San Diego Wave loses 2–1 to Washington Spirit in a dramatic NWSL showdown

A Battle Under the Lights in Washington

The Audi Field crowd witnessed an intense and competitive match between Washington Spirit and San Diego Wave, which ended with a 2–1 victory for the home team. Both sides created numerous opportunities, but the Spirit’s persistence and Rosemonde Kouassi’s heroics sealed the win.

Washington took an early lead in the 8th minute when Kouassi capitalized on a rebound inside the box to make it 1–0. The Wave struggled to find rhythm early but relied on the experience of Kailen Sheridan, who made several key saves to keep them within striking distance.

Despite the Spirit’s pressure, San Diego slowly grew into the game through midfielders Kenza Dali and Delphine Cascarino, pushing the tempo and creating several dangerous attacks before halftime.

Late Drama in the Final Minutes

The second half was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading shots and tactical adjustments. The Wave finally broke through in stoppage time when Delphine Cascarino found the net in the 90th+4 minute with a composed finish, leveling the score at 1–1.

However, the Spirit refused to settle. Just moments later, Rosemonde Kouassi struck again in the 90th+7 minute, scoring her second goal of the match and restoring the home team’s advantage to 2–1. The late blow left San Diego stunned as the final whistle confirmed another narrow defeat.

Missed Opportunities and Tough Road Ahead

The loss marks another setback for San Diego Wave, who continue to battle for playoff positioning. Despite moments of brilliance from Cascarino and strong defensive work from Sheridan, lapses in the final minutes cost them valuable points.

With just a few matches left in the regular season, the Wave now sit below the home-playoff line, making their next fixtures crucial for postseason qualification. Meanwhile, Washington Spirit strengthens their hold near the top of the table with a statement win.