WASHINGTON, D.C.
– The Washington Spirit earned a massive 2-1 win over the Kansas City Current on Saturday night, relying on a stoppage time winner from forward Trinity Rodman after coming back from a 1-0 deficit in the first half to steal the points. The result leaves Washington in 4 th place with 29 points from 20 games played, while Kansas City remain bottom with 22 points from 20 games played.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
– The Washington Spirit earned a massive 2-1 win over the Kansas City Current on Saturday night, relying on a stoppage time winner from forward Trinity Rodman after coming back from a 1-0 deficit in the first half to steal the points. The result leaves Washington in 4 th place with 29 points from 20 games played, while Kansas City remain bottom with 22 points from 20 games played. The two teams traded chances in the opening minutes with Kansas City defender Elizabeth Ball producing some last-ditch defending in the 2 nd minute before Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury made a big save at the other end seven minutes later to keep the match level. Early on, Washington had won the ball back in the attacking half of people and swiftly moved it ahead to forward Trinity Rodman on the right side of the field. Rodman then darted downfield and whipped in a cross that saw Ball clear it just before it reached a teammate to help preserve the clean sheet. Then, in the 9 th minute, Kingsbury had her palms tested by a low drive by Kansas City midfielder Debinha, but she was able to push the shot away and the chance was cleared. In the 20 th minute, the momentum of the match then shifted greatly as the Current were awarded a penalty kick after Hailie Mace’s through ball for teammate Michelle Cooper saw Cooper get brought down by Spirit defender Sam Staab. The penalty was awarded immediately, and up stepped the Brazilian to attempt to convert. She then sent her powerful penalty to the left, and though Kingsbury guessed the spot, Debinha was still able to find the back of the net and go a goal up. Washington would continue to press for an equalizer through the minutes that remained in the first half, but Current goalkeeper A.D. Franch was equal to every effort and her side kept their 1-0 lead into the interval. However, just six minutes into the second half, Washington’s Ouleymata Sarr unleashed a rifle of a shot following a set piece opportunity to bring the Spirit level as she picked her spot from just about 18 yards out. Sarr was waiting on the edge of the box and, after a set piece chance was temporarily cleared, the ball was dished to Sarr who was just left of the center of the field. Shooting at the first time asking, Sarr pushed a bullet to the bottom far corner and in to bring the match level once again. The Spirit would continue to put pressure on the visiting Current’s goal through the remainder of the second half as well, but just as it looked like the two teams were going to settle for a point, Trinity Rodman scored a goal in the second of four minutes of stoppage time to lift her team ahead and all but seal their three points on the night. Washington moved forward with a defense-splitting through pass that saw Rodman get the beat on her defender and latch onto the ball as she sprinted into the box. With space only getting narrower, Rodman then slid her shot underneath Franch and into the back of the net to give her team their first lead of the night with little time remaining. The goal left little time for Kansas City to try and mount a comeback of their own, and in the end, Washington picked up three crucial points at home while the loss for Kansas City goes a long way in nearly eliminating them from playoff content.