North Carolina Courage’s unstoppable home streak faces San Diego Wave

This weekend's matchup between North Carolina Courage and San Diego Wave might be one of the most discussed matches this season. Courage is among the strongest teams in the league and is still on an unbeaten streak in their home arena, while the Wave are over recent stumbles and seeking to keep their playoff hopes alive.

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Courage: Impenetrable at WakeMed Soccer Park

North Carolina Courage has been one of the teams that have enjoyed quite some consistency this season. A clear testimony to how strong and cohesive the team is will be further reflected in their unbeaten streak at home for 19 straight games on the trot. Playing at the WakeMed Soccer Park almost feels like the winds of North Carolina push them ahead. The last time they took to the pitch against San Diego Wave, fans at Snapdragon Stadium watched the Courage deliver a 4-1 thrashing, thus serving as a confidence booster ahead of Saturday's match.

That has not been an accident from the team, however, with its amazing statistics. Ashley Sanchez is the main cog in this offensive machinery, with 5 goals and 4 assists. Dynamic, a true visionary who can change everything with one move. And if all of that wasn't enough, Courage clinches a playoff spot with a win in this match to add extra motivation to seal the deal.

Challenges for San Diego Wave

On the other hand, San Diego Wave had their problems too. Though they have a balanced record against the Courage-2-1-2-their last encounter was a tough lesson for the Californians. In that 4-1 defeat, the lone bright spot came from Kennedy Wesley, who scored a header early on, but it wasn't enough to slow down the Courage.

It's no secret that Wave's season has had its fair share of ups and downs, but one of the bright spots in a rather dull season has been 16-year-old Melanie Barcenas finding her place in the starting lineup. As it goes to say, the future of soccer is not in bad hands whatsoever since her maturity on the field allows her to shine in moments when needed. Barcenas scored in a 2-0 win against the Portland Thorns-a result that gave them a big boost toward the end of the regular season. However, they will need more than individual performances in their backyard to defeat the Courage. For the Wave to be able to hold off North Carolina's offensive firepower, it would be a collective effort, especially at the back.

A Battle of Wits

This isn't only a clash of talents but also one of tactics. With the solid defense and highly efficient midfield to aid them, Courage can play a smooth and precise soccer. Players like Denise O'Sullivan-who shined a goal in the win against Chicago Red Stars-give the team a depth that's hard to combat. Another important player has been Brazilian international Kerolin, who's always been a threat in the air and during crosses.

San Diego Wave, on the other hand, have inconsistencies this season, but they have a roster that can spring upsets from anywhere. For example, forward Mirah Ali has proven to always rise to the occasion at vital moments and has scored recently against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Her pairing with Jaedyn Shaw and Hanna Lundkvist is one such combination that could bear fruit if well utilized.