When the final whistle blew at Audi Field on Saturday afternoon, you could have been forgiven for thinking a trick was at play. Surely the customary half hour was waiting somewhere around the corner.
All four of the previous home playoff games the Washington Spirit had played in its 13-year existence had gone to extra time. Its run to the NWSL final last year featured an extra-time winner in one game and a penalty shootout in the other. This year’s quarterfinal ended in penalties again. (Center back Tara McKeown described the message during this week’s training as “Please, girls, no extra time.