Washington, DC (25.08.2024) – The Washington Spirit defeated the Kansas City Current 4-1, an impressive win against one of the best teams in the NWSL.
Five of the Spirit’s six players – Trinity Rodman, Casey Krueger, Croix Bethune, Hal Hershfelt and Leicy Santos – who will compete in the 2024 Olympics were in the starting lineup, to the surprise of many fans. The start will be Santos’ NWSL regular season debut. Paige Metayer was named to the starting lineup at right back, a new position for the midfielder.
Fittingly, just nine minutes into the game, Metayer won a ball from her defensive position, ran the length of the field after receiving a pass from Santos, retreated into the Current box and fired a left-footed shot past Current goalkeeper AD Franch. Metayer’s goal was her first shot on goal this season and the first non-header goal of her career. It was also the game in which Santos recorded her first NWSL assist.
PAIGE 😮💨
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) 25 August 2024
Five minutes later, the Spirit doubled the lead on an electrifying goal by Ouleye Sarr, her eighth of the season, her team-high score. Bethune assisted on Sarr’s goal, her 10th assist of the season. She is now tied with Tobin Heath for the record for assists in an NWSL season. The connection between Bethune and Sarr is proven: Five of Bethune’s assists came on Sarr, the most for a single player since Yuki Nagasato set up Sam Kerr for Chicago in 2019 (8).
CROIX ➡️ SARR
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) 25 August 2024
Sarr’s goal increased the Spirit’s first-half goal total to 22, a league-leading tally. The Spirit also leads the NWSL with five goals in the first 15 minutes of games this season.
Kansas City knocked on the Spirit’s door for a long time in the final minutes of the second half. The Spirit defense did not allow a goal despite nine shots on goal by the Current, including five inside the Spirit penalty area.
Much like the first half, the Spirit came out fired up. This time, Rodman was involved in the action. Metayer fed Rodman on the right wing, who then worked in the box and lobbed the ball perfectly over Kansas City’s Adrianna Franch. The goal was Rodman’s sixth of the season and her 10th overall. Rodman is the third player in NWSL history to record multiple seasons with 10+ goal contributions before her 23rd birthday, joining Sam Kerr and Sophia Smith.
TRINS LEFT FOOT IS BACK pic.twitter.com/Awy9bY0pse
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) 25 August 2024
The Current responded and reduced the Spirit lead to 3-1. Of course, Golden Boot leader Temwa Chawinga scored her 13th goal of the season for The Current. But before the momentum could really take off, the Spirit responded.
Carle, who came on for Krueger in the 65th minute, saved a ball just inside the Kansas City byline and sent it into the Current box. Santos collected the ball, turned and shot, extending the lead to 4-1. The goal is Santos’ first career NWSL goal and makes her the fifth player in NWSL history to score and assist on her debut.
WHAT A DEBUT FOR LEICY 🫶 pic.twitter.com/1AVHk611Ou
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) 25 August 2024
Not only did this win give the Washington Spirit a positive boost heading into the second half of the NWSL regular season, but it also moved the Spirit into second place in the NWSL standings, behind only the undefeated Orlando Pride. This season, the Spirit has a perfect record of 10-0-0 when leading at halftime. And finally, the win helped the Spirit to two consecutive three-goal wins for the first time in club history.
Next up, Spirit travels to California to face San Diego Wave FC on Sunday, September 1. After drawing their last two matches, Spirit will be looking to break their winning streak and pick up three points on the road. This game will kick off at 8:00 p.m. EDT at Snapdragon Stadium.
-NWSL match report-
Game: Washington Spirit vs Kansas City Current
Date: Sunday, 25 August 2024
Venue: Audi Field (Washington, DC)
Start: 12:00 PM EDT
Weather: Sunny, mid 80s
Summary of the rating:
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Washington | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| City | 0 | 1 | 1 |
WAS – Paige Metayer –10′ (assisted by Leicy Santos)
WAS – Ouleye Sarr – 47′ (assisted by Croix Bethune)
WAS – Trinity Rodman – 50′ (assisted by Paige Metayer)
KCC – Temwa Chawinga – 63′ (assisted by Debinha)
WAS – Leicy Santos – 73′ (assisted by Gabby Carle)
Lineups:
WAS: 1 – Aubrey Kingsbury; 3 – Casey Krueger (14 – Gabby Carle, 65′); 9 – Tara McKeown; 5 – Annaig Butel; 26 – Paige Metayer; 10 – Leicy Santos (33 – Ashley Hatch, 79′); 12 – Andi Sullivan; 17 – Hal Hershfelt (22 – Heather Stainbrook, 65′); 7 – Croix Bethune (19 – Rosemonde Kouassi, 71′); 11 – Ouleye Sarr; 2 – Trinity Rodman (13 – Brittany Ratcliffe, 79′)
Unused substitutes: 28 – Nicole Barnhart; 16-Courtney Brown; 8-Makenna Morris; 4 – Lena Silano
KCC: 21 – AD Franch; 5-Ellie Wheeler; 12 – Stine Ballisager Pedersen; 15 – Alana Cook; 4 – Hailie Mace; 14 – Claire Hutton (33 – Mwanalima Jereko, 65′); 16 – Vanessa DiBernardo (8 – Nichelle Prince, 65′); 10 – Lo LaBonta; 99 – Debinha (22 – Bayley Feist, 79′); 6 – Temwa Chawinga; 17 – Michelle Cooper (25 – Kristen Hamilton, 79′)
Unused substitutes: 1 – Almuth Schult; 7-Elizabeth Ball; 18-Izzy Rodriguez; 2 – Regan Steigleder; 11 – Desiree Scott
Statistics overview: WAS / KCC
Shots: 7 / 14
Shots on goal: 5 / 4
Saves: 3 / 1
Fouls: 9 / 17
Offside: 1 / 3
Summary of misconduct:
KCC – Vanessa DiBernardo – 49′ – Yellow card
KCC – Alana Cook – 72′ – Yellow card
KCC – Lo’eau Labonta – 85′ – Yellow card
WAS – Brittany Ratcliffe – 90+6′ – Yellow card
