The Washington Spirit are heading again to the NWSL Championship after beating the Portland Thorns 2-0 at Audi Area on Saturday.
Gift Monday discovered the web for the Spirit for the second playoff sport in succession within the first half earlier than Croix Bethune made certain of the victory late on.
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Washington now has an opportunity to avenge its loss to Orlando Pride in final yr’s last. Adrián González’s workforce will play the winner of Sunday’s second semifinal between Orlando and Gotham FC within the championship sport in per week’s time.
The Spirit’s win was made all of the extra sweeter by the return of star ahead Trinity Rodman. The United States worldwide, who had been out for a month with a knee harm and was an unused substitute in final week’s quarterfinal, got here on from the bench within the ninetieth minute to a rapturous ovation from the gang of 19,365 at Audi Area.
The opening aim Saturday arrived within the twenty seventh minute and was thrillingly created by Rosemonde Kouassi. The Ivory Coast worldwide surged down the correct wing from deep inside her personal half, all the best way into the Thorns penalty space earlier than unselfishly squaring the ball for Monday to complete into an unguarded web.
Sofia Cantore missed an opportunity to double the house facet’s lead when she hit the publish from shut vary halfway via the second half. However it was to not matter for Washington, as U.S. worldwide Bethune seized on a unfastened again go and ran clear via on aim to seal a spot within the last.
The Spirit, the No. 2 seed, reached the semifinals after ousting Racing Louisville in a penalty shootout. It stays unbeaten via six dwelling playoff video games after defeating a Portland workforce that was competing in a report tenth NWSL semifinal.
