San Diego Wave FC at Washington Spirit: Match preview, injury report, starting XI, how to watch

San Diego Wave FC take on the Washington Spirit in a noon match that translates to Saturday morning for the West Coast. It's the first game back for teh whole league since international friendlies last weekend, where Alex Morgan and Naomi Girma represented the United States while Kailen Sheridan represented Canada.

With just four games left in the season, Wave FC are in first place with an opportunity to build upon its lead against a struggling Washington Spirit side. The Spirit have not won a game this season since opening day on May 1. 

To give you a sense of the current tumult, the Spirit hired Albertin Montoya as its interim coach on Sept. 2 for the rest of the 2022 season. Montoya, previously known as the director of coaching and technical director at Mountain View Los Altos Soccer club and former head coach of the WPS’s FC Golden Pride, assumes duties for Kris Ward, who was fired Aug. 22.

With the race for first place still tight, this is an opportunity Wave FC cannot afford to waste.  

Kickoff time

10 a.m. PT at Audi Field in Washington D.C.

How to watch

The match is available on CBS and Paramount Plus.

How to listen

Tune into the NWSL station on iHeartRadio for play-by-play and more NWSL coverage.

Records

Wave FC: 9W-4D-5L (31 points, first place in NWSL); Washington Spirit: 1W-6D-10L (13 points, 11th place in NWSL)

Last time out

Wave FC had one of their biggest wins of the season last time out, on Aug. 27, beating the Portland Thorns 2-0 on the road. Kristen McNabb opened the scoring for the team and Alex Morgan finished the first half with a goal of her own. It was just the second time this season the Thorns were shut out and their second loss at home. The win moved Wave FC to first place in the NWSL; they currently have a two-point lead over the Houston Dash.

The Washington Spirit tied the Houston Dash 2-2 on Aug. 27 with two second-half goals from Ashley Hatch. She now has seven goals this season. The Spirit had the lead until stoppage time when Michelle Alozi tied the game for the Dash. The club is still in search of its second win of the season. 

Projected lineups

Wave FC (4-3-3): Kailen Sheridan; Christen Westphal, Naomi Girma, Kaleigh Riehl, Kristen McNabb, Bella Briede, Emily van Egmond, Taylor Kornieck, Amirah Ali, Alex Morgan, Jaedyn Shaw

Washington Spirit (4-2-3-1): Aubrey Bledsoe; Camryn Biegalski, Amber Brooks, Samantha Staab, Anna Heilferty, Bayley Feist, Dorian Bailey, Ashley Sanchez, Ashley Hatch, Trinity Rodman, Tara McKeown

Injury report

Wave FC: None

Washington Spirit: OUT – Tori Huster (SEI- left lower leg), Emily Sonnett (SEI- foot), Kelley O'Hara (hip), Andi Sullivan (knee).

Players to watch

Wave FC: Amirah Ali, winger

Over the past three games, Amirah Ali has started to prove what Wave FC fans thought when the club acquired her. She is a starting caliber player and beyond that, a difference maker. At the beginning of the season, it was a matter of building Ali’s fitness and stamina. Wave FC head coach Casey Stoney has consistently spoken of Ali’s talent but always brought up her fitness when asked why she was not starting. Now she is starting. And she is making the most of her opportunity.

In the last three games, Ali has had a goal and two chances created. She has been a 73% accurate passer and has 17 recoveries as well. Over this stretch, she may have won the starting right wing position. Few players are as direct in their offensive attack as Ali. As soon as the ball is at her feet, she is charging forward looking for open space to run or pass to a teammate. 

Expect Ali to start Saturday morning and continue to create opportunities for herself and her teammates to score. If she does, she will continue to start for Wave FC

Washington Spirit: Ashley Sanchez, midfielder

There is no player more talented than Trinity Rodman on the Washington Spirit and she is one of the best players in the NWSL. But let’s look at another player who could Cause Wave FC problems Saturday. 

Ashley Sanchez does everything well offensively. She has two goals and leads the team with four assists. She also leads the team with 28 chances created, which is tenth in the NWSL and is a 72% accurate passer. In her past four games, she has two assists and 11 chances created, making her one of the most lethal chance creators in the league.

While Rodman is the Spirit’s best player and Hatch leads the team in goals, keep an eye on Sanchez in this matchup.

Key matchup: Alex Morgan vs. Spirit defense

In the first three games of the second half, Morgan had no goals or assists and just three shots on target. In the last two games against two of the top teams in the NWSL, Morgan scored two goals, notched an assist and added three chances created. Yes, Morgan is still one of the best players in the NWSL and shows up in the biggest moments. The likelihood of her continuing her hot streak on Saturday is high, given the opposition.

The Spirit concede 1.4 goals per match, which is seventh in the league and have just three clean sheets this season. On top of that, they're near the bottom of the league with 10.1 successful tackles per season. In the club’s past four games, it has given up 2.6 goals per game. 

So, this game could come down to how the Spirit plays against Morgan. If they're able to contain Morgan, this game could be close. If Morgan is able to be the offensive generator she has been over the past two games, it could be a long 90 minutes for the Spirit. 

For the win: Contain Trinity Rodman

Rodman is the centerpiece of this team. She will give Wave FC the most problems on Saturday and it will be important to contain her as much as possible. This season, she has four goals and two assists along with 23 chances created. Her ability to create for herself and her teammates makes her a problem for opposing defenses.

But Wave FC have shown they can stop the very best in the league. After scoring early, Ebony Salmon had one shot on target and no other chances created in the Wave-Dash. Sophia Smith had no shots on target, a chance created and lost 16 duels overall in the Thorns' contest against Wave FC. Wave FC’s defense is the best in the league because it stops the best in the league. No matter who is on the other side of the field, it usually finds a way to make them uncomfortable. 

If Wave FC can contain the star that is Rodman, they'll have a much easier time finding a result on Saturday.