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Di Guglielmo's goal gives the Spirit a crucial 1-0 win over Gotham as playoffs approach
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- Di Guglielmo's goal gives the Spirit a crucial 1-0 win over Gotham as playoffs approach
Lucia Di Guglielmo scored her first National Women's Soccer League goal and the Washington Spirit clinched a playoff spot with 1-0 victory over Gotham on Saturday.
In other action across NWSL, the San Diego Wave topped the North Carolina Courage 2-1; Angel City FC beat the Denver Summit 3-2; and the Kansas City Current shut out the Utah Royals 2-0.
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It was the first win for the Spirit (16-8-4) over Gotham since June 23, 2024.
The road loss at Audi Field denied Gotham (16-5-7) a chance to clinch the NWSL Shield and snapped a four-match unbeaten streak.
Spirit midfielder Mélissa Bethi delivered a pinpoint lob pass to Di Guglielmo in the 70th minute. She sneaked her shot past Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.
Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver made two saves for her 10th clean sheet of the season.
Leicy Santos returned from injury and started for the Spirit in her first appearance since Aug. 8.
After her contract termination with the Chicago Stars, Gotham defender Leila Ouahabi started in her debut for her new club.
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Wave secure top-four playoff seed
Goals from Melanie Barcenas and Trinity Byars lifted the Wave (17-8-3) to a victory on the road against the Courage, clinching a top-four playoff seed for San Diego.
Barcenas hit long-range blast that gave the visitors the 1-0 lead in the fourth minute. At 18, the forward scored her seventh goal which broke the NWSL single-season record for goals by a teenager.
Midfielder Gia Corley's lead pass hit Byars in stride, allowing her to chip goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan to make it 2-0 in the 52nd minute.
North Carolina forward Ashley Sanchez found Vilde Bøe Risa in the 83rd minute for her first NWSL goal.
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The Courage (13-12-3) have now dropped four of their last five matches.
Angel City FC erases two-goal deficit in comeback
Evelyn Shores and Gisele Thompson combined for three assists as Angel City (13-8-7) scored three unanswered goals in a 3-2 comeback at the Summit (10-10-8).
Denver forward Melissa Kössler's tap-in off a corner kick gave Denver the lead in the second minute. Midfielder Lindsey Heaps' volley doubled the lead in the 18th. It was her fourth goal in the last three games.
Angel City responded with defender Shores dishing out her eighth assist to Sveindís Jónsdóttir in the 32nd minute. Seven minutes later, Thompson slipped a through-ball into Taylor Suarez to make it 2-2. Ally Sentnor scored the winner in the 43rd minute.
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Angel City is unbeaten in its last eight games.
Hopkins' brace gives the Current its third straight win
Haley Hopkins scored twice to lead the Current (14-9-5) to a road win over the Royals.
Hopkins headed home the opening goal off a corner kick from midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo in the 21st minute. A counterattack in second half stoppage time led to forward Temwa Chawinga drawing the entire defense and laying it off to Hopkins for her second.
Lorena recorded four saves to earn her fourth clean sheet on the season.
The Utah Royals (14-10-4) have been shut out twice in the last four games.
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