Washington Spirit of USA striker, Gift Monday got one of the goals that helped her team defeat Portland Thorns 2-0 on Saturday and reach the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) final, Sports247 reports.
After the Super Falcons’ star opened scoring, Croix Bethune added the team’s second goal, as The Spirit got to the NWSL championship game in back-to-back seasons.
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With the win, Monday’s team will play in their second straight NWSL final next weekend in San Jose, California against the winner of Sunday’s second semi-final game between Gotham FC and Orlando Pride.
It will also be the fourth championship appearance in the history of Monday’s club, and they will aim to make up for last season, when they lost it 1-0 to the Pride.
The Spirit’s opening goal by Monday came from a counter-attack that her team launched after a corner kick for the opponents in the 27th minute, from which Kouassi dashed away and then knocked the ball across for the Nigerian lass to tap it into the net.
It is the sixth time this season that Kouassi has had an assist on a goal by Monday, while also marking the second straight play-off game in which they have both combined en route to a net breaker for the team.
Bethune sealed the result when she broke free in the 83rd minute, and the 24-year-old midfielder dribbled past the keeper to put the ball into an empty net.
Monday’s team took full advantage of playing at home in the last-four, as the game took place at Audi Field in Washington D.C, making it the second consecutive year they hosted a semi-final in the NWSL Playoff.
