Recap: Spirit Capture Magic at Audi Field, Win on Thrilling Last-Minute Goal

Washington, D.C. (09/07/2024) – The Spirit defeated Portland Thorns FC, 2-1, off a header from Leicy Santos in the sixth minute of second half stoppage time. The thrilling victory came in front of 14,306 at Audi Field, including new Washington Spirit investor Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

Notably, stalwarts Trinity Rodman, Casey Krueger and Hal Hershfelt were omitted from the starting lineup. Meanwhile, Rosemonde Kouassi made her second consecutive start and Courtney Brown and Ashely Hatch made returns to the lineup. Additionally, Aubrey Kingsbury made history with the start, becoming the third goalkeeper in NWSL history to make 125 starts with a single club, joining Alyssa Naeher (CHI) and Jane Campbell (HOU).

Portland’s star forward Sophia Smith was a player to watch coming into the match and made an instant impact. Less than four minutes into the match, Smith found a hole in the Spirit backline but was stuffed by a beautiful sliding save from Kingsbury.

After a handful of minutes feeling each other out, the Spirit established momentum with Hatch leading the charge up top. In the 10th minute, Santos fed Hatch inside the box leading to a scramble in which several Spirit players took attempts at the ball but couldn’t connect. Hatch later chipped a ball inside the six-yard box minutes later that bounced only a foot away from woodwork.

Rodman made an unexpected entrance into the match in the 22nd minute replacing Ouleye Sarr who was downed with an apparent injury.

Within the first 40 minutes, each player on the Spirit’s front line logged a shot. Conversely, Thorns FC was reliant on Smith who logged four of the Thorns’ six total first half shots. While all five of the Spirit’s shots came inside the box, and the team out possessed the Thorns 55% to 45%, the half ended with neither team able to separate on the scoreboard.

That changed quickly. Four minutes into the second half, Hina Sugita smacked a shot inside the Spirit box into the top-left corner of the goal. Entering the match, the Thorns were a perfect 3-0-0 when scoring on the road first.

Emotions at Audi Field quickly shifted when Hatch sent a through ball to Rodman who made a run at goal, cut and sent the ball into the back of the net tying the match. Immediately after the goal, Rodman and a group of teammates celebrated with owner Michele Kang and recently announced investor, five-time NBA champion Magic Johnson.

Trinity Rodman creating magic pic.twitter.com/APxRqc98H1

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) September 7, 2024

The goal was Rodman’s seventh of the season, setting a new single-season career high. She is one goal shy of tying Diana Matheson for the second-most goals in a Spirit career. It also marked her first-ever goal as a substitute. Finally, Rodman has now scored a goal against 12 of the 13 NWSL teams she has faced in her career.

Following the goal, the Spirit made a trio of substitutions swapping Hatch, Brown and Gabby Carle for Makenna Morris, Hershfelt and Krueger, respectively. These substitutions changed the dynamic of the game instantly.

Kouassi could’ve given the Spirit the lead in the 79th minute, making a deft touch and running wide open past the midfield line toward the Portland goal. Her unencumbered shot trailed just left of the goal, resulting in a collective gasp from the crowd. Kouassi led the Spirit with five shots today.

After the fourth official indicated a minimum of seven minutes of stoppage time, the intensity ramped up significantly with both teams vying for three points.

The Spirit logged several chances, but with only a minute remaining, Rodman found herself on the right wing and sent a blazing cross into the box. Santos made a diving header to sink the ball into the back of the net, and Audi Field erupted.

Trinity Rodman and Leicy Santos with an electrifying connection!! pic.twitter.com/Hwbr7R5oGc

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) September 7, 2024

This marks the Spirit’s 13th win, the most in a single season team history. The 2016 Spirit squad logged 12 wins in 20 matches. The Spirit is also tied for most wins in the NWSL this season. The come-from-behind victory is the Spirit’s fourth comeback win this season, the first team to do so since the 2021 Spirit team. Only one team has more in a single season in NWSL history – Seattle Reign (six in 2014).

Up next, the Spirit will face the Houston Dash Sunday, September 15 at 1 p.m. EDT. Tickets are available here.

-NWSL Match Report-

Match: Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns FC

Date: Saturday, September 7, 2024

Venue: Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. EDT

Weather: Cloudy, high 60’s

Scoring Summary:

POR – Hina Sugita – 48’ (assisted by Alexa Spaanstra)
WAS – Trinity Rodman – 59’ (assisted by Ashley Hatch)
WAS – Leicy Santos – 90+6’ (assisted by Trinity Rodman)

Lineups:

WAS:  1 – Aubrey Kingsbury; 5- Annaïg Butel; 9 – Tara McKeown; 14 – Gabby Carle (3 – Casey Krueger, 62’); 26 – Paige Metayer; 10 – Leicy Santos; 12 – Andi Sullivan; 16 – Courtney Brown (17 – Hal Hershfelt, 62’); 11 – Ouleye Sarr (2 – Trinity Rodman, 22’); 19 – Rosemonde Kouassi (4 – Lena Silano, 84’); 33 – Ashley Hatch (8 – Makenna Morris, 62’)

Unused Substitutes: 28 – Nicole Barnhart; 24 – Esme Morgan; 13 – Brittany Ratcliffe; 22 – Heather Stainbrook

POR: 30 – Mackenzie Arnold; 2 – Reyna Reyes; 4 – Becky Sauerbrunn; 20 – Kelli Hubly; 11 – Nicole Payne (23 – Marie Muller, 69’); 13 – Olivia Moultrie (21 – Jessie Fleming, 83’); 17 – Sam Coffey; 8 – Hina Sugita; 77 – Alexa Spaanstra (12 – Christine Sinclair, 74’); 9 – Sophia Smith; 66 – Reilyn Turner (24 – Izzy D’Aquila, 46’).

Unused Substitutes: 14 – Sophie Hirst; 18 – Shelby Hogan; 25 – Meghan Klingenberg; 15 – Payton Linnehan; 5 – Isa Obaze

Stats Summary: WAS / POR

Shots:  17 / 13

Shots On Goal: 8 / 8

Saves: 7 / 5

Fouls: 14 / 6

Offsides: 0 / 3

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