Late Penalty Sustain Spirit’s NWSL Unbeaten Run Against Angel City
Written by Oluwaseun Oyediji
Washington Spirit remained the remaining unbeaten team in the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season with a 1-0 win over Angel City FC at the weekend.
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The first 15 minutes of action in the NWSL match were characterized by both teams jockeying for control of the attack. In the 18th minute, the Spirit issued the first real offensive attack, barraging Angel City FC with shots inside the box.
The series ended with forward Ashley Hatch hitting a lob shot that Angel City keeper DiDi Haračić plucked just before it crossed the goal line.
Haračić stayed busy, punching away a set-piece bomb from Sam Staab and defending a shot from Ashley Sanchez that went just wide of goal. Sanchez led the team with two shots in the first 25 minutes.
The first Angel City shot came in the 28th from Madison Hammond – it was sent well above goal. Angel City tested the Spirit’s backline with immense pressure, sending in three corners in a three-minute timespan. However, the Spirit thwarted all attempts.
The first half ended with both teams swapping offensive chances and defensive stops. Possession and shots were spread fairly evenly between the two teams.
Out of halftime, Angel City FC controlled the attack. Savannah McCaskill charged inside the box and was downed, but the referee commanded play to continue to the chagrin of the Los Angeles crowd.
Following a review, Hatch nailed the penalty attempt that would become the game-winning goal.
The goal lifted her to the outright lead in the Golden Boot race and makes her six-for-six from the spot during her Sprit career.
With the win, the Spirit sits alone at the top of the NWSL table and is the only remaining unbeaten side in the NWSL this season.
The 1-0 result was the first win the Spirit has earned against Angel City in the all-time series history.
Next up, the Spirit travels to Orlando to face the Pride for the second time in three games on Saturday, May 20.
Meanwhile…
San Diego Wave FC defeated Kansas City Current 2-0 at Children Mercy’s Park on Sunday.
Forward Alex Morgan scored her team-high fifth goal of the season and midfielder Belle Briede notched her first goal of the season.
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For the second-straight match, Morgan scored while putting the Wave ahead in the 26th minute. The ball was played over the top by goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan that ultimately fell to midfielder Sofia Jakobsson, who turned and took a shot that was blocked by Kansas City. The rebound fell to Morgan, whose shot hit the post and ricocheted off Current goalkeeper AD Franch to find the back of the net.
San Diego doubled the lead before the end of the first half off a goal from Briede. Following an opportunity in the box for the Wave, defender Christen Westphal applied pressure to the Current’s backline that resulted in a giveaway. Westphal laid off a pass to Briede who precisely curled a right-footed shot into the upper corner to give the visiting side a 2-0 edge going into halftime.
The Wave will play their final match in the three-game road stretch when they travel to Texas to take on the Houston Dash on Saturday, May 20.
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