Washington Spirit 3-4 North Carolina Courage
Updated
North Carolina Courage won: Washington Spirit 3-4 North Carolina Courage in the NWSL (Round 16) on Sat, 8 Aug 2026 at Audi Field, Washington, District of Columbia. Washington Spirit goals: Trinity Rodman 47', Sofia Cantore 50', Rebeca Bernal 90'+1. North Carolina Courage goals: Ashley Sanchez 2', Evelyn Ijeh 9', Evelyn Ijeh 15', Natalie Jacobs 90'+5. Expected goals: 2.40-2.15. Possession: 58-42. Player of the match: Evelyn Ijeh (8.7).
Match report
North Carolina Courage beat Washington Spirit 4-3
North Carolina Courage squeezed past Washington Spirit 4-3 away from home at Audi Field on Saturday 8 August in NWSL.
Ashley Sanchez put North Carolina Courage ahead on 2' (0-1), Evelyn Ijeh made it 0-2 on 9', added another on 15' (0-3), Trinity Rodman pulled one back for Washington Spirit on 47' (1-3), Sofia Cantore pulled one back for Washington Spirit on 50' (2-3), Rebeca Bernal levelled for Washington Spirit on 90+1' (3-3) and Natalie Jacobs restored North Carolina Courage's lead on 90+5' (3-4).
Natalie Jacobs's 90+5' strike proved decisive.
Washington Spirit had 58% of the ball, shots were 20-9 (8-5 on target) and expected goals finished 2.40-2.15.
Evelyn Ijeh (North Carolina Courage) was player of the match with an 8.7 rating.
Attendance: 14,168. Referee: Joshua Encarnación.
Match stats
| Washington Spirit | North Carolina Courage | |
|---|---|---|
| Ball possession | 58 | 42 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 2.40 | 2.15 |
| Total shots | 20 | 9 |
| Shots on target | 8 | 5 |
| Touches in opposition box | 29 | 12 |
| Big chances | 4 | 5 |
| Big chances missed | 2 | 1 |
| Accurate passes | 395 (82%) | 269 (76%) |
| Yellow cards | 1 | 3 |
| Corners | 7 | 2 |
| Total shots | 20 | 9 |
| Shots off target | 10 | 3 |
| Shots on target | 8 | 5 |
| Blocked shots | 2 | 1 |
| Hit woodwork | 1 | 0 |
| Shots inside box | 13 | 6 |
Lineups
Washington Spirit (4-2-3-1): Sandy MacIver, Gabrielle Carle, Tara McKeown, Esme Morgan, Kate Wiesner, Hal Hershfelt, Andi Sullivan, Paige Metayer, Leicy Santos, Trinity Rodman, Claudia Martínez
North Carolina Courage (4-2-3-1): Kailen Sheridan, Ryan Williams, Natalie Jacobs, Maycee Bell, Felicitas Rauch, Riley Jackson, Shinomi Koyama, Allyson Schlegel, Erica Parkinson, Ashley Sanchez, Evelyn Ijeh
Key events
- 2' · Goal · Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage)
- 9' · Goal · Evelyn Ijeh (North Carolina Courage)
- 15' · Goal · Evelyn Ijeh (North Carolina Courage)
- 35' · Yellow card · Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit)
- 37' · Yellow card · Felicitas Rauch (North Carolina Courage)
- 46' · Substitution · Rebeca Bernal for Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)
- 46' · Substitution · Tamara Bolt for Paige Metayer (Washington Spirit)
- 46' · Substitution · Élisabeth Tsé for Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit)
- 46' · Substitution · Sofia Cantore for Claudia Martínez (Washington Spirit)
- 46' · Substitution · Hannah Betfort for Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage)
- 47' · Goal · Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)
- 50' · Goal · Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit)
- 60' · Substitution · Vilde Bøe Risa for Riley Jackson (North Carolina Courage)
- 60' · Substitution · Carly Wickenheiser for Erica Parkinson (North Carolina Courage)
- 60' · Substitution · Lauryn Thompson for Allyson Schlegel (North Carolina Courage)
- 75' · Yellow card · Vilde Bøe Risa (North Carolina Courage)
- 80' · Substitution · Madison Haugen for Gabrielle Carle (Washington Spirit)
- 82' · Substitution · Chioma Okafor for Evelyn Ijeh (North Carolina Courage)
- 90'+1 · Goal · Rebeca Bernal (Washington Spirit)
- 90'+5 · Goal · Natalie Jacobs (North Carolina Courage)
- 90'+8 · Yellow card · Maycee Bell (North Carolina Courage)
All-time head-to-head
Washington Spirit vs North Carolina Courage: full head-to-head record
Questions
Who won Washington Spirit vs North Carolina Courage?
North Carolina Courage won, 3-4 (NWSL) on Sat, 8 Aug 2026.
When and where is Washington Spirit vs North Carolina Courage?
Sat, 8 Aug 2026, 22:30 UTC at Audi Field, Washington, District of Columbia, NWSL.