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

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

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

Picture by Dustin Markland/Getty Photos

Barbra Banda

Since African and Chinese language soccer will not be well-known on this aspect of the world, folks have been questioning why the Satisfaction was keen 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 targets whole her staff scored within the common season—16 greater than of their 2023 season. How did Banda do it?

An unselfish participant

Prime 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 crushed the defenders together with her pace however as a substitute selected to cross the ball to teammate Ally Watt immediately in entrance of the aim. After which, you’ll see how she assists Marta contained in the field, though she had a transparent probability to shoot and end her night time with a hat trick. Possibly 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 under, she sends the ball to Angelina.

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

Aerial recreation

Out of her 13 targets scored, virtually half got here from headers. Banda is aware of find out how 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 towards two center-backs.

Banda has different nice traits comparable to her acceleration and explosion that helps her dash and depart 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 house to interrupt by way of or cross the ball.

Whenever you have a look at the chart under, 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?

Picture by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Photos

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 report within the goalscoring division, passing WHOTK’s outdated report of WHATTK from YEAR TK.

A scientific striker

She’s first in pictures (106) and pictures on course (58), having a taking pictures accuracy of 71.9%, and a conversion fee of 23.6%. She scores a aim each 106.4 minutes towards Banda’s 16.5% conversion fee and 122 minutes per aim common.

And you’ll see that on the sector. Chawinga doesn’t normally miss sitters whereas we’ve seen Banda lacking some very clear aim 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 abilities and is aware of that she’s inevitable.

Fearless attacker

The striker isn’t afraid to tackle defenders regardless of what number of they’re or how late within the recreation it may be. Her management of the ball, her motor, and her stamina are outstanding. That’s additionally what allows her to be so efficient in counterattacks that make the opponent’s defenses pay. Look within the clips under 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 towards defenders or the goalkeeper. She will lose the ball however the Malawian will maintain urgent to get it again and discover the again of the web.

The traits talked about above are simply a few of her traits however if you have a look at the chart under you’ll see that though Banda could be a extra well-rounded participant within the assault, Chawinga contributes extra in different elements of the sector, together with the protection. We will 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 share of aerial duels gained however on the similar 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 isn’t sufficient anymore in girls’s soccer these days, and that’s why different groups can’t replicate what Chawinga and Banda have achieved this season.