The Washington Spirit has been tripped up in loads of methods throughout its 13-match winless streak, from defensive lapses and squandered scoring possibilities proving expensive to participant absences and fluky bounces sealing the group’s destiny.
Kansas
Squandered chances and a fluky goal doom Spirit to another loss
Nonetheless down seven starters due to U.S. nationwide group call-ups, the Spirit flirted with the lead however couldn’t money in on its flurry of alternatives. When Present substitute Cece Kizer pounced on a ricochet within the 68th minute, the objective got here on Kansas Metropolis’s first shot on course. And though Spirit rookie Tinaya Alexander drew a penalty kick in second-half stoppage time, Present goalkeeper Adrianna Franch denied her spot kick to protect the win.
“To a point, that is the one sport the place this occurs,” Spirit Coach Kris Ward stated. “There’s nowhere else the place you dominate possession and issues like that and also you don’t get the end result.”
The Spirit (1-5-6) is second to final within the 12-team NWSL; seventh-place Kansas Metropolis (4-4-3) improved to 4-0-2 in its previous six. Washington will search for its first win since Could 1 — a stretch of 11 common season video games and two Problem Cup contests — when it hosts the Orlando Pleasure subsequent Sunday at Audi Discipline.
“There’s stress on us as a group,” ahead Tara McKeown stated, “to lastly get a win again.”
Ward made 5 modifications from the group that misplaced, 2-1, on the San Diego Wave per week earlier. The Spirit once more performed with out Aubrey Kingsbury, Kelley O’Hara, Emily Sonnett, Andi Sullivan, Ashley Sanchez, Trinity Rodman and Ashley Hatch as they symbolize the US on the Concacaf W Championship in Mexico.
The Spirit had the higher possibilities earlier than halftime. The Present web was left uncovered within the seventeenth minute after Franch flailed at a nook kick, however Bayley Feist pushed her headed shot broad. Franch fared higher when she snagged Anna Heilferty’s teasing cross within the thirty first, shortly earlier than one other fluid Spirit buildup ended with Jordan Baggett buzzing a shot over the bar.
Washington got here closest to taking the lead shortly after the break. Within the 57th minute, McKeown curled a shot that Franch tipped over the bar. Washington’s Amber Brooks then beat Franch with a floating header on the following nook kick, solely to see Kate Del Fava head it off the road. Franch once more denied McKeown within the 61st minute when she parried the striker’s header.
“I believe we have been simply lacking the ultimate piece at present,” stated ahead Averie Collins, who got here off the bench in her first look since she suffered a torn ACL earlier than the 2021 season. “We simply have to work on that ultimate move, that ultimate end.”
Seven minutes later, the Present bought its objective. Del Fava’s cross from the proper flank caromed off the leg of Spirit substitute Gaby Vincent earlier than falling to Kizer, who stabbed residence a shot from seven yards.
Because the Spirit threw numbers into the assault, Alexander repeatedly carved out hazard with weaving runs down the proper flank. On a stoppage-time spurt, Alexander sliced her manner into the field, went down in site visitors and earned the penalty. However Franch bought down to dam Alexander’s subsequent shot, then lunged on the ball as a number of Spirit gamers vied for the rebound.
“If it goes in, everyone seems to be singing her praises. And if it doesn’t, then it’s a unique story,” Ward stated of Alexander. “However these are the burdens that it’s a must to shoulder as a striker, and I’m actually pleased with her for the best way that she attacked the opposite group and for stepping up and going to take it.”
Observe: Ward stated it was too early for an analysis of Spirit left again Julia Roddar, who exited within the forty fourth minute with an obvious knee damage.