Trinity Rodman scores twice as Washington beats Portland 4-1 to reach a third straight NWSL semifinal

WASHINGTON. Trinity Rodman scored twice and set up the opening goal as the Washington Spirit beat the Portland Thorns 4-1 on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Audi Field to reach the NWSL semifinals for the third straight season. Clara Luvanga added a goal and two assists for Washington, which led 3-0 at halftime, answered Portland’s only goal seven minutes after it went in, and closed out the largest playoff win in club history.

Washington (17-4-9) came in as the No. 3 seed after a 2-0 win over Chicago on Decision Day, and Portland (14-8-8) came in as the No. 6 seed off a 2-0 win over Houston. The bracket gave the winner No. 7 seed Utah, which had won at San Diego on Friday night. The championship match is at Audi Field on Nov. 21, so Washington’s semifinal is also at home, and a win there puts the Spirit in a title game in their own stadium.

The first goal came in the 6th minute. Rodman stripped Portland defender Carolyn Calzada of the ball deep in the Thorns’ end, drove into the penalty area and slipped a low pass through traffic to Mélissa Bethi, who beat goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold. Washington held that lead for 28 minutes, and the game was settled in the 24 minutes either side of halftime.

It turned in the 34th and 35th minutes. Arnold hesitated over a back pass from defender Isabella Obaze, and Luvanga closed her down and scored to make it 2-0. A minute later Luvanga raced into the box and crossed for Rodman, who finished for her first goal and a 3-0 lead at the break. Portland’s best period followed the restart. In the 51st minute the ball came out to Jessie Fleming after a corner kick, Fleming sent it back into the box, and Pietra Tordin finished for her first career playoff goal. Seven minutes later Luvanga drove a low pass across the penalty area, and Rodman met it with her left foot to restore the three-goal lead at 4-1.

Rodman finished with two goals and an assist and played all 90 minutes. Luvanga had a goal and two assists before Ashley Hatch replaced her in the 67th minute. Between them they had a hand in all four Washington goals. The numbers behind the score are plain: Washington put five shots on target and scored on four of them. Portland put seven of its 11 shots on target and scored once. Sandy MacIver made six saves in goal for Washington. Arnold made one save for Portland. Jayden Perry was booked in the 47th minute for a tackle on Rodman and sent off in the 88th after a second yellow card on another foul against Rodman, leaving Portland with 10 players for the closing minutes.

“In this league anything can happen. It is difficult to win. Today we thought about Portland. After this we will think about our next opponent,” Washington coach Adrián González said.

Up Next: Washington hosts Utah in the semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Audi Field, 12 p.m. ET on CBS. Portland’s season is over.

Scoring summary: Washington, Bethi 6, Rodman; Washington, Luvanga 34; Washington, Rodman 35, Luvanga; Portland, Tordin 51, Fleming; Washington, Rodman 58, Luvanga. Halftime: Washington 3, Portland 0. Attendance: 19,215, a sellout.