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Washington, D.C. (08/25/2024) – The Washington Spirit defeated the Kansas City Current, 4-1, in a statement victory against one of the NWSL’s best teams.
Five of the Spirit’s six players – Trinity Rodman, Casey Krueger, Croix Bethune, Hal Hershfelt and Leicy Santos – who competed in the 2024 Olympic Games, featured in the Starting XI to many fans’ surprise. The start marks Santos’ NWSL regular season debut. Paige Metayer earned a nod in the starting lineup at right back, a new position for the midfielder.
Fittingly, only nine minutes into the match, Metayer won a ball from her defensive position, ran the entire length of the field following a pass from Santos, cut back inside the Current 18-yard box, and sent a left-footed ball past Current keeper AD Franch. Metayer’s goal was her first shot on goal this season and marked the first non-headed goal of her career. Additionally, Santos logged her first career NWSL assist on the play.
PAIGE 😮💨
— Washington Spirit – x (@WashSpirit) August 25, 2024
Five minutes later, the Spirit doubled the lead off an electric goal from Ouleye Sarr, her team-high eighth of the season. Bethune assisted Sarr’s goal, her tenth assist this season. She is now tied with Tobin Heath for the NWSL single season assist record. The Bethune-Sarr connection is tried and true: five of Bethune’s assists have set up Sarr, the most for a single player since Yuki Nagasato to Sam Kerr for Chicago in 2019 (8).
CROIX ➡️ SARR
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) August 25, 2024
Sarr’s goal added to the Spirit’s league-leading tally of 22 first-half goals. The Spirit also leads the NWSL with five goals in the first 15 minutes of matches this season.
Kansas City knocked on the Spirit’s door for much of the closing minutes of the second half. The Spirit defense did not yield a goal despite the Current’s nine shots, including five inside the Spirit box.
Similarly to the first half, the Spirit came out firing. This time, Rodman got in on the action. Metayer fed Rodman on the right wing, who then worked inside the box, lobbing the ball perfectly over Kansas City’s Adrianna Franch. The goal was Rodman’s sixth of the season and tenth total goal contribution. Rodman is the third player in NWSL history to record multiple seasons with 10+ goal contributions before turning 23. She joins Sam Kerr and Sophia Smith.
TRIN’S LEFT FOOT DOES IT AGAIN pic.twitter.com/Awy9bY0pse
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) August 25, 2024
The Current answered, cutting the Spirit’s lead to 3-1. Naturally, Golden Boot leader Temwa Chawinga scored for the Current – her 13th of the season. Before the momentum could fully swing, the Spirit answered.
Carle, who subbed in for Krueger in the 65th minute, saved a ball right on the Kansas City endline, sending it into the Current box. Santos gathered, turned and fired, 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 a goal and add an assist in a debut.
WHAT A DEBUT FOR LEICY 🫶 pic.twitter.com/1AVHk611Ou
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) August 25, 2024
Not only does this win set off positive momentum for the Washington Spirit in the second half of the NWSL regular season, but it also puts the Spirit in second place in the NWSL table, trailing only the unbeaten Orlando Pride. This season, the Spirit is a perfect 10-0-0 when leading at halftime. Finally, the win helped the Spirit earn back-to-back three-goal victories for the first time in club history.
Next up, the Spirit travels to California to face San Diego Wave FC on Sunday, September 1. After draws in the last two meetings, the Spirit looks to break the streak and pick up three points on the road. This match will kick off at 8 p.m. EDT at Snapdragon Stadium.
-NWSL Match Report-
Match: Washington Spirit vs. Kansas City Current
Date: Sunday, August 25, 2024
Venue: Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. EDT
Weather: Sunny, mid 80s
Scoring Summary:
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Washington | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Kansas City | 0 | 1 | 1 |
WAS – Paige Metayer –9’ (assisted by Leicy Santos)
WAS – Ouleye Sarr – 14’ (assisted by Croix Bethune)
WAS – Trinity Rodman – 51’ (assisted by Paige Metayer)
KCC – Temwa Chawinga – 64’ (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 – Annaïg 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
Stats Summary: WAS / KCC
Shots: 7 / 14
Shots On Goal: 5 / 4
Saves: 3 / 1
Fouls: 9 / 17
Offsides: 1 / 3
Misconduct Summary:
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
