Two months after the Washington Spirit left its first trip to Louisville with nothing to show for a dominant performance, Coach Richie Burke’s team returned to Lynn Family Stadium with a shorthanded squad, tweaked tactics and, at long last, its finishing touch.
Ashley Hatch netted her NWSL-leading sixth goal in the opening minutes, Sam Staab doubled the advantage early in the second half, and the Spirit hopped from seventh in the 10-team league to third with a 2-0 win over Racing Louisville on Sunday night.
After seizing 60 percent of the possession and outshooting Louisville 29-8 in a 2-0 loss May 21, the Spirit (5-3-3) took a decidedly different approach in its second match against the expansion squad, conceding 57 percent of the ball but capitalizing on a quick counterattack and a scrappy set piece to leave with three points.