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Los Angeles, Calif. (09/27/2024) – The Washington Spirit defeated Angel City FC, 2-1, earning a season series sweep against the Los Angeles-based side.
The Spirit entered Friday night’s match showcasing its depth. Three key starters – Trinity Rodman, Ouleye Sarr and Casey Krueger – were omitted from today’s lineup. Ashley Hatch made her fourth start in a row, while Courtney Brown and Rosemonde Kouassi earned nods on either wing. Esme Morgan featured on the backline in a starting position for the second time this season.
The first attack of the game came from the Spirit in a pretty sequence starting with Morgan who crossed the ball to Paige Metayer leading to a run from Kouassi – one of the fastest players in the NWSL. Kouassi shed a defender, toed the ball to an open Leicy Santos whose attempt on goal went over the bar.
Tara McKeown got in on the action moments later, but her strike off the volley went over the bar as well. She added a dangerous header in the 23rd minute, as well.
In the 28th minute, Angel City earned its first scoring threat of the game following a yellow card caution on Santos just outside the Angel City 18-yard box. Claire Emslie whipped a shot into the bottom right corner of the goal, but it was punched away by Aubrey Kingsbury.
The Spirit broke the draw in the 39th minute when Hatch won the ball and dribbled undeterred into the Angel City box before netting her fifth goal of the year. The all-time leading scorer in the Spirit-Angel City series with four goals, Hatch is now tied with soccer icon Megan Rapinoe for the sixth-most goals scored in NWSL history (51). The Spirit has now scored 26 of its 43 total goals in the first half, more than any other team.
To the crowd’s chagrin, an apparent equalizer off an Emslie service only seconds into the second half was ruled offside. Though, an equalizer would indeed come in the 51st minute when Alyssa Thompson raced down the left flank before crossing a ball into the six-yard box that would connect with Messiah Bright’s shin and find the back of the net.
The Spirit regained control and earned four corners over the course of several minutes with possession entirely in Angel City’s third. The fourth corner yielded a scramble in the box and a miraculous save from Angel City preventing a go-ahead goal.
The game-winning goal came from Makenna Morris who subbed on 69th minute for Brown. The sequence originated from Kingsbury who launched a ball to Kouassi in transition after stopping an Angel City shot. Kouassi sped forward and passed to Morris who chipped the keeper. It was Morris’ second goal of the season, both of which have come in the state of California (July 6 at Bay FC).
The Spirit had to thwart several Angel City attempts in the waning moments of the match, but the home team was unable to equalize. However, Hal Hershfelt picked up a crucial yellow card, her fifth of the season which rules her out of next weekend’s match due to accumulation. The Spirit earned five yellow cards in this match compared to Angel City’s zero.
The Spirit has now won four straight matches against Angel City – or two straight season series sweeps. Following losses this season, the Spirit improves to a perfect 5-0-0 with a +8 goal differential (13-5). Four of these matches have come on the road.
Next up, the Spirit will head to Florida to conclude its three-match away stretch in a battle of the two top-ranked teams in the NWSL. Kicking off at 5 p.m. EDT on Sunday, October 6, the match will see the Spirit face the first-place Orlando Pride on ESPN2.
-NWSL Match Report-
Match: Angel City FC vs. Washington Spirit
Date: Friday, September 27, 2024
Venue: BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Kickoff: 10 p.m. EDT
Weather: Sunny, high-60s
Scoring Summary:
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Angel City | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Washington | 1 | 1 | 2 |
WAS – Ashley Hatch – 39’
LA – Messiah Bright – 51’ (assisted by Alyssa Thompson)
WAS – Makenna Morris – 78’ (assisted by Rosemonde Kouassi)
Lineups:
LA: 13 – DiDi Haračić; 16 – M.A. Vignola; 6 – Megan Reid; 11 – Sarah Gorden; 3 – Jasmyne Spencer; 99 – Madison Hammond (2 – Sydney Leroux, 86’); 17 – Kennedy Fuller (7 – Rocky Rodríguez, 81’); 4 – Katie Zelem (8 – Meggie Dougherty Howard, 68’); 21 – Alyssa Thompson; 24 – Messiah Bright (23 – Christen Press, 68’); 10 – Claire Emslie
Unused Substitutes: 19 – Angelina Anderson; 27 – Madison Curry; 44 – Elizabeth Eddy; 28 – Lily Nabet; 9 – Casey Phair
WAS: 1 – Aubrey Kingsbury; 14 – Gabby Carle; 24 – Esme Morgan; 9 – Tara McKeown; 26 – Paige Metayer; 17 – Hal Hershfelt; 10 – Leicy Santos (22 – Heather Stainbrook, 90’); 12 – Andi Sullivan; 16 – Courtney Brown (8 – Makenna Morris, 69’); 33 – Ashley Hatch (13 – Brittany Ratcliffe, 76’); 19 – Rosemonde Kouassi
Unused Substitutes: 28 – Nicole Barnhart; 5 – Annaïg Butel; 32 – Jenna Butler; 31 – Kaylie Collins
Stats Summary: LA / WAS
Shots: 9 / 11
Shots On Goal: 5 / 5
Saves: 3 / 4
Tackles Won: 20 / 27
Fouls: 6 / 11
Offsides: 0 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
WAS – Esme Morgan – 14’ – Yellow Card
WAS – Leicy Santos – 28’ – Yellow Card
WAS – Paige Metayer – 35’ – Yellow Card
WAS – Tara McKeown – 69’ – Yellow Card
WAS – Hal Hershfelt – 90+6’ – Yellow Card
