuck on the sidelines).
It means at least two, and as many as three, Australians will represent the Matildas in an NWSL grand final.
But, more enticingly, it means we get to see these icons and childhood friends, who have risen through the ranks together, face each other in a do-or-die struggle in front of a packed Bridgeview Stadium in Chicago, set to register a huge crowd for the occassion.
The most enticing battle? Sam Kerr set to face off against childhood friend Caitlin Foord.
The two have had meteoric rises through the world game, with Foord breaking onto to the world stage early winning the Best Young Player at the 2011 World Cup before Kerr bloomed late to become one of the world's greatest female footballers.
They're attacking athleticism, dynamism and no-holds-barred approach compliment each other pefectly in the national team, but given Foord's recent injury history, it will be a rare chance to see them battle each other.
Foord resumed action, playing 12 minutes off the bench in Portland's final season match, so expect her alongside rested teammates Carpenter and Raso to figure as Portland knows if they can stop Kerr, they'll have the advantage in depth across the field.
NWSL Semi-Final
Chicago Red Stars vs Portland Thorns
Monday October 21, 6:30am AEST
It was a momentous event not lost on the Australian WoSo community.
#WoSo twitter friends I need your help! Who I should support at the @NWSL Semi Final at SeatGeek stadium on Sunday?? @ThornsFC have @HayleyRaso, @CarpenterEllie, and @CaitlinFoord, but then @chiredstarsPR have @samkerr1 🤔🤔
— Ben Laws (@benlawskiwi) October 13, 2019
#BAONPDX❤️ or #MKOT💙#NWSL #GoMatildas💚💛🦘
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