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Washington Spirit defeats Chivas Femenil and starts Summer Cup with victory

In their NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup opener, the Washington Spirit showed their strength with a 2-1 win over Chivas Femenil

By Izabelle Franca

Jul 21, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Spirit forward Brittany Ratcliffe (13) races after the ball during the first half against Chivas de Guadalajara at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Spirit forward Brittany Ratcliffe (13) races after the ball during the first half against Chivas de Guadalajara at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports / Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports
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The Washington Spirit began their journey in the NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup with a remarkable 2-1 victory over Chivas Femenil, showing the team's strength and ability in a tournament that brings together all 14 NWSL clubs and six Liga MX teams, marks the NWSL's first international collaboration, and promises to raise the level of women's soccer.

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The Spirit took to the field with a starting line-up full of important changes. Aubrey Kingsbury and Tara McKeown were the only players to retain their positions from the start of the regular season. National team substitutes Jenna Butler and Olivia Stone made their NWSL debuts, while Heather Stainbrook, Lena Silano and Chloe Ricketts played their first games of the 2024 season.

The first goal of the game came from Paige Metayer, who took advantage of a corner from Ashley Hatch to head the ball into the back of the net, opening the scoring and setting the tone for the Spirit's dominance in the first half. Chivas Femenil, on the other hand, struggled to create attacking opportunities, registering just two shots without any real danger to the opponent's goal. With 57% possession, Spirit controlled the game, maintaining pressure and showing defensive solidity.

The game heated up with the distribution of three yellow cards in a short space of time, demonstrating the intensity and competitiveness on the pitch. In the second half, the Spirit extended their lead with a goal from Lena Silano, who received a precise cross from Brittany Ratcliffe and finished with class. Silano almost scored again, but the Chivas Femenil goalkeeper managed to keep out the striker's second goal.

Chivas Femenil didn't give up easily, however. In the 68th minute, Carolina Jaramillo crossed a perfect ball from a free-kick, finding the head of captain Alicia Cervantes, who narrowed the gap and brought new energy to the Mexican team. Despite attempts from both teams and several substitutions, the score remained unchanged and Spirit secured three crucial points to start the Summer Cup group stage on the right foot.

At the end of the match, the numbers reflected the Washington Spirit's dominance: 15 shots, seven of which were on target, against six shots from Chivas Femenil, with only one on target. This win boosts the Spirit's morale, who now have just one defeat in their last nine matches, cementing themselves as a team to watch closely in the tournament.

The Washington Spirit's performance in this inaugural match of the NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup demonstrates not only the team's skill and strategy, but also the importance of different leagues coming together for the growth of women's soccer.

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