Can you believe Rodman’s two goals turned the quarterfinal into a 4-1 rout for the Washington Spirit over Portland?
Washington surged to a 3-0 halftime lead, scoring twice in two minutes, and will meet Utah Royals in next weekend’s semifinal.
Rodman broke the deadlock in the sixth minute after stripping defender Carolyn Calzada, driving into the box and threading a low pass to Mélissa Bethi, who beat Mackenzie Arnold.
Clara Luvanga made it 2-0 in the 34th when Arnold hesitated on a back pass from Isabella Obaze; a minute later she crossed for Rodman, who tapped in her first goal.
Pietra Tordin pulled one back in the 51st, Jess Fleming’s corner finding her in the box; for my money, Fleming’s clever assist kept Portland in the game.
Seven minutes later Luvanga and Rodman restored the three‑goal cushion as Luvanga slid a grounded pass across the area and Rodman finished with her left foot.
Jayden Perry received a yellow for a challenge on Rodman in the 47th and was expelled two minutes from full time after a second booking for pulling Rodman’s arm.
Luvanga earned a yellow in the 62nd for shoving Reyna Reyes, and Esme Morgan was shown a second yellow in the 82nd for a rough foul.
Will the Spirit carry this momentum into the semifinals?
Ann‑Katrin Berger made three saves as top‑seeded Gotham defended a one‑goal lead to beat eighth‑seeded Seattle Reign 1‑0 in Harrison, New Jersey.
Gotham opened scoring in the fourth when Seattle’s Jordyn Bugg mishandled a Jaedyn Shaw corner, sending the ball past goalkeeper Claudia Dickey for an own goal.
The Shield winners mustered five shots, none on target, held 54% possession but posted a meager 0.16 xG and created no big chances.
Both clubs lambasted the Sports Illustrated Stadium surface, calling it patchy and sandy after weeks of heavy use; captain Jess Fishlock called it atrocious, while coach Juan Carlos Amoros apologized for the unplayable pitch.