Bethi's 80th-Minute Winner Completes Washington Spirit Comeback in 2-1 Win Over Portland Thorns

Mélissa Bethi scored in the 80th minute to give the Washington Spirit a 2-1 comeback victory over the Portland Thorns on Sunday at Providence Park, ending Portland's long unbeaten run at home.

The Thorns struck first. Sophia Wilson finished in the 18th minute to give Portland a 1-0 lead it carried into halftime after one of its strongest halves of the season.

Washington flipped the match after the break. Following a video review, Samantha Hiatt was judged to have fouled in the penalty area, and Tara Leana McKeown converted the resulting spot kick in the 59th minute for her first NWSL goal. The Algerian international was making her first start for the Spirit.

Bethi Delivers the Winner

The decisive goal came 10 minutes from time. Trinity Rodman found an unmarked Bethi, who finished for the 2-1 lead. Washington, reduced to 10 players after a stoppage-time red card, held on through a late Portland push to secure the road win.

The Spirit dominated the second half, generating the bulk of the chances after the interval. Portland managed little after the break despite Wilson's opener and saw its home unbeaten streak come to an end.

What It Means

The win kept Washington near the top of the NWSL table in early September, sitting second with 46 points from 25 matches at the time. For Portland, the loss was a missed chance to keep pace in the playoff race and ended a home run that had stretched back months.

Portland outshot Washington in the first half but faded badly after halftime, a pattern that had cost the Thorns points earlier in the season. Wilson's goal was her latest in a strong campaign, but the attack went quiet when it mattered most.