The Washington Spirit recorded a decisive victory against Racing Louisville FC at Audi Field to keep their hold on second place, which would mean they would have home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Spirit forward Makenna Morris scored a brace in the first half, the first on a bad pass from Racing goalkeeper Katie Lund that Morris intercepted and smashed into the back of the net and the second on a tap in from a wonderful Rose Kouassi ball across the face of goal. The second half first saw Kouassi fouled in the box, resulting in a penalty kick that Spirit forward Ashley Hatch, in her 150th NWSL appearance, buried. Racing were able to get one back but it was for naught as, in the last minute of stoppage time, Spirit substitute Lena Silano put the cherry on top after jumping on a bad back pass and burying the ball into the far side of the goal.
The Spirit and NY/NJ Gotham are tied on 50 points but the Spirit hold a 4-goal lead in goal differential, which is the first tie breaker. The Spirit are already guaranteed a quarterfinal home game, but keeping second place would mean that, should they move on to the semifinals, that game would also be at Audi Field.
