The NWSL is full of fantastic young talent. Week in and week out the league is a showcase of the next generation of the sport’s stars, but Saturday night was a stern reminder that the North Carolina Courage’s future is right here, right now.
At just 19 and 20 years old, respectively, Aline Gomes and Manaka Matsukubo led the Courage to a 2-1 playoff-clinching win over the San Diego Wave Saturday night in front of WakeMed Soccer Park’s biggest crowd of 2024 and fourth-highest regular season attendance in Courage history.
Aline making her third consecutive start for the Courage, opened her NWSL scoring account in the 32’. The goal was a pure poacher’s finish, coming in off the wing and slowly drifting away from the far-post defender before going high to beat Kailen Sheridan, who flew off the line to make a good challenge on the play.
The Brazilian forward joined the Courage during the midseason transfer window, signing with the team from Ferroviária, where she made her professional debut at just 15 years old. Aline has a proven goal-scoring touch in the Brazilian league and has hit the ground running in her first starts. In addition to her goal, Aline forced a great save out of USWNT keeper Alyssa Naeher during the Courage’s win in Chicago a week ago.
Manaka, who would have assisted Aline’s goal if not for a deflection, doubled the Courage lead in stoppage time, heading home a ball from close range. The game was her first back with the Courage after leading Japan to a silver medal at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia in September. The forward scored three times, including a brace in the semifinals, and was named Player of the Match three times en route to being awarded the tournament’s Silver Ball.
Beyond her goal, Manaka left her mark all over the final third with silky passes, driving runs and great off the ball movement to get into dangerous positions for teammates to find. She has been a game-changer for the Courage since her arrival last season, winning the 2023 Challenge Cup Final MVP practically before her bags were even unpacked. And she keeps getting better.
“Manaka had an unbelievable U-20 World Cup and Aline is still trying to find her stride here in the league,” Head Coach Sean Nahas said.
Riley Jackson, who shined for the U.S. at the U-20 World Cup, was a second-half substitute and helped the Courage control the tempo late and seal the game. Jackson played all but 45’ minutes for the U.S. at the tournament and has jumped right back into a loaded Courage midfield.
With reigning MVP Kerolin Nicoli making her return to the starting lineup for the first time since her injury and Ashley Sanchez continuing her recent run of good attacking form, it was the first glimpse of the Courage’s current attack at full strength but also a peak into the bright future the roster has. Players like Aline, Manaka and Jackson are both a key part of the present and the core of the future for the NWSL’s most trophy-ladened franchise.
The future is now in Courage Country.
