WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Spirit are going back to the NWSL Championship for a third year in a row after rallying past Utah Royals FC 2-1 in Saturday’s semifinal at Audi Field.
Utah went ahead early when a corner kick went straight into the net. Sofia Cantore pulled the Spirit level with a backheel finish off a Trinity Rodman cross, her seventh goal counting the regular season and playoffs.
Clara Luvanga put Washington in front in the second half, stealing an errant back pass meant for Utah goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn and chipping it over her. Sandy MacIver made a key stop in the 78th minute to protect the lead. Washington outshot Utah 19-10.
The sold-out crowd was the club’s sixth straight playoff sellout at the 20,000-capacity stadium in the Buzzard Point neighborhood, which the Spirit share with D.C. United. The final is set for Saturday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m., again at Audi Field, against the winner of Sunday’s Gotham FC-Kansas City Current semifinal.
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