San Diego Wave 2-1 North Carolina Courage
Updated
San Diego Wave won: San Diego Wave 2-1 North Carolina Courage in the NWSL (Round 21) on Sat, 12 Sept 2026 at Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California. San Diego Wave goals: Gia Corley 23', Melanie Barcenas 72'. North Carolina Courage goals: Ashley Sanchez 82'. Expected goals: 1.04-0.69. Possession: 52-48. Player of the match: Melanie Barcenas (8.5).
Match report
San Diego Wave beat North Carolina Courage 2-1
San Diego Wave edged North Carolina Courage 2-1 at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday 12 September in NWSL.
Gia Corley put San Diego Wave ahead on 23' (1-0), Melanie Barcenas made it 2-0 on 72' and Ashley Sanchez pulled one back for North Carolina Courage on 82' (2-1).
San Diego Wave had 52% of the ball, shots were 9-12 (5-6 on target) and expected goals finished 1.04-0.69.
Melanie Barcenas (San Diego Wave FC) was player of the match with an 8.5 rating.
Attendance: 9,853. Referee: Matthew Thompson.
Match stats
| San Diego Wave | North Carolina Courage | |
|---|---|---|
| Ball possession | 52 | 48 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.04 | 0.69 |
| Total shots | 9 | 12 |
| Shots on target | 5 | 6 |
| Touches in opposition box | 15 | 20 |
| Big chances | 1 | 1 |
| Big chances missed | 0 | 1 |
| Accurate passes | 490 (83%) | 433 (82%) |
| Yellow cards | 0 | 1 |
| Corners | 1 | 3 |
| Total shots | 9 | 12 |
| Shots off target | 3 | 5 |
| Shots on target | 5 | 6 |
| Blocked shots | 1 | 1 |
| Hit woodwork | 0 | 0 |
| Shots inside box | 4 | 9 |
Lineups
San Diego Wave (4-2-3-1): Sandra Paños, Brooklyn Courtnall, Kennedy Wesley, Kristen McNabb, Perle Morroni, Kimmi Ascanio, Kenza Dali, Melanie Barcenas, Lia Godfrey, Gia Corley, Trinity Byars
North Carolina Courage (4-2-3-1): Kailen Sheridan, Ryan Williams, Natalia Staude, Uno Shiragaki, Felicitas Rauch, Vilde Bøe Risa, Erica Parkinson, Chioma Okafor, Shinomi Koyama, Ashley Sanchez, Evelyn Ijeh
Key events
- 23' · Goal · Gia Corley (San Diego Wave)
- 44' · Yellow card · Chioma Okafor (North Carolina Courage)
- 63' · Substitution · Laila Harbert for Gia Corley (San Diego Wave)
- 63' · Substitution · Carly Wickenheiser for Chioma Okafor (North Carolina Courage)
- 72' · Goal · Melanie Barcenas (San Diego Wave)
- 81' · Substitution · Laurina Fazer for Kimmi Ascanio (San Diego Wave)
- 81' · Substitution · Adriana Leon for Trinity Byars (San Diego Wave)
- 81' · Substitution · Bia Gomes for Vilde Bøe Risa (North Carolina Courage)
- 81' · Substitution · Danielle Weatherholt for Felicitas Rauch (North Carolina Courage)
- 82' · Goal · Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage)
- 90' · Substitution · Hannah Betfort for Natalia Staude (North Carolina Courage)
- 90'+3 · Substitution · Nya Harrison for Melanie Barcenas (San Diego Wave)
All-time head-to-head
San Diego Wave vs North Carolina Courage: full head-to-head record
Questions
Who won San Diego Wave vs North Carolina Courage?
San Diego Wave won, 2-1 (NWSL) on Sat, 12 Sept 2026.
When and where is San Diego Wave vs North Carolina Courage?
Sat, 12 Sept 2026, 22:30 UTC at Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California, NWSL.