Washington Spirit makes history with unbelievable comeback and breaks NWSL record

The Washington Spirit gave their supporters a night to remember at Audi Field, rallying back for a 2-1 victory over the Portland Thorns FC on a Leicy Santos header in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Not only was the victory thrilling, it was historic, securing the Spirit's 13th win of the season-the highest total in NWSL history.

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In front of 14,306 fans at Audi Field, the match got underway with a surprise: veterans like Trinity Rodman and Hal Hershfelt started off the bench, nobody expected that. Rosemonde Kouassi, who has grown into her role little by little, earned her second consecutive start. Ashley Hatch and Courtney Brown also joined the starting lineup. Meanwhile, the ever-consistent Aubrey Kingsbury just became the third keeper in NWSL history to reach 125 games with one club — joining Alyssa Naeher of the Chicago Red Stars and Jane Campbell with the Houston Dash.

Strong Start

On the other side, Portland star Sophia Smith was the player to watch. And it didn't take long for her to make her mark. Just four minutes in, Smith found a gap in the Spirit's defense but was stopped by a spectacular sliding save from Aubrey Kingsbury. Always reliable, Kingsbury showed once again why she's one of the league's top goalkeepers.

But the early scare was quickly overrun as the Spirit regained control and their rhythm. Always dangerous up front, Ashley Hatch was at the helm, and by the 10th minute, nearly opened the scoring after a play set up by Santos. But despite the chances that came for the Spirit, the goal just wouldn't come. Meanwhile, Smith remained Portland's main threat, accounting for four of their six first-half shots.

As dominant as the Spirit was, the teams went into halftime tied, leaving a sense that even more drama was yet to come in the second half.

Second Half Full of Twists

And it did not take long before the drama would unfold. Just four minutes into the second half, Hina Sugita made sure to put the Thorns ahead with a shot into the top left corner of Kingsbury's goal. It seemed like bad news for the Spirit since Portland has a perfect 3-0-0 record on the road when scoring first.

But the Spirit wouldn't go away. Off a fast play, Hatch played Rodman-who subbed on during the first half-through, and Rodman did what Rodman does: she ran, she dribbled, and she finished with precision.

It was her seventh goal of the season, a new personal best. "We're learning each other's strengths," Rodman said afterward, speaking to a growing team chemistry.

A Thrilling Finish

With the score tied, the pressure rose at Audi Field. Head coach Jonatan Giráldez subbed in several veterans, including Hal Hershfelt and Casey Krueger, to shore up the lineup. The moves paid off, and the Spirit gained fresh steam.

The Spirit, however, continued to press in the final minutes as Kouassi, lively all night, almost made her team take the lead in the 79th minute, only for her shot to skid just wide of the post amidst gasps from the stands.

And when the fourth official announced seven minutes of stoppage time, the tension in the stadium was palpable. Everyone knew a draw wasn't going to cut it. A minute into injury time, Rodman again made the key play, sending in the perfect cross into the box. Santos dove and headed it into the net to cap the comeback.

History was made at 13 wins this season as the stadium erupted, but most importantly, this victory solidified the Spirit as one of the most resilient teams in the NWSL. The team now joins the Seattle Reign in 2014 as few clubs to record four comebacks in a single season.

Challenges and the Spirit's Future

This victory also accounted for a huge milestone for head coach Jonatan Giráldez, who manages to keep the team performing without Croix Bethune, the big attacking player. Bethune, who had equaled the NWSL single-season assist record before getting injured, will be sorely missed for the rest of the campaign.

Losing Bethune was a big blow," Giráldez acknowledged during a pre-game news conference. "But we have a deep squad and we're confident other players will step up. We saw that today with the performances of Rodman and Santos.

Rodman also praised teamwork: "Our depth off the bench is amazing and we showed that today," she said. "There were some changes in the lineup and I think they were incredible."

As the season reaches a critical phase, Spirit has placed themselves among the candidates for first place. The victory against Portland Thorns, which usually is one of the league's hard nuts, simply shows that Washington is ready to compete for the title.

Having broken their own record with 13 wins, Giráldez's squad has already made history, but they're hungry for more. The mix of experience and young talent makes the Spirit a thrilling team to watch as they can overcome challenges.

If this game was any indication, the fans at Audi Field can expect many more epic nights this season. The Washington Spirit is ready for whatever comes next, because with Rodman and Santos the likes, the limit for this team is the sky.