While many were focused Sunday on Trinity Rodman’s boyfriend, Ben Shelton, as he played in the U.S. Open final, she had a game of her own to play.
And the Boston Legacy made sure it wasn’t a victorious day for the National Women’s Soccer League star and her Washington Spirit, either.
The Legacy tallied three late goals to notch one of their best wins of the season with a 3-0 decision as they took down a Spirit team that sits in second place in the NWSL standings. The Legacy, who have six games remaining in their inaugural season, own a 7-12-5 record and are tied for 12th in the 16-team league.
The two sides were in a scoreless deadlock until the 81st minute when Aïssata Traoré added to her team-leading goal total. A strong individual effort from Nichelle Prince set up Traoré as Prince pressured a Spirit defender into a turnover while losing her footing after her initial shot from the top of the box had been blocked. The ball then rolled to Traoré, who snuck her shot through the Spirit defender’s legs and surprised Washington goalie Sandy MacIver with the ball hitting the post and bouncing in for a 1-0 lead.
Amanda Gutierres extended the Legacy’s lead four minutes into stoppage time with a shot from nearly midfield as she launched her attempt into the net with MacIver drawn out. The ball hit a Washington defender’s hand prior to Gutierres’ shot, but the referee didn’t blow the play dead and Gutierres seized the opportunity.
Gutierres scored again two minutes later, but this one came much closer to the net as she tapped in a cross from Lilly Reale from six yards out.
Washington nearly had a penalty kick in the 69th minute, which could have changed the complexion of the game, but it was overturned on VAR.
The Legacy play again next Sunday (2 p.m.) against the Houston Dash at Centreville Bank Stadium. After that, Boston will play four of its final five games on the road.
