Although the DC Power are out of the playoffs race for the USL Super League’s inaugural season, they are still fighting for every goal and result they can. Playing against the second place Dallas Trinity on a Thursday night at Audi Field, they had to overcome an 0-2 deficit at halftime to get points and they did just that, beating the Trinity late in stoppage time 3-2. The game featured two of the three players that the Washington Spirit have loaned to Dallas, forward Tamara Bolt and Deborah Abiodun. Defender loanee Shadia Nankya did not feature.
The first half was almost all Dallas Trinity, as they held the ball deep in the Power’s end for much of the first 45 minutes of the game. The visitors scored their first goal in the 26th minute thanks to forward Sealey Strawn and then were able to double their lead only seven minutes later on a goal by fellow forward Allie Thornton. It looked like the Trinity were going to control the match and keep the lead as both teams went into the locker rooms at half time.
But the Power came out and really dominated as the Trinity fell flat for the second half. Second half substitute, forward Loza Abera had her first goal in the 54th minute. Nine minutes later, Trinity goalkeeper Madison White was able to parry away a strong shot, but the ball fell to Power defender Susanna Fitch, who was able to send the ball into the net before White could recover. With the game tied, both sides fought for the lead, with the Power controlling much of the action (they would finish with 53% if the possession). It wasn’t until the 9th minute of stoppage time that Abera was able to send in a hard shot to the far netting past a diving White for the game winner. Shortly thereafter, the referee blew her whistle and the Power were able to play spoiler to Dallas’ hopes of closing the gap between them and first place Carolina Ascent, who currently are in first with 46 points and a game in hand while Dallas trails by 6 points. Tampa Bay are in a close race with them as they sit only 1 point behind also with a game in hand.
The Power next play at home on Tuesday the 13th against Spokane Zephyr FC.
