The Washington Spirit will play the Chicago Red Stars for the National Women’s Soccer League title after each team won its respective semifinal on Sunday.
Ashley Sanchez scored the winner in the 68th minute as the Spirit earned a 2-1 victory over OL Reign.
Eugenie Le Sommer gave the Reign the early lead with a goal in the third minute. The Spirit pulled even on Trinity Rodman’s goal in the 12th.
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It was the seventh goal of the season for Rodman, a Rookie of the Year finalist and the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman. At 19, she is the youngest player to score in the playoffs.
Sanchez gave the Spirit the lead with a goal from a seemingly impossible angle off a corner kick.
The result for the Spirit comes amid a turbulent season. The team’s coach, Richie Burke, was dismissed in September for violating the league’s anti-harassment policy.
The Spirit also had to forfeit two regular-season games because of COVID-19 protocols. The Spirit were 2-1-0 over the Reign in the regular season.
In Sunday’s other match, Katie Johnson and Sarah Woldmoe each scored as Chicago defeated the Portland Thorns 2-0.
The Thorns won the NWSL Shield this season for best regular-season record. They have won the NWSL championship twice, in the league’s inaugural season in 2013 and again in 2017.
The Thorns were without midfielder Lindsey Horan because of an eye injury. She said in a statement released just before the game that she took a knock in practice on Saturday and lost her vision for a few hours. The Thorns were also without midfielder Crystal Dunn, who announced this week that she is pregnant and due in the spring.
The Red Stars…
Source : espn
