Washington outlasts Bay FC to triumph in the NWSL quarterfinals

Photo copyright Hannah Foslien-Imagn Images.

For a 2-seed hosting a 7-seed, the NWSL quarterfinal meeting between the Washington Spirit and Bay FC was more finely poised than one may have assumed.

The soccer gods did their best but ultimately that 2-seed kept with the pattern all weekend in the NWSL playoffs: the better team won. Washington bested Bay FC 2-1 in extra time, thanks to a center back wonder strike and a heartbreaking own goal. Just like they drew it up.

Anything could have happened at Audi Field on Sunday afternoon. Prior to kickoff, one projection model pegged this match as the likeliest for an upset in the first round.