**Washington, D.C. –** The Washington Spirit defeated Gotham FC, 2-0, at Audi Field on Saturday night behind goals from Tara McKeown and Ashley Sanchez as they earned revenge on the June 4 loss earlier this season.
The Spirit were off to a fast start as they attempted to find an early goal against the visitors on the night. In the third minute, forward Trinity Rodman produced a headed effort from the right side of the box after being found by midfielder Anna Heilferty, but Rodman’s chance fell just wide of the right side of goal.
Then, in the 16 ^th minute, attacker Ashley Sanchez was played in by Rodman this time and broke into the penalty area staring down goalkeeper Michelle Betos. Approaching the six-yard box, Sanchez then lifted her head and attempted to slide the ball around Betos but the veteran goalkeeper was privy to the thought process and made a good save to keep things level.
The two sides then traded chances as Rodman and Gotham midfielder Paige Monaghan both failed to hit the back of the target, with Gotham forward Ifeoma Onumonu coming close as well in the 31 ^st minute.
The closest either side came to finding the game’s opening goal in the first half, though, came in the second of six minutes of added time through forward Ashley Hatch. The Spirit had been working the ball around the previous few minutes and ended up creating an opportunity for Hatch in the left side of the box. Taking a pass from defender Sam Staab, Hatch then fired toward goal with her left foot only to watch as it rifled off the crossbar to extend Washington’s agonizing wait for a goal.
At the half, the pair remained scoreless.
Into the second half, the Spirit continued to find success down the right side of the field and opened the scoring in the 51 ^st minute as midfielder Tara McKeown took advantage of a strangely rebounded block and put the ball home in the back of the net from a few yards out. Washington worked the ball to the right flank and lifted a pass in for McKeown in the box where the midfielder was able to get a shot away. Though the initial effort was repelled, McKeown was in the right place at the right time to put home the rebound and give the home crowd something to cheer about.
Continuing forward, Washington looked the more likely of the two to score again but it was Gotham who had the next best look on goal as Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury was forced into action on the hour mark. A short ball in by midfielder Paige Monaghan following a set piece saw her connect with teammate Kristie Mewis who was making a near post run in the penalty area. With little space to get a shot away, Mewis did well to try and sweep the ball over the line but Kingsbury was equal to it and kept her side in front.
However, just before the end of regulation time, the midfielder Sanchez picked the pocket of the goalkeeper Betos deep in her own territory and turned the ball in from 10 yards out to put the final nail in Gotham’s coffin. The Gotham defense were distributing the ball around the back line when Betos took a heavy touch forward that allowed Sanchez to pounce. Then getting around Betos, Sanchez rolled the ball home to help secure another big win.
In the end, the Spirit earned their second consecutive victory having gone the previous 17 games without one, while the loss for Gotham continues its trend as the visitors have now fallen 10 straight games on the bounce.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights