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Amy Rodriguez Lifts Kansas City with Early Score; KC Drops Match After Two Late Goals from Spirit

June 26, 2021 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Kansas City Current News Release


KANSAS CITY - Kansas City NWSL concluded its stretch of three games in six days with a heartbreaking loss to the Washington Spirit in front an energetic Kansas City crowd celebrating Pride Night at Legends Field. Captain Amy Rodriguez opened the scoring in the third minute of the game, giving Kansas City a 1-0 lead that would last most of the match. However, Washington responded late in the second half with two goals of its own from Ashley Sanchez and Trinity Rodman to hand Kansas City the 2-1 defeat.

The fans were barely in their seats as Kansas City immediately started the game on the attack. Forward Jéssica Silva drove down the left flank, then beat her defender coming up the end line towards goal. Silva delivered a perfect pass to a slashing Rodriguez who fired the ball one-time into the back of the net. Rodriguez nearly added a second goal in the fifteenth minute after a misplay by a Washington defender, but Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe denied the attempt.

Kansas City continued to dominate the first half offensively and defensively. KC's Mallory Weber, in her first start on the backline, was a stand-out for much of the match. She was strong in preventing attackers from getting past her and making aggressive tackles to get the ball back to the offensive end. Goalkeeper Abby Smith also strongly contributed with several point-blank saves.

Despite pressure from Kansas City on the attacking end, Sanchez finally answered the call for the Spirit in the 78th minute. She found the back of the net after a long pass from rookie Rodman to tie the game at 1-1.

Smith was forced to leave the game in the 80th minute with an injury, bringing in veteran Nicole Barnhart to close out the game. Barnhart made two unbelievable saves late, but Rodman took it upon herself in extra time to score a crafty goal - creating space in the box and firing a shot into the corner of the net.

"It hurts, it hurts a lot," said Head Coach Huw Williams. "We have a locker room full of players that gave it everything they've got and played awfully well for the vast majority of this game. It's a couple of moments, and those moments are key, and those moments are difference makers."

Kansas City will now shift its focus to the next game on the road at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey versus NY/NJ Gotham FC on Friday, July 2nd. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Paramount+.

NWSL Match Report Match: Kansas City NWSL vs Washington Spirit Date: June 26, 2021 Venue: Legends Field, Kansas City, Kansas Kickoff: 7:38 p.m. CT, 8:38 p.m. ET Weather: 80 degrees, cloudy Attendance:

Discipline 34' KC - LaBonta (Yellow) 57' KC - Edmonds (Yellow) 73' KC - Jenkins (Yellow)

Scoring 3' KC - Rodriguez (Silva) 73' - WASH - Sanchez (Rodman) 90'+6 WASH - Rodman (Huster)

Scoring Summary Goals 1 2 F Kansas City 1 0 1 Washington Spirit 0 2 2

Lineups: Kansas City: Smith (80' Barnhart), Corsie, Leach (68' Del Fava), Edmonds, Weber, Pickett, Vincent, LaBonta (69' Bowen), Silva (80' K. Pickett), Rodriguez© (70' Larroquette), Jenkins. Substitutes Not Used: McCain, Nolf, Vasconcelos, Maemone.

Washington Spirit: Bledsoe, McGrady (88' Hielferty), Staab (88' McKeown), Sonnett (70' Nielsen), Biegalski (46' Roddar), Bailey, Sullivan©, Huster, Yokoyama (46' Speckmaier), Rodman, Sanchez. Substitutes Not Used: Hatch, Asher, Rodriguez, Kerr.

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