Nairn scores sensational late goal for Washington Spirit in 3-2 NWSL victory

Christine Nairn scored a tiebreaking goal from 30 yards in stoppage time Monday as the Washington Spirit defeated the Houston Dash, 3-2, in a National Women’s Soccer League match before 2,865 at Maryland SoccerPlex. The Spirit (4-4-1) surpassed last year’s victory total and moved into fifth place in the nine-team league.

Diana Matheson scored her fifth goal of the season to give Washington a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute, but Nina Burger equalized in the 12th for the expansion Dash (1-7-1). Jodie Taylor‘s third goal over three games restored the Spirit’s lead in the 38th minute, but Osinachi Ohale‘s header in the 77th tied it again. Five minutes later, Dash goalkeeper Erin McLeod stopped Matheson’s penalty kick, the first failed attempt from the spot in two seasons by Washington’s Canadian central midfielder.

The Spirit’s Lori Lindsey hit the crossbar in the first minute of stoppage time. As the second of three added minutes was about to expire, Nairn — a three-time first-team All-Met from Spalding High School who starred at Penn State — smashed a left-footed shot from well beyond the penalty area to the top far corner for her second goal of the season.

Washington will visit the last-place Boston Breakers (1-6-0) next Sunday.

To see Nairn’s goal, skip ahead to the 1:55:45 mark on the video: