Trinity Rodman scored two goals, including the winning goal in stoppage time, and the Washington Spirit defeated the Houston Dash 2-1 on Friday night.
In other National Women’s Soccer League games, Kansas City Current defeated Denver Summit 3-0 and Angel City defeated Orlando Pride 2-0. The game was the league’s first after an extended summer break.
In the 50th minute, Rodman smoothly converted Lacey Santos’ pinpoint long ball to take a 1-0 lead.
Houston rookie Linda Ullmark and Kate Firth scored in the 89th minute to tie the game at 1-1.
In the final minutes of stoppage time, Rodman hit the winning shot in front of the home crowd at Audi Field. The Spirit (7-3-2) have won seven of their past eight games.
The Dash (4-7-2) lost ground five straight times on the road.
Cooper scores 2 points against Kansas City
Croix Bethune and Michelle Cooper each scored two goals to lead Kansas City to a shutout victory at the Summit in Commerce City, Colorado.
In the 35th minute, after a turnover, Bethune sent a pass wide and Cooper buried it to make it 1-0.
A minute later, Kansas City’s Temwa Chawinga fouled defender Eva Gaetino in the box. Ro LaBonta then attempted a penalty, but his shot went over the post.
In the final moments of first-half stoppage time, Chawinga’s shot was cleared on the goal line by defender Ayo Oke.
In the 81st minute, Bethune scored again on Cooper, doubling Current’s lead (8-5-0).
Chawinga scored his eighth goal of the season in the 87th minute to seal the shutout victory. With this loss, Denver, which had been expanding, fell to (4-5-3).
Lorena, the reigning NWSL Goaltender of the Year, was out with a hip injury. Marisa Jordan started in her place in her regular season debut and kept a clean sheet with three saves.
Jónsdóttir’s return sparks Angel City
Maiara Niewes scored for the third straight game and Svejndis Jónsdóttir returned from injury to score, giving Angel City a victory at home.
Niewes scored the first goal in the 36th minute with a rebound. Jonsdóttir forced a turnover in the 56th minute, dribbled through and scored from a tight angle to extend Angel City’s (5-6-1) lead to two points.
Jonsdottir returned to the starting lineup after missing the past four games with a foot injury.
Goaltender Angelina Anderson made one save and earned her third shutout of the season.
Interim head coach Leif Gunnar Smerd led Angel City in his first game since firing coach Alex Strauss.
NWSL Golden Boot leader Barbra Banda missed the game against Orlando (5-6-2) due to a thigh injury.
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