Sights: O’Sullivan’s Late Game-Winner Sends Courage to 2017 NWSL Championship

Denise O’Sullivan scored the game-winner in the 89th minute to send the North Carolina Courage to the 2017 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Championship in a semifinal match on Sunday, October 8, in Cary, North Carolina.

The Courage, the team formerly known as the Western New York Flash, return to the championship game after a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Red Stars. Last year, the Flash won the NWSL Championship after a penalty-kick shootout victory over the Washington Spirit.

The defeat was the third straight semifinal loss for Chicago.

North Carolina will face the Portland Thorns, 4-1 winners over the Orlando Pride in the other semifinal, in the NWSL Championship at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, October 14. The Courage will try to become the first team to win the NWSL Shield, the trophy given to the regular season champs, as well as the league Championship in the same season.

 

Shane Lardinois was on the sidelines to capture all of the action.