Washington Spirit get first-ever road win over Portland Thorns: Match report
Second-half goals from Tara Rudd and Mélissa Bethi gave the Spirit their first-ever win in Portland.
After 14 seasons, the Washington Spirit at long last claimed a road win over the Portland Thorns, coming back to collect a 2-1 victory on Sunday.
After Sophia Wilson had given the Thorns a first-half lead from the spot, Tara Rudd equalized in similar fashion. That set the stage for Mélissa Bethi's late winner, as the Spirit newcomer marking her first NWSL start with a goal assisted by Trinity Rodman.
Washington had never managed a win at Providence Park before, collecting just five draws from 15 previous attempts. It didn't seem likely to change this time around either, with the visitors struggling throughout the first half.
After a cagey opening, the Spirit conceded a penalty kick from a seemingly unremarkable situation. Monique Ngock — who like Bethi made her first start since joining the Spirit — and Nina Nijstad chased a loose ball into the area after their initial battle for possession put Washington into trouble. With defenders spread wide, Ngock had to put in a tackle, but could only trip the Dutch midfielder inside the penalty area.
Wilson took the resulting spot kick, calmly sending Sandy MacIver the wrong way for her 12th goal of the season.
The Spirit didn't offer much in terms of an immediate bounceback. MacIver had to make an astounding recovery in the 29th minute after Reilyn Turner's cross from the endline created the initial threat.
The Scotland no. 1 could only glance that ball out of the goalmouth, and no Spirit player was on hand to clear. Carolyn Calzada arrived seeming certain to guide the ball into the empty net, but MacIver popped up and threw herself back across goal, tipping the ball away with a stunning save.
Washington surely hoped for better coming out of the locker room, but the first action of the second half saw Portland rip through the middle of the visitors' defense. A chaotic sequence ended with Pietra Tordin looking to stab a rebound into an empty net, but the in-form attacker's shot hit the post, letting the Spirit off the hook.
The Spirit's reprieve arrived just before the hour mark. It looked innocuous at first, but Sam Hiatt tripped Sofia Cantore, with referee Cristian Campo Hernández eventually being called to the VAR monitor.
After initially not making a call, Campo Hernández came back to point to the spot. Amid the boos from the home fans, Rudd stepped up and mirrored Wilson, burying her shot from 12 yards as Mackenzie Arnold leapt the other way.
Rodman had lacked for service for much of the day, but Bethi forced Hiatt into an awkward interception trying to send the U.S. women's national team forward in behind, creating a 65th-minute opportunity. Rodman won the ball off of Hiatt and pushed into the box, but her cutback for Cantore was blocked by an excellent, last-ditch Calzada tackle.
Thorns fans were howling for a penalty after a shot hit Rudd's hand inside the box, but this time, VAR did not summon Campo Hernández to check. With the game starting to open up, Cantore was robbed again in the 73rd minute, as her header from Paige Metayer's pinpoint cross was clawed away by a superb Arnold save.
It had looked unlikely, but the Spirit completed their comeback in the 80th minute, with Bethi marking her first start with a goal. Metayer's ball around the defense found Rodman on the right this time. Her last cutback was foiled by Calzada, but this one found the Algeria midfielder in place to fire a low shot past Arnold.
The first Algerian in NWSL history gets her first NWSL goal 🇩🇿👏 Mélissa Bethi scores in her first start for Washington Spirit!
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) September 6, 2026 at 5:55 PM
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MacIver had to tip a Wilson shot wide in the 84th minute after Esme Morgan's clearance attempt was blocked, but from there the Spirit frustrated Portland to secure the three points. Substitute Gift Monday rounded Arnold deep in stoppage time to add a seeming third, but was denied by an offside flag.
Andi Sullivan ended up receiving a second yellow card deep in stoppage time, but Washington kept their heads to see out a valuable — and historic — three points.
The victory moves the Spirit (13-4-6) within two points of NWSL Shield-leading NJ/NY Gotham FC. Washington will look gain more ground next Sunday, as with kickoff against the Boston Legacy scheduled for 1 p.m. ET at Audi Field.
Box score — NWSL regular season (game 23)
9/6/2026
Portland Thorns 1 (Wilson 18pen)
Washington Spirit 2 (Rudd 59pen, Bethi 80)
Lineups:
Thorns (4231): Mackenzie Arnold; Carolyn Calzada, Sam Hiatt (C), Jayden Perry (Maddie Padelski 84), M.A. Vignola (Reyna Reyes 84); Nina Nijstad, Jessie Fleming; Morgan Weaver (Caiya Hanks 46), Pietra Tordin, Reilyn Turner (Marie Müller 63); Sophia Wilson
Spirit (4231): Sandy MacIver; Paige Metayer, Tara Rudd (C), Esme Morgan, Gabby Carle; Hal Hershfelt, Monique Ngock (Andi Sullivan 73); Rosemonde Kouassi (Madison Haugen 88), Mélissa Bethi (Élisabeth Tsé 98+), Trinity Rodman; Sofia Cantore (Gift Monday 87)
Bookings:
Thorns - Perry 93+
Spirit - Ngock 26, Rudd 32, Sullivan 92+, Sullivan 97+ (sent off)
Referee: Cristian Campo Hernández
Weather: Cloudy, light rain, 60°
Attendance: 19,065
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