**KANSAS CITY, Ks.** – The Washington Spirit found a pair of late goals to defeat the Kansas City Current, 3-2, after the Current were up 2-0 inside the opening half-hour. An 87 ^th minute goal from defender Tara McKeown sealed the result for the visitors, who move back into 1 ^st place in the league with the result on 23 points from 12 games played. Meanwhile, Kansas City remain bottom with just 9 points from the same amount of games played.
The fastest goal in NWSL history was scored by Kansas City Current forward Michelle Cooper after just 23 seconds with the hosts jumping ahead through her fine finish in front of goal following a deflected pass. Debinha had latched onto a through pass down the right side of goal and as she approached the edge of the 18-yard box, she slid a pass across the front of goal. Taking a deflection on the way in, the ball ended up at Cooper’s feet with only Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury in front of her. Cooper looked up and lifted a strong right-footed shot to the left of goal and the Current changed the face of the match early on.
The hosts were then provided with an opportunity to double their lead from the penalty spot as VAR review took a headed pass in from a Kansas City player appeared to have struck the left arm of forward Ashley Hatch. With the center official reviewing through the monitor, her decision to follow was a penalty in favor of Kansas City. Stepping up to take was Debinha, who beat Kingsbury to the goalscorer’s left to help her team go two in front. The goal was Debinha’s 40 ^th in NWSL.
However, the Spirit would not be totally outdone in the first half as forward Ashley Sanchez made something out of nothing in the 36 ^th minute and would end up beating Kansas City goalkeeper Cassie Miller with a bouncing, curled effort toward the far post. Sanchez was sprinting ahead toward the box as forward Ashley Hatch dragged a defender with her on her run. Sanchez then opted to have a go on goal from about 19 yards out, and though a slight deflection would take some of the pace off her shot, it would guide the ball into just the right position to squeeze past Miller and in.
Though they created space for a comeback in the second half, Washington went into the halftime break still down, 2-1.
An early chance following the restart came for Sanchez again in the 47 ^th minute after some nifty footwork from teammate Trinity Rodman opened up the opportunity. Rodman was moving through the box on the ball when she backheeled a pass for Sanchez to run onto, though the forward’s effort would end up being blocked away from goal.
Then, in the 51 ^st minute, a run forward by Rodman again saw her enter into a 1v1 with Kansas City defender Croix Soto, who was substituted in at the half. Soto kept her pace with Rodman, and just as the attacker was about to enter into the box Soto produced a perfectly timed challenge to poke the ball away from her and out for a corner.
Persistent moves forward by the visiting Washington would eventually pay off though, with midfielder Paige Metayer producing yet another headed goal to bring Washington level at two each in the 82 ^nd minute. Metayer rose to meet a Lena Silano corner kick and got up above everyone around her to power a header into the center of the net past Miller and in for a late equalizer.
Then, Washington’s comeback was officially complete in the 87 ^th minute through a brilliant run and smooth finish by defender Tara McKeown after a cross from teammate Dorian Bailey. Bailey was on the ball about 30 yards from goal and on the right when she cut inside and lifted a left-footed cross into the box. Running onto it was McKeown, and she settled it before slotting a low shot past Miller to take a late lead, their first of the evening.
The closest Kansas City would come to finding an equalizer in stoppage time was a shot from midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo from just outside the box in the third minute of stoppage time, but Kingsbury made an easy to save to end the move. As a result, Washington would finish its comeback job and earn a huge 3-2 win over Kansas City after being 2-0 down. The Current will go on to face Orlando next Saturday, while faces Portland next Friday.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights