Rodman Scores Twice as Spirit Beat Thorns 4-1 in Washington, DC to Reach NWSL Semifinals

The Washington Spirit are back in the NWSL semifinals. Trinity Rodman scored twice and set up the opening goal at Audi Field on Sunday, and the third seeded Spirit beat the sixth seeded Portland Thorns 4-1 in a quarterfinal that was close to settled by halftime.

Three goals in 35 minutes

Rodman started the scoring play in the sixth minute. She took the ball off Portland defender Carolyn Calzada deep in the Thorns end, drove into the penalty area and slipped a low pass through traffic to Melissa Bethi, who beat goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold. The goal was Bethi's first in the NWSL playoffs, and the assist was Rodman's ninth of the season.

Portland nearly answered on a counter attack, but Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver came off her line to deny Caiya Hanks. The game then turned in two minutes. In the 34th minute, Arnold took too long to clear a back pass and Clara Luvanga closed her down and turned the ball into the net for 2-0. Ninety seconds later, Luvanga crossed low and Rodman tapped in the third goal. Portland coach Robert Vilahamn made two changes in the 38th minute, bringing on Reilyn Turner and M.A. Vignola for Marie Muller and Calzada, but the Thorns still went into halftime three goals down.

Portland reply, then Rodman again

The Thorns scored in the 51st minute. Jessie Fleming crossed and Pietra Tordin took the ball down and finished on the half volley from close range to cut the lead to 3-1. The reply lasted seven minutes. In the 58th minute, Luvanga broke down the right side and crossed low to the far post, where Rodman scored her second goal of the afternoon. Portland defender Jayden Perry was sent off in the closing minutes after a second yellow card.

Washington finished the regular season third at 17-4-9. Portland finished sixth at 14-8-8 and go home after the first round.

A semifinal at the Commanders stadium

The Spirit face the seventh seeded Utah Royals in the semifinals. Utah upset the second seeded San Diego Wave 1-0 on Friday. The semifinal is set for Saturday, Nov. 14, and Washington will not play it at Audi Field. The stadium is booked that day for the Secretaries' Cup, a Division III football game between the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, so the Spirit will host Utah at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, home of the Washington Commanders.

The winner reaches the NWSL Championship on Nov. 21 at Audi Field, against Gotham FC or the Kansas City Current. Washington are chasing a third straight trip to the final.