Kimmi Ascanio Header Lifts San Diego Wave 2-1, Ends Washington Spirit's Five-Match Win Streak

San Diego Wave FC won just three corners all night. It needed only one.

In the 89th minute at Snapdragon Stadium, Kenza Dali swung in a corner and Kimmi Ascanio headed it home from point-blank range, giving the Wave a 2-1 win over the Washington Spirit on Friday night. The goal ended Washington's five-match winning streak and its eight-match unbeaten run, according to the Spirit, and handed San Diego the kind of statement victory that does not show up in the possession numbers.

Byars Wastes No Time

San Diego's night started with a debut worth remembering. Trinity Byars, making her first professional start according to the Wave, pounced on a Washington clearance that went wrong in the sixth minute, took a couple of touches and drove a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the top right corner. It was the first goal of her professional career. For a forward getting her first start, it was the ideal script: read the mistake, settle the ball and finish before the defense could recover.

Per the Spirit's own count, it was also the first time Washington had fallen behind in a match since March 20 at Racing Louisville, a run of seven straight games.

The Spirit did not panic. Trinity Rodman fired wide off a Leicy Santos through ball in the 15th minute, and Hal Hershfelt forced DiDi Haracic into a save with a header in the 30th. Three minutes later, the pressure paid off. Santos delivered a corner and Rebeca Bernal headed it in from close range for a 1-1 tie. Washington said it was Bernal's second goal of the year, the other coming against Utah in March.

From there Washington started squeezing the life out of the match. The Spirit held San Diego without a shot for 33 minutes, by their own tally, a stretch that ran from Dali's blocked effort in the 24th minute until Ludmila's blocked shot in the 57th. Rodman was booked in first-half stoppage time, and the teams went to the break level.

San Diego Reloads

The Wave made a triple change at halftime, sending on Lia Godfrey, Melanie Barcenas and Ludmila for Gia Corley, Gabi Portilho and Byars. Washington swapped Rosemonde Kouassi in for Claudia Martínez. Byars' night was over after 45 minutes, her job already done.

The second half was tighter and nastier. Bernal picked up a yellow card in the 54th minute and was replaced by Andi Sullivan in the 66th. Barcenas was booked in the 73rd.

The chances were rationed. Dali tested Sandy MacIver from distance in the 63rd minute, and Kristen McNabb's header off a Dudinha cross forced another save in the 70th. Washington's best look came in the 83rd minute, when Rodman shot from the left side of the box and Haracic got down to stop it at the bottom left corner.

The Turning Point: One Corner, One Header

With the match drifting toward a draw, San Diego finally earned a corner deep into the second half. Dali stood over it and sent it in front of goal, and Ascanio, all of 18 years old according to the Wave, rose and headed it into the bottom left corner from very close range.

The Wave said it was Ascanio's first goal of the season and the fifth of her career, and Dali's second assist of the year.

Washington pushed for an equalizer in stoppage time. Santos, with a little flick of her heel by the Spirit's account, sent a shot from the center of the box straight at Haracic in the 93rd minute, and substitute Kate Wiesner put a long-range attempt just wide in the 94th. That was it.

The Difference Makers

Kimmi Ascanio: One shot, one goal, three points. She played the full 90 in midfield and delivered in the one moment that mattered.

Kenza Dali: The French veteran's corner produced the winner, and she also put two shots toward goal, one of them on target. When San Diego needed a set piece to be perfect, she made it perfect.

Trinity Byars: A first professional start, a first professional goal and a sixth-minute lead. Not a bad way to say hello.

DiDi Haracic: Three saves, including the 83rd-minute stop on Rodman that kept the door open for Ascanio.

Leicy Santos: The Spirit playmaker assisted Bernal's equalizer and also set up Rodman's early chance.

Stats That Matter

• Possession: Washington held 58.6 percent and completed 437 passes to San Diego's 281.
• Shots: San Diego took nine to Washington's seven, and both teams put four on target.
• Corners: Washington had six, San Diego three. Each side scored from one.
• Tackles: San Diego attempted 27 tackles to Washington's 19, a sign of how much defending the Wave did without the ball.

What It Means

San Diego moves to 7-0-3 with 21 points and two straight wins. The Wave noted they are now 5-0-0 this season when scoring first, and that Ascanio's winner was their fourth goal in the final 15 minutes of second halves, the most of any NWSL team. Late goals are becoming a habit, and habits like that win tight matches.

Washington drops to 5-3-2 with 18 points. The Spirit said it was their first loss since the season opener on March 13, which means a run of eight straight matches without defeat is over. It hardly ruins their season, but it is a reminder that controlling the ball and controlling the game are two different things.

The schedule gets no easier for either side. Washington travels straight to Mexico to face CF Pachuca on Wednesday in the semifinals of the Concacaf W Champions Cup, according to the club. San Diego heads to Houston to face the Dash the same night.

Final Whistle

Washington spent most of Friday playing like the smartest team in the room. San Diego spent it waiting for one chance, like a closer who only needs one pitch. That chance came from a corner kick in the 89th minute, and an 18-year-old made sure it counted.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Additional match details from San Diego Wave FC and the Washington Spirit.