The team after the second rain delay during a charged match against the Reign.
Politics! Weather! Drama! Playoff implications! Normally in a ninety minute soccer match supporters are lucky to get a goal or two but tonight those that came to the Maryland SoccerPlex got a little bit of everything. With clouds and thunder both in the vicinity and in the stands, the Washington Spirit outlasted the Seattle Reign 2-1 to earn their first-ever playoff match.
Goals were scored for the Spirit by Crystal Dunn (45′) and Cheyna Williams (63′). The Reign cut the deficit in the 69th minute with a penalty kick goal by Kim Little.
Even before the game could begin there was tension at the Maryland SoccerPlex. The match was twice delayed by lightning delaying the game by about thirty minutes. It would also be around the 65th minute with additional thunderstorms coming into the area.
Further drama was added before the match even started as the National Anthem was played 15 minutes prior to kick-off. This was in connection to Reign midfielder Megan Rapinoe’s decision to take a knee during the playing of the anthem. In a statement released during the match, the Spirit said:
The statement was not exactly received warmly by supporters at the match. Chants of Rapinoe’s name and “Let her kneel” could be heard throughout the stadium. There were also some spectators yelling negative comments towards Rapinoe when she came on in the 57th minute.
In addition to the statement released there was also an increased police presence in the stadium. As of the publication of this article the Spirit have yet to provide an exact reason for the need for additional police during the match.
On the field, the Spirit were given an early obstacle when forward Cali Farquharson was taken off of the pitch in the sixth minute. Spirit coach Jim Gabarra opted to bring in forward Crystal Dunn. Dunn, despite having not scored a goal in the 2016 NWSL campaign, proved to be a difference-maker for the Spirit forcing the normally compact Reign defense to go wide.
The Dunn substitution nearly paid off in the 40th minute when she worked her way in to the Reign FC box and was pulled down for a penalty. However, Spirit midfielder Christine Nairn would miss wide right on the ensuing penalty kick keeping the match at 0-0.
Seattle would not be so lucky just five minutes later. In injury time Dunn would hit chip shot over Reign goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer to give the Spirit the 1-0 advantage. The goal was Dunn’s first of the season and her first regular season goal since the Spirit’s 3-3 draw with the Portland Thorns in August of last year.
In the second half the Spirit would continue to hammer the Reign defense putting out 3-4 attackers in the hopes of getting a second. Their efforts would be rewarded when Williams would hit her shot from distance in the 61st minute. Williams’ goal was her third of the 2016 campaign.
With the victory the Spirit solidify their hold on first place in the NWSL standings (12-3-3, 39 points) seven points ahead of Portland Thorns FC (9-3-5, 32 points). They will travel to Seattle on Sunday to finish up their home-and-home series with the Reign (6-6-6, 24 points). Kick-off at Memorial Stadium will be at 10pm EST and will be available on the NWSL YouTube stream.
Washington Spirit
Seattle Reign
