Washington Spirit extends unbeaten streak to seven matches with commanding home performance at Audi Field
Washington, D.C.– Trinity Rodman delivered a masterclass performance with two clinical goals as the Washington Spirit defeated Seattle Reign FC 2-0 at Audi Field on Sunday afternoon, extending their unbeaten streak to seven matches and setting up a crucial showdown with league-leading Kansas City Current next weekend.
The 23-year-old forward’s first brace since May 2024 highlighted what head coach Adrián González called “probably one of the best performances this season in terms of 90 minutes,” as the Spirit dominated possession and controlled the tempo throughout the match.
First Half Dominance Sets the Tone
The Spirit came out aggressively from the opening whistle, with Rodman nearly setting up the opener in the 13th minute. Racing down the left wing, she jumped over defenders and delivered a precise cross to Leicy Santos, whose effort sailed just over the crossbar.
The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute through excellent team play. Santos found Rodman with a quick pass into the box, and the USWNT star made no mistake with a composed one-touch finish past Seattle goalkeeper Claudia Dickey.
“The movements from me for those two goals were timed well and very last minute,” Rodman explained post-match. “With Leicy and Croix, they always are playing no-look or last-minute cheeky balls. I kind of know what to expect with that, and I just want to be in the right place at the right time.”
Defensive Resilience Under Pressure
Seattle responded with increased pressure in the second half, registering six shots in the opening 30 minutes after the break. However, Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury and the defensive unit stood firm, with Kingsbury making a crucial save to deny Maddie Dahlien’s dangerous effort.
The Spirit’s tactical flexibility was on full display, switching between a five-man defensive line when under pressure and pushing forward with wing-backs Kate Wiesner and Paige Metayer when in possession.
Rodman Seals Victory with Second Strike
The decisive moment came in the 81st minute when substitute Croix Bethune, who had replaced Santos in the 67th minute, weaved through Seattle’s defense and found Rodman perfectly positioned. The forward made no mistake with her second finish, securing her first brace in over a year.
“She played insane. I’m still tripping, honestly,” Rodman said of teammate Deborah Abiodun, who made her first NWSL start and played the full 90 minutes. “Her decisiveness, her… you just never know where she’s going to turn, where she’s going to pop up.”
Abiodun Shines in Debut Start
The 21-year-old midfielder Abiodun was arguably the performance of the match alongside Rodman, controlling the tempo from central midfield and winning numerous second balls throughout the contest.
“I would say, if I say I didn’t feel any nervousness, I’ll be lying,” Abiodun admitted. “Before the game, I was [nervous], because it’s a home game, and I really love the crowd, like the energy from the Spirit family. It’s always positive.”
Coach González was effusive in his praise for the young midfielder: “Amazing performance. A type of player that I think she can play everywhere. She just came, and she was ready to compete, to help the team. She’s very humble, hardworking.”
Tactical Masterclass from González
The Spanish coach’s game plan worked to perfection, with the Spirit creating numerous chances while limiting Seattle to just two shots on target. The tactical approach of pressing high and attacking through the width consistently troubled Seattle’s compact defensive structure.
“We wanted to be very aggressive today, jumping outside because we know that they were playing with three center backs and then two wing backs,” González explained. “We wanted to jump with Kate to one wing back and also with Paige to the other wing back.”
The coach emphasized the importance of having multiple tactical options: “We are trying to create uncertainty to the opponents and sometimes we are building in different ways to be unpredictable.”
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Looking Ahead to Kansas City
The victory sets up a massive clash with Kansas City Current, who currently sit atop the NWSL table. The Spirit will travel to face the league leaders on Saturday, September 13, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT on ION.
“It was huge for us,” Rodman said of getting the win before facing Kansas City. “I think the past couple of games, we’ve had good performances, but I think we still need to work on adapting on the fly and fixing things during the match.”
A New Version of Trinity Rodman
Perhaps most encouraging for Spirit fans was seeing Rodman complete her first full 90 minutes in some time while looking sharp throughout. González believes this represents an evolution in the star forward’s game.
“She’s not back because she’s a different player,” González said when asked about Rodman’s return from injury. “After her injury, she’s right now more prepared mentally… We are trying to build a new Trinity, a new player.”
Spanish Quote from González: “Muy contento por ella, porque creo que está encontrándose cada vez más a gusto. Le decía también que intentando encontrar una nueva versión. Sin intentar ser la jugadora que era hace tres meses, porque no es la misma.”
Translation: “Very happy for her, because I think she’s feeling more and more comfortable. I was also telling her that she’s trying to find a new version. Without trying to be the player she was three months ago, because she’s not the same.”
The Spirit’s sixth clean sheet of the regular season and dominant performance suggest they’re peaking at the right time as the playoffs approach. With Rodman finding her scoring touch and new contributors like Abiodun stepping up, Washington appears well-positioned for their upcoming challenges.
Match Statistics:
- Shots: Washington 16, Seattle 6
- Shots on Goal: Washington 7, Seattle 2
- Saves: Washington 2, Seattle 5
- Attendance: Capacity crowd at Audi Field
The Spirit will look to carry this momentum into their crucial matchup with Kansas City as they continue their push toward the NWSL playoffs.
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