Cantore has two goals in the Spirits' 402 victory over the Orlando Pride
Sofia Cantore scored two goals, Trinity Rodman added a goal and two assists, and the Washington Spirit won their fourth straight with a 4-2 victory over the Orlando Pride on Saturday. In other National Women's Soccer League matches, the Utah Royals beat Angel City FC 1-0 on the road and the Kansas City Current edged the host North Carolina Courage 2-1. After a 90-minute weather delay, Washington wasted no time.
Rodman picked out Cantore who struck from outside the box in the second minute for a 1-0 lead. In the seventh, Rodman passed to Cantore, who dribbled past Anna Moorhouse and slotted it home to double the lead. The two goals (5:27) were the fastest ever in the league’s history with Cantore eclipsing the previous record set by Uchenna Kanu in 2024 by 13 seconds.
Golden boot leader Barbra Banda drew a foul in the box on defender Esme Morgan, but Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver denied the penalty kick from Ally Lemos. On the ensuing corner kick, Banda scored for her sixth goal of the season to narrow the margin. Banda completed a first-half brace with the equalizer and seventh goal in the 39th to tie it.
Paraguay international Claudia Martínez earned her first NWSL start and tallied her second goal of the season in the 55th minute, giving the Spirit (4-1-3) back the lead. Rodman scored the game’s final goal in the 70th minute, marking her third consecutive game with a score. Despite Banda’s second consecutive game with two goals, the Pride (2-3-2) have dropped both results.
Royals win fourth straight Captain Paige Cronin delivered a pinpoint cross onto Cloé Lacasse’s head for the game’s only goal in the 32nd minute, giving Utah (4-2-1) a fourth straight win. In first half stoppage time, Maiara Niehues received a direct red card for violent conduct towards Lacasse. It was the first in club history for Angel City FC, who would also play down a player the entirety of the second half.