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The Washington Spirit secured a crucial 3-2 victory over Bay FC in San Francisco, strengthening their playoff push and climbing into second place in the NWSL standings. The match was played before a record-breaking 40,091 fans, the largest crowd in league history, surpassing the previous mark set in June 2024 when Chicago faced Bay FC.
Spirit Strike Early
Washington (9-4-4, 31 points) wasted no time making an impact. Kate Wiesner opened the scoring in the seventh minute, and Croix Bethune doubled the lead in the 39th. An own-goal moments later extended the Spirit’s advantage to 3-0 before halftime.
Bay FC (4-8-5, 17 points) fought back immediately. Just three minutes after the own-goal, star striker Racheal Kundananji cut the deficit with a strong finish to make it 3-1 heading into the break.
Bay FC’s Late Push
Kelli Hubly struck in the 54th minute to make it a one-goal game. Bay FC pressed for an equalizer, but Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury came up big, recording five saves, including a key stop on Jordan Silkowitz in stoppage time.
The win moved Washington ahead of the Orlando Pride and San Diego Wave FC in the standings as the playoff race tightens.
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Match Summary
| Team | Goals | Key Players | Saves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Spirit | Wiesner (7’), Bethune (39’), Own-goal | Kingsbury (5 saves) | 5 |
| Bay FC | Kundananji (42’), Hubly (54’) | Silkowitz (late attempt saved) | 2 |
NWSL Standings Update
| Team | Record | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Spirit | 9-4-4 | 31 | Moved into 2nd place |
| Orlando Pride | 8-4-4 | 28 | Next match on Aug. 29 |
| San Diego Wave FC | 8-5-3 | 27 | Face Louisville on Sunday |
| Bay FC | 4-8-5 | 17 | Remain near bottom of table |
Washington’s win came at a crucial time as the playoff picture continues to evolve. Fans can track upcoming fixtures and betting markets using NWSL odds and scores (cross-linked through Sportshub’s live coverage hub).
