Recap: Spirit prevails, 2-1, in inaugural Summer Cup match versus Chivas Femenil
Chester, Pa. (07/21/2024) – The Washington Spirit earned a 2-1 victory over Chivas Femenil in its first NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup match.
Today’s match marked the inaugural NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup for the Washington Spirit and Chivas Femenil. The Summer Cup is the first ever international tournament collaboration in the NWSL’s history and is comprised of all 14 NWSL clubs and six Liga MX teams.
The Starting XI for the Spirit witnessed several major shifts with Aubrey Kingsbury and Tara McKeown the only two players that have started all regular season matches this season. National team replacement (NTR) players Jenna Butler and Olivia Stone both got the nod in the starting lineup, thus earning their NWSL debuts. Meanwhile, Heather Stainbrook, Lena Silano and Chloe Ricketts made their first starts (all competitions) of the 2024 season.
Midfielder Paige Metayer got the action going early when she netted the match’s first goal. Ashley Hatch played a ball in off a corner service that connected beautifully with Metayer’s head, whizzing by the Chivas Femenil keeper.
PAIGE IN THE AIR
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) July 21, 2024
The Spirit dominated the first half with Chivas unable to produce anything in the way of a threatening attack. Chivas Femenil logged only two shots, neither of which were on target, and only recorded six touches in the opponent’s box. The Spirit also possessed the ball over 57% of the time.
The game got a little chippy in the first half when three yellow cards were issued in a span of six minutes of game action, two to Chivas Femenil and one to the Spirit.
In the second half, the Spirit doubled its lead early. Play building from the Spirit defensive area led to Brittany Ratcliffe with unencumbered space on the right flank. Ratcliffe crossed the ball inside of the 18-yard box clinically, finding the foot of Silano, who buried it home. The goal is the second goal (all competitions) for Silano this season.
LENA DOUBLES OUR LEAD
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) July 21, 2024
Silano nearly netted a brace only minutes later as the Chivas Femenil keeper floated well off her line, but the ball took an unlucky bounce.
Chivas Femenil kept things interesting, netting its first goal in the 68th minute. The goal injected much-needed life into the opposing side. Carolina Jaramillo lobbed in a cross from a free kick service that found Chivas captain Alicia Cervantes’ head for the goal.
Both teams made waves of mass substitutions – the Spirit bringing on four players, while Chivas Femenil brought its maximum of five substitutions – but the scoreline remained the same and the Spirit picked up a crucial three points to start the Summer Cup group stage.
Ultimately, the Spirit dominated the run of play throughout the match, finishing with 15 shots, seven on target, compared to Chivas Femenil’s six shots with only one on target. The Spirit has now only lost once in its last nine matches (all competitions).
Next up, the Spirit will continue its residency at Subaru Park to face east coast rival NJ/NY Gotham FC. The match is set to kickoff at 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 28.
-NWSL Match Report-
Match: Washington Spirit vs. Chivas Femenil
Date: Sunday, July 21, 2024
Venue: Subaru Park (Chester, Pa.)
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. EDT
Weather: Sunny, high-80s
Scoring Summary:
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Washington | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Chivas | 0 | 1 | 1 |
WAS – Paige Metayer – 14’
WAS – Lena Silano – 47’ (assisted by Brittany Ratcliffe)
GUA – Alicia Cervantes – 68’ (assisted by Carolina Jaramillo)
Lineups:
WAS: 1 – Aubrey Kingsbury; 34 – Olivia Stone; 9 – Tara McKeown (5 – Annaïg Butel, 46’); 32 – Jenna Butler; 8 – Makenna Morris (6 – Kate Wiesner, 70’); 39 – Chloe Ricketts (11 – Ouleye Sarr, 62’); 26 – Paige Metayer; 22 – Heather Stainbrook (12 – Andi Sullivan, 62’); 4 – Lena Silano; 33 – Ashley Hatch; 13 – Brittany Ratcliffe
Unused Substitutes: 28 – Nicole Barnhart; 16 – Courtney Brown; 31 – Kaylie Collins
GUA: 1 – Celeste Espino; 2 – Jaqueline Rodríguez (13 – Dana Sandoval, 87’); 4 – Kinberly Guzmán; 22 – Karla Martínez; 26 – Araceli Torres (23 – Alexxandra Ramírez, 79’); 15 – Rubí Soto (30 – Viridiana Salazar, 56’); 8 – Carolina Jaramillo; 14 – Joselyn de la Rosa (19 – Daniela Delgado, 56’); 11 – Yamile Franco; 24 – Alicia Cervantes; 9 – Gabriela Valenzuela (18 – Montserrat Hernández, 79’)
Unused Substitutes: 16 – Victoria Acevedo; 12 – Blanca Félix; 3 – Damaris Godínez; 10 – Adriana Iturbide
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