Denver Summit FC: Nine Games Left and Four Points From an NWSL Playoff Spot

<p>Denver Summit FC beat the Chicago Stars 6-1 at Centennial Stadium, the most goals any NWSL team has scored in a single match this season, and I've got a lot to say about all of it.</p><p></p><p>Six goals. Five assists. Eight different players with a goal contribution. Melissa Kössler ended a 126-day drought with a brace, Yuzuki Yamamoto and Olivia Thomas both scored their first, and Lindsey Heaps came back at Centennial for the first time since the injury, wore the armband, and set up the second goal inside 19 minutes. I break down what Lindsey and Yuzu did together from the opening kick, why that was the most comfortable game Yuzu has had in Denver, and what Liv Thomas gave up to be here. You'll hear from Nick Cushing on the negotiation over Lindsey's minutes, and from Melissa and Olivia in the press room afterward.</p><p></p><p>Then the honest part. Chicago are last in this league and they were missing their two best attackers, so I go through what Saturday proves and what it doesn't.</p><p></p><p>And the table. Denver sit ninth on 27 points, four back of Seattle with nine to play and five of those at home. I lay out exactly what has to happen, why Angel City worry me more than Seattle do, and why our home record is the number nobody is talking about.</p><p></p><p>Plus a full preview of Gotham FC, Sunday at noon at Centennial.</p><p></p><p>Follow along at @5280pitch on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X.</p><p>Newsletter and blog: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://5280pitch.com" target="_blank">5280pitch.com</a></p>