Washington Spirit Clinches Home Playoff Game with 2-1 Win Over Seattle Reign (VIDEO)

PHOTO | Tony Quinn/ISI Photos

Forward Crystal Dunn led the Washington Spirit to a 2-1, lightning-filled win past the Seattle Reign Wednesday night at the Maryland SoccerPlex. The victory clinched the first home playoff game in franchise history.

Dunn entered the match in the sixth minute for an injured Cali Farquharson and was involved in both goals, the first coming right before halftime and the second coming six minutes before the second lightning delay.

As first-half stoppage time drew to a close, the Spirit drew a foul near midfield. Christine Nairn played the free kick along the ground on the right flank to Dunn. She cut inside on her left foot and fired a shot from the top of the box that hit off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net, giving Seattle goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer no shot at a save.

The second Spirit goal came in similar fashion, with Dunn once again cutting in from the right and firing a shot towards goal. Kopmeyer got her hands on the shot, but could not control the save. Cheyna Williams swooped in and buried the rebound for a 2-0 lead.

Seattle midfielder Kim Little pulled one back for the Reign in the 71st minute, placing a penalty to the top left corner after a Nairn handball in the box.

Two minutes before the Williams goal, goalkeeper Kelsey Wys came up with a point-blank save on a Naho Kawasumi header to keep things at 1-0.

Washington hits the road for the final two games of the regular season, traveling to Seattle to take on the Reign on Sept. 11 and to Chicago to face the Red Stars on Sept. 24.

ICYMI: Spirit clinched a home playoff game yesterday for the first time in history

READ: https://t.co/ew1Ycdt4pO pic.twitter.com/NVJohWXGxn

— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) September 8, 2016

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