ORLANDO, Fla. -- As Sunday's NWSL semifinal at Inter&Co Stadium crept deeper into stoppage time, Orlando Pride forward Marta was already planning for extra time -- and for a return to the championship and the Bay Area, where she called home 15 years ago.
In a semifinal filled with stars but devoid of much attacking action, the Brazil icon shone the brightest again -- until the seventh minute of stoppage-time, when NJ/NY Gotham FC's Jaedyn Shaw curled a free kick into the goal and sent her team to next week's NWSL Championship with a 1-0 victory over the defending champions.