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Recap: Gift Monday’s Record-Breaking Hat Trick Leads Spirit to Playoff-Clinching Win

Washington Spirit  |   September 28, 2025

Washington, D.C. (09/28/2025) – The Washington Spirit clinched its second consecutive playoff berth with a 4-0 home win over Houston behind a first-half hat trick from forward Gift Monday. The Nigerian star set a new NWSL mark for fastest hat trick from kickoff at just under 36 minutes and recorded the first-ever NWSL hat trick at Audi Field. 
 
Sunday’s match was Washington’s second and final 2025 regular season meeting with the Dash. The opening minutes saw end-to-end action, with each side eager to dictate possession early. As excitement grew in the 18th minute, Trinity Rodman got ahold of the ball, taking it up the field and sliding a pass to Monday, who shot it past the keeper for an early 1-0 lead. This was Rodman’s first assist of the season. 
 
Monday’s confidence fueled momentum up top, firing home a loose ball in the box after a service from Croix Bethune in the 21st minute, giving her two goals in the opening third of the match. Before the first half was over, however, Rodman sent another ball into the box where Monday found the back of the net for the third time, this time with a one-time shot in the 36th minute. 
 
The Spirit recorded four shots on target in the first 15 minutes of the second half, carrying the first half’s momentum over into the second 45. Aubrey Kingsbury notched her first two saves of the match, maintaining the Spirit’s clean sheet. 
 
On a breakaway play in the 82nd minute, Croix Bethune took the ball up field and sent it into the box. Substitute Narumi Miura played the ball into the possession of Sofia Cantore, who spun and flicked it into the back of the net with a backheel move. With the finish, Cantore notched her third goal of the season, all coming at Audi Field. 
 
After the final whistle blew, the Spirit locked up its spot in this year’s playoffs with its eighth shutout of the 2025 regular season and the 45th of Kingsbury’s regular season career. 
 
Next up, the Spirit will hit the road for a midweek Concacaf W Champions Cup group stage match against rival Gotham FC on Wednesday night before hosting San Diego Wave FC on Sunday, October 5 in NWSL play.

Monday sets NWSL record with hat trick for Washington Spirit

Super Falcons forward Gift Monday set a new NWSL record with a first-half hat trick as the Washington Spirit sealed their place in the 2025 Playoffs with a 4–0 victory over Houston Dash on Sunday, www.aclsports.com reports.

Monday opened the scoring in the 18th minute after a neat one-two with Trinity Rodman before finishing from a tight angle past goalkeeper Abby Smith. Three minutes later, she doubled the lead, reacting quickest to bundle home after Smith had parried her initial header.

The Nigerian completed her treble in the 36th minute, once again combining with Rodman to convert a cut-back inside the box. It was the Spirit’s first hat trick since Crystal Dunn’s against the Dash in 2015, and only the second in the club history. Her three goals inside 18 minutes also set a new mark for the fastest hat trick from the start of a match in NWSL history.

Monday was substituted at halftime for Sofia Cantore, who went on to add a stylish fourth goal in the 82nd minute, a clever backheel finish from Narumi Miura’s assist.

Compatriot Deborah Abiodun came off the bench for Washington at the restart, while Michelle Alozie was introduced for Houston at the same time.

The emphatic win confirmed Washington as the second team to clinch a playoff berth this season, doing so with four matches still to play.

Konquest:
Deep insights

mfm04622:
Did they qualify for the championship?

naptu2:
Memories.


Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard at AC Milan.

Jurgen Klinsmann, Lothar Matheus and Andreas Brehme at Inter Milan.

Maradona, Giordano and Careca at Napoli

Salvatorre "Toto" Schillaci, Roberto Baggio and Thomas Hassler (the magician) at Juventus.


Legends - Franco Baresi at AC Milan and Giuseppe Bergomi at Inter Milan.


And the Italy and Inter Milan number 1 goalkeeper Walter Zenga.

(Sunday morning Serie A was always fun).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDxYWCY8tgo


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR4e9Jv1b9E

Bulldozer90:
I ask for one proof; Reno's appointment letter!

Wahabfuture:
He was not, those documents proves nothing, anyone can arrange such documents easily

Jonathan: I Didn’t Sack Reno Omokri

Former President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said that he did not sack his erstwhile Special Assistant on New Media, Reno Omokri.

Jonathan, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr Ikechukwu Eze said Omokri served him till May 29, 2015 when he ceased to be president.

The statement said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that at no time did former President Jonathan ever sack Mr. Omokri while he was in office.

“Mr. Omokri was appointed on August 17, 2011, and served meritoriously until May 29, 2015.
“His record of service can be verified at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“While he is no longer a staff of President Jonathan, Mr. Omokri enjoys the gratitude of many Nigerians including Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for his patriotic services to Nigeria.”

I'm pleased that Pastor @renoomokri who served as my Social Media Aide when I was President, has been honoured with the Hollywood Weekly Magazine Film Festival (HWMFF) "Most Outstanding Humanitarian Cause 2019" Award.

I commend @HollywoodWeekly for this initiative and congratulate Mr. Omokri for the well-deserved recognition.I believe that he realizes that as gratifying as today’s feeling might be for him,it also challenges him with the responsibility to do more for the good of humanity.
GEJ

deltateam:
When did Oshobaby leave US





Ggggggggggggghhhhhhcggvhbbvvvvbbbbvvvvvvvg

Waking up and feeling reluctant to show up to work because of a protected somebody is draining.

How can people be needing mental support every year? It scares me… by the end of the year, it might be psychiatrist support.