Thanks to a Bethune header, the Spirit secure a draw on the road against Angel City

The Washington Spirit have been riding a high since their return to league play from international tournaments late this summer. The club has been riding an eight-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, even securing a draw on the road against league leaders Kansas City Current.

The Spirit were not only looking to extend their unbeaten streak on the road against Angel City FC on Thursday night, but they were looking to punch their ticket into the playoffs.

In a highly contested game inside BMO Field of Los Angeles, both teams shared the spoils as they played to a 2-2 draw.

"It's not easy, and you're seeing that obviously we always want to get the three points. But today, the way that we've competed until the end, the number of chances that we've created. So, I think we need to be proud." Said Spirit head coach Adrián González. "At the beginning, it took a little bit of time just to adjust what we wanted to do, but I think we were, you know, after the 1st 15 to 20 minutes, we were just settled, so everything was good. We were playing good soccer after scoring the first one, you know, just right after we've considered that, that goal, and it changed a little bit the situation, and then second half, I think when we were. Playing better, the most important thing is that the team is competing until the end. It's improving every week, and I think we can get. Really positive things for the future from this game."

Trinity Rodman is celebrating her 4th goal of the season. Photo Credit: NWSL

The Game

The Spirit got on the score sheet first in the 12^th minute. After a bit of Trinity Rodman magic inside the box, Rodman got away from the mark of two defenders, making her way towards goal. Rodman was brought down inside the box by Miyabi Moriya. Originally, the foul inside the box was not called; however, the referee went to VAR to determine if Moriya brought down Rodman inside the box. After the review, the referee determined there was contact inside the box and gave the penalty to the Spirit. It would be Rodman to step up and take the penalty spot. Her shot was denied by Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson, but Rodman pounced on the ensuing rebound to net her fourth goal of the season to give the Spirit an early lead.

"I knew, too, once it had gotten through. I had felt the pressure, and I knew that she was going for a last-ditch effort tackle, like I knew she was going to ground." Rodman said, "I took that second touch, and it worked out."

Angel City would respond with an equalizer just three minutes later. Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir played the ball to Gisele Thompson, who took on Spirit defender Kaite Weisner and took the ball to the touchline. Thompson played a back pass to a charging Evelyn Shores inside the box, and the rookie placed the ball into the back of the net to score her first career NWSL goal and tie the game at that moment.

“I think our press was really working,” Shores said. “We were keeping them wide how we wanted to in the first half, and then in the second half, they were dropping in with the double sticks, and we had a little trouble. They were able to find the opposite pocket. Credit to them for exploiting our weaknesses. But we’ll watch the film and get better.

Evelyn Shores scored her 1st career NWSL goal. Photo Credit: NWSL

The Spirit were looking to take the lead once again in the 32^nd minute with a shot from Croix Bethune, but Anderson was able to get a hand to it and send the ball out for a corner kick.

The Spirit had another goalscoring opportunity four minutes later, when Gaby Carle sent a cross looking for Leicy Santos inside the box. Thompson headed the ball clear, but Weisner gathered the rebound and laid the ball off to Narumi Miura, who set herself up and got a shot from the top of the box that hit the crossbar. Rosemonde Kouassi was unable to control the rebound, and the ball was eventually cleared by the Angel City defense.

Angel City would take the lead in the 55^th minute after a buildup play from Sara Doorsoun-Khajeh, who found Nealy Martin and played the ball in the direction of the midfielder. Martin would find an open Riley Tiernan who charged the box going 1v1 with Paige Metayer, sending a cross to find an open teammate. Tara McKeown tries to clear the ball away, but her clearance goes past Aubrey Kingsbury and into the back of her own net, giving the Southern California outfit the lead.

In the 70^th minute, the Spirit would equalize. Santos played a back pass to Esme Morgan. The English international played the ball back to Santos, with the Colombian international sending a cross into the box, finding Bethune, who got to the end of Santos' cross to tie the game.

"There's been a lot of emphasis on me getting in the box. So, I know Leicy knows how to place a ball perfectly." Said Bethune, "So just making that contact, getting in the box, jumping. Placing the ball into the goal."

The Spirit, though they had the game winner in stoppage time, after Gift Monday intercepted the ball in the middle of the field, laying the ball to Sophia Cantore, but her shot was denied by Anderson and sent out for a corner.

Washington currently sits in 2^nd place in the NWSL standings with 37 points, while Angel City sits in 10^th place with 24 points.

The Spirit will now play at home next Sunday when they host the Houston Dash. Kickoff is scheduled for 1pm.