Makenna Morris’ goal in the 78th minute proved to be the difference-maker as the Washington Spirit defeated host Angel City FC 2-1 on Friday night in Los Angeles.

The goal for Morris, a rookie defender, was her second of the season for the Spirit (15-5-2, 47 points). It was a bounce-back win for Washington — its fifth in its past seven matches (5-1-1) — after it lost last week to the Kansas City Current. Angel City (6-12-4, 22 points) is winless in its past four matches (0-3-1).

Morris scored the go-ahead goal after Rosemonde Kouassi carried the ball up the pitch, drawing two defenders. From just outside the penalty area on the left wing, Kouassi sharply played a through ball into Morris, who was streaking into the box unmarked. When Angel City goalkeeper DiDi Haracic came off her line to stop Morris, the Spirit defender deftly chipped the ball over her.

The assist was Kouassi’s first in her NWSL career.

Washington opened the scoring in the 39th minute. Ashley Hatch stole the ball from an Angel City defender and fired a left-footed shot into the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season. Angel City then knotted things up in the 51st minute when Messiah Bright scored with ease on a feed from Alyssa Thompson. The goal was the first of the season for Bright and the seventh of her career.

Washington played without Trinity Rodman (back) and Casey Krueger (adductor), both of whom did not make the trip.

–Field Level Media