Di Guglielmo's 70th-minute goal lifts Spirit past Gotham 1-0 at Audi Field

Washington held on. One goal, clean sheet, done.

The Spirit beat Gotham FC 1-0 Saturday at Audi Field, with Lucia Di Guglielmo doing the only damage that mattered. Her left-footed shot from the center of the box found the bottom right corner in the 70th minute, and Washington never needed anything else. The Spirit move to 16-4-8. Gotham drops to 16-7-5.

It was not a free-flowing game. Washington managed just four total shots, all of them belonging to Trinity Rodman. Gotham's best threat came from Denise O'Sullivan, who finished with two total shots. Neither side created much, which made Di Guglielmo's finish the only real moment of consequence in 90 minutes.

The story in the midfield and back line was Esme Morgan. The Washington defender put together a complete performance, completing 36 accurate passes and recording 10 defensive interventions. She was everywhere, and the shutout reflected that.

Gotham's Tierna Davidson was busy too. She logged 13 defensive interventions and completed 81 accurate passes, by far the most of anyone on either side. But none of that possession translated into goals, and Gotham's attack never seriously threatened Washington keeper.

Di Guglielmo's goal came at the right time. Washington had been patient, if not exactly dominant, and the 70th-minute strike gave Gotham just enough time to push without enough time to organize anything dangerous. That bottom right corner finish held up.