FULL HIGHLIGHTS | Washington Spirit vs. KC Current

two teams pushing for a top place in the standings here's a lineup for Washington Spirit they're set in a 433 and four players back from the Olympics for the US this is the team that they're going with cook making her inl regular season debut but de Bernardo she'll pull the strings in the Midfield and look to play off of the front three who we know are going to press be electric the Olympians are back in action and we are underway from Washington DC the spirit as well Colombian International so a lot of moving pieces for Washington we'll see how those pieces fit together quickly in this game Santos on the ball now Paige Mater driving forward taking the space she blows past wheeler or Clare Hutton rather still mat mat takes it herself near post Mater makes it one nil for the spirit [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Paige mat said hold the phone I got this she's used to finding space as we had just mentioned primarily a midfielder of trade takes the space gets past Hutton and then just sees a little bit of Gap and cuts across bager and the momentum that she has and then just takes it keeps it low really AD franch should be doing better in this moment yes she's looking one way comes back across but needs to be getting something on that well done for Mater to be able to break that first line of pressure sees the space goes herself bypasses yeah I mean this is an important game we talk about it feeling like a new season you want to get off there's a poor pass easy pickoff for bethon Here Comes Cy bethon playing it through to SAR SAR gets the shot off SAR makes it two sar's eighth goal of the season and the spirit are rocking and rolling on this Sunday afternoon well the one thing that Vlad ananasi told us coming into this game that you can allow this Washington Spirit team to be able to to score first but then gain some momentum because their goals come in bunches and this combination between bethon between SAR has been excellent all season long just an understanding of each other's presence their the runs that they're making that's a beautiful ball weighted perfectly allows SAR to be able to open up her hips rolls across her and then goes back against the grain right in the exact spot that you want out of range for also have a double header with Chelsea Arsenal playing after Here Comes Ellie wheeler driving forward keeps it in plays it across balls there by dein for dein you know played a major role in her just slow start in terms of what we're typically used to seeing from DEA goal scoring assists just causing so many issues but here we go with shinga again shinga gets a shot off right into the arms of to go One V one and just show some dynamism as well higher up the field Andy Sullivan to take it sends it into the box header one by mckone but not dangerous on the second ball or the spirit as ad franch herfel fails on the connection to Santos now here come Kansas City shot goes just wide of the target for de Bernardo spark the counter haly mace helping get forward for the current Cooper the right hand side crossed attempt by De Bernardo bangs off the bar maximum within the the attack and then you've got the players around Yes Credit to Washington they're disciplined to get numbers back but still de Bernardo half chance unfortunately that one Ricochet is off if they continue to use the width and Lori wild the Kent have spent a lot of time as we get another look here this time from Maz who shot doesn't do much and there is the halftime whistle Washington Spirit up 2-0 at the half thanks to goals from Paige mat with her first of the Season as they have seen their offensive production spread around quite a bit and we are back underway from Audi field the spirit lead 2-n after the first half with goals coming from Paige mat Target that is not the kind of production that we are used to seeing or lack thereof from this Kansas City current team in the first half was the lowest of the Season would you say that that's more of a we we'll hold that thought for just a second here as here come Washington Spirit Trinity Rodman back post Rodman makes it three for the spirit and she is feeling good coming off of Olympic [Applause] gold well this is one area that they have done incredibly well throughout the season not just this game is finding the wide areas it's finding the extra player and then getting isolated One V one and yes that's a little bit of a gift because it does go off of Wheeler's leg but we see try Rodman time and time again get faced up in these positions she has one thing on her mind to go to goal Cuts back gets it on her left foot there's a little deflection because it's a late challenge to try to get something on it from wheeler that's unsavable from an ad franch just top Corner outside of the little deflection it feels almost identical of the game winning go the front line add a little deception to the way that she plays has been excellent just following her with Colombia a nice ball through here comes shinga shinga Kansas City have pulled one back and shinga has her 13th goal of the season well really just against the the Run of play Kansas City and never count shinga out just with her presence even if she's defending you can see the position she's taken up and just in between the two center backs then gets on the wrong side of bell never going to miss from this position just toe pokes it life of an attacker doesn't need to get a good look on it just whatever she can and I love that little quick release from shinga gets it P to kingsberry at the last second she's in a good position in this set because I don't think she expects it to come so quickly with amount of numbers and Defenders around her three extra midfielders to be able to fill that void with Hutton playing such a significant role throughout this season ball one back in the middle of the park Jericho plays it through header Michelle Prince right at [Applause] Kingsbury Andy Sullivan from the near side touch line sends it in Long headed Away by cook ball across and that ball is in Lacy Santos scores in her nwsl regular season debut the spirit lead 4-1 at Audi field [Applause] it's just a route here at Audi field for the Washington spirit and a lot of it just starts with their energy to keep plays alive do what they can to get to the ball first here it is Gabby Carl just applying the pressure she gets to it first as a tight angle keeps it alive and then what a brilliant first touch that is because Santos has a lot to do it's coming in with Pace it bounces right before but she takes it down so well to set herself up and then does the rest great connection far post 4 to one just like that to the Washington spirit this game the work that she's put in defensively today SAR dropping back in yes a giveaway there but they're putting in the work they're making it predictable that allows for Cooper gets a shot off Saved By Kingsbury and that allows for the rist and then the more threats go that to this Kansas City team but really I think it's all about the way that Washington approached this game at home bring their Olympians back in re-energize their team got everybody on the same p hey