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Last Saturday night, the Washington Spirit’s record-breaking season came to an end with a 0-1 loss to the Orlando Pride in the NWSL Championship presented by Google Pixel. After the match, captain Aubrey Kingsbury and defender Esme Morgan spoke with the media about the game and season.
On how the goal unfolded and if she saw a push leading up the goal:
Kingsbury: I didn’t see that, particularly the push. (Barbra) Banda got free down the flank, cut back, and I think I was kind of worried about a crossing scenario. I take full responsibility for the goal. It’s honestly a routine save that I make. I should’ve closed down, and it would’ve literally just hit off my legs. It’s unfortunate. I feel really bad for the team to let them down in that manner – that they scored on one of their few chances, and we created 25 shots and couldn’t take advantage. That’s just how finals go sometimes. Just got to take advantage of the opportunities you have.
On what made taking advantage of opportunities more difficult against Orlando:
Morgan: I think persistence. We kept pushing and pushing, particularly at the end, and we knew we had the momentum. They kind of sunk into a really low block. We found opportunities down the side. Rose (Kouassi) was so dangerous throughout the game with her dribbling, creating chances. I think we just kept going, recognized the spaces well, recognized when we were able to play inside into midfield and then move it wide. I feel like we were quite patient with our build up. There were maybe a couple of times when we rushed the attack. For the most part, I think we waited for the right opportunities to progress and operate in the spaces that were available to us, particularly from crosses we created some really good opportunities, and their keeper made some great saves.
On what the approach was to defend Barbra Banda:
Morgan: I think that is what I’m finding so frustrating, replaying in my head. We dealt with her so well throughout most of the 90 minutes, barring just the goal. I’m kicking myself for it. I don’t know why you are, Aubs. I wish I had done a bit more to kind of stop her and get close to her and stop her getting the shot off. I was thinking in my head, back to the away game, there’s times she goes down softly in the box, so I was reluctant to get too tight in case there was a dive involved or anything like that. I am frustrated that I had that weighing on my mind rather than just going and being aggressive. Like you said, for most of the game, I feel like we managed her really well between me and “T” (Tara McKeown). We focused and spoke before the game about being tight between the two center backs — 2-v-1 — and trying to drop her in anticipation of the long ball. There were times when one of us went close and the other swept behind. That was kind of perfectly what we planned. We executed it well. It’s just frustrating that on the one occasion we didn’t, it cost us.
On the culture of the team, sticking together and taking accountability after a hard loss:
Morgan: I think we are such a close unit. As a group, we all love each other to absolute pieces, and I think that’s probably why it hurts so much more because we care so much. We want the girls who are moving on next year to have this moment and be able to win today. It hurts that although we can say that we will go again next year — and I really do believe that we will go one better next year, that’s not going to be the case for everyone, and that hurts. I think that as a group, we care so much about one another. That’s probably why we never point the finger at anyone on the team. We are very self-critical. We always want to be better, and we are always pushing one another to be better. I think that’s why we’re looking inwards right now. What could I have done personally to make a difference on the outcome today and have our team be in a better position? But we never look at one another and point the finger elsewhere. We are such a close unit. We care deeply about one another.
On when it is time to reflect on this historic season:
Kingsbury: As Esme said, this one really hurts. It is a lot of our first-ever playoff loss. We all believed that we would win. There was not a doubt in our minds. We knew that again we had the quality to win the match, for sure. We created enough opportunities, just didn’t take advantage of them. We are all just kind of kicking ourselves, kind of like, “What could we have done more? This was ours.” I think it will hurt for a bit. Hopefully in time, we can look back. This result doesn’t erase the bond that we have and the incredible season. We’ve made the DC community believe in us. Audi is Rowdy. There is so much to be proud of, so much. Hopefully, in time, we can all smile and look back at it. It’s going to hurt for some time.
On playing in an NWSL Championship and the NWSL Playoff atmosphere:
Morgan: In terms of importance, it is definitely up there in one of the biggest I’ve played in. I think, obviously, you have big games in the league, in the WSL (Women’s Super League in the United Kingdom), but there are none that seem as final and decisive as this because of the playoff structure. So in terms of that, probably one of the most important. The atmosphere was great, but I wouldn’t say it is as good as Audi, having experienced that the last two weeks. I said to some of the girls, “That is some of the loudest football atmosphere that I have ever experienced.” Those last two weeks, and then playoffs. Having played at Wembley, that is saying something. It is so tight and compact. I think sometimes the big stadiums, the noise can feel like it evaporates a little bit into the air, whereas Audi it is a vacuum to the pitch of the noise. It’s been so much fun. When we reflect, I think that is one of the things I’m going to take where I had so much fun in this playoff journey the last two weeks at Audi. That was really special. In terms of atmosphere, I would definitely put those at some of the highest in my career. The Spirit fans who traveled today made themselves heard. We are so grateful that they did make the trip, and sorry we couldn’t get the result for them.
On seeing the Spirit fans show up at the final:
Kingsbury: I love that we had the supporters section behind the goal. Having a week to plan, it means so much that so many people came. It’s been a fun season. The fans have really rallied behind us and helped us get here, so really grateful for that support.
Morgan: To echo that, they’ve been amazing. I’m grateful for how they’ve welcomed me, personally, coming into the team halfway through the season. I feel like so many of the late ones that we’ve had are in part thanks to the fans. They never give up on us. We never give up each other as a team, and we fight until the very end. We did the same today until the very last kick. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough today.
