Why NWSL’s Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga are a few of the finest strikers within the league

Probably the most anticipated conflict from this semifinals is ready. Orlando Pleasure will face Kansas Metropolis Present and together with that, the highest goalscorers of the NWSL can have the chance to show who’s finest.

Each share similarities however on the identical time, they’re completely different. What are their traits? Let’s dive in and see.

Photograph by Dustin Markland/Getty Pictures

Barbra Banda

Since African and Chinese language soccer will not be well-known on this aspect of the world, individuals had been questioning why the Pleasure was prepared to pay Shanghai Shengli $740,000 to accumulate the Zambian ahead in a four-year deal.

Banda completed second within the Golden Boot race with 13 tallies, amongst 43 objectives complete her group scored within the common season—16 greater than of their 2023 season. How did Banda do it?

An unselfish participant

High goalscorers normally desire to take the pictures themselves. Within the following movies, you’ll see two examples of Banda recognizing her teammate is in a greater place.

First, she might’ve overwhelmed the defenders along with her velocity however as a substitute selected to move the ball to teammate Ally Watt instantly in entrance of the purpose. After which, you’ll see how she assists Marta contained in the field, though she had a transparent probability to shoot and end her evening with a hat trick. Perhaps that’s why Banda completed her season with six assists, yet another than Chawinga.

Crossing

Banda completed her season with 9 accomplished crosses whereas Chawinga registered solely three. In othe first clips beneath, she sends the ball to Angelina.

Within the second, she sends it to Watt. Each completed discovering the again of the online.

Aerial sport

Out of her 13 objectives scored, nearly half got here from headers. Banda is aware of methods to win her aerial duels contained in the field.

Look within the following video how first she arrives to the second submit to attain a header whereas being unmarked after which how she wins an aerial duel in opposition to two center-backs.

Banda has different nice traits equivalent to her acceleration and explosion that helps her dash and go away her defenders behind and put herself in goalscoring positions or set her teammates for it as you’ve seen within the movies above. She can also management lengthy, troublesome passes whereas being surrounded by defenders and discover the area to interrupt via or move the ball.

While you take a look at the chart beneath, we are able to see she’s nice in progressive carries (second within the league with 112), profitable take-ons (fourth with 48), % of dribblers tackled, and progressive passes. She’s not that good within the defensive division, though she will be good with tackles.

All these traits make her a extra well-rounded participant within the assault than Chawinga. However what concerning the Kansas Metropolis striker?

Photograph by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Pictures

Temwa Chawinga

The 2024 NWSL Golden Boot winner is on a quest to get a Championship in her first season within the league. She already established a brand new document within the goalscoring division, passing WHOTK’s previous document of WHATTK from YEAR TK.

A medical striker

She’s first in pictures (106) and pictures on track (58), having a capturing accuracy of 71.9%, and a conversion price of 23.6%. She scores a purpose each 106.4 minutes in opposition to Banda’s 16.5% conversion price and 122 minutes per purpose common.

And you’ll see that on the sector. Chawinga doesn’t normally miss sitters whereas we’ve seen Banda lacking some very clear purpose alternatives just like the one she missed within the playoff quarterfinal.

Shot taker

The Malawian doesn’t hesitate She’s not afraid to shoot if she sees a gap.

She’s assured in her expertise and is aware of that she’s inevitable.

Fearless attacker

The striker is rarely afraid to tackle defenders regardless of what number of they’re or how late within the sport it may be. Her management of the ball, her motor, and her stamina are exceptional. That’s additionally what permits her to be so efficient in counterattacks that make the opponent’s defenses pay. Look within the clips beneath how she does this in not solely the ten’ but additionally in stoppage time.

Composure

Chawinga’s cool head contained in the field permits her to normally win in 1v1 conditions both in opposition to defenders or the goalkeeper. She will be able to lose the ball however the Malawian will maintain urgent to get it again and discover the again of the online.

The traits talked about above are simply a few of her traits however once you take a look at the chart beneath you’ll see that though Banda is usually a extra well-rounded participant within the assault, Chawinga contributes extra in different components of the sector, together with the protection. We are able to title particularly two: the variety of gamers tackled and the variety of interceptions (Tkl+Int within the chart), and blocks.

It’s fascinating too that she has a greater proportion of aerial duels received however on the identical time, she hasn’t scored a single header. That’s as a result of her aerial duels are extra defensive-prone.

Conclusion

Banda’s zen unselfishness and Chawinga’s relentless effectivity are core to what the league is now. Athleticism is just not sufficient anymore in ladies’s soccer these days, and that’s why different groups can not replicate what Chawinga and Banda have performed this season.