The Washington Spirit are headed to the 2024 NWSL Championship game after defeating reigning champions NJ/NY Gotham FC in a thrilling semifinal penalty shootout victory Saturday afternoon at Audi Field in Washington D.C.
Goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury made three-straight saves in the shootout, denying the Bats from the spot in all three attempts to see the Spirit through to the final after the two teams battled to a 120-minute extra-time 1-1 draw.
A 57th minute header from Esther Gonzalez opened the scoring for Gotham as the two sides went back-and-forth, with the Spaniard assisted by U.S. international Yazmeen Ryan – who delivered the ball perfectly after being found by Rose Lavelle on the edge of the box. In stoppage-time, though, the resilient Spirit fought back to draw level in the 93rd minute, with U.S. international Has Hershfelt heading home make things 1-1 with just minutes to spare.
With the two sides headed to extra-time, Bruninha saw red after earning her second yellow card of the game, reducing Gotham to 10 players. However, the Bats held on during the extra-time period, forcing a penalty shootout.
Once the Spirit stepped up to the spot, they were clincial with their attempts while the Bats shot three times into the bottom-left corner of the net, only for Kingsbury to save each one.
The NWSL Championship will take place next Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, where the Spirit will take on the winner of Sunday’s second semifinal – No. 1 Orlando Pride vs No. 4 Kansas City Current.