Why NWSL’s Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga are among the greatest strikers within the league

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

Each share similarities however on the identical 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 facet of the world, individuals had been questioning why the Pleasure 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 objectives whole her crew scored within the common season—16 greater than of their 2023 season. How did Banda do it?

An unselfish participant

Prime goalscorers normally choose to take the photographs 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 an alternative selected to go the ball to teammate Ally Watt straight 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 night time with a hat trick. Perhaps that’s why Banda completed her season with six assists, yet one more 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 online.

Aerial sport

Out of her 13 objectives scored, nearly half got here from headers. Banda is aware of easy 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 similar 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, tough passes whereas being surrounded by defenders and discover the area to interrupt via or go the ball.

While you take 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 may 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 previous report of WHATTK from YEAR TK.

A medical striker

She’s first in photographs (106) and photographs heading in the right direction (58), having a capturing accuracy of 71.9%, and a conversion charge of 23.6%. She scores a purpose each 106.4 minutes in opposition to Banda’s 16.5% conversion charge 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 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 sport 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 in opposition to defenders or the goalkeeper. She will lose the ball however the Malawian will hold 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 under you’ll see that though Banda generally is 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 attention-grabbing too that she has a greater share 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 shouldn’t be sufficient anymore in girls’s soccer these days, and that’s why different groups can’t replicate what Chawinga and Banda have carried out this season.