Twenty-eight days had passed since the Washington Spirit’s previous match — a tumultuous stretch marred by two forfeits, positive coronavirus tests, an ownership tiff, a player suspension and allegations of a toxic workplace culture for female employees.
On Sunday, at last, the Spirit was able to put aside its myriad off-field distractions and focus on the National Women’s Soccer League playoff race. Welcoming any good fortune, Washington pulled off the extraordinary: It scored on the last sequence of the first half and again 11 seconds into the second to come from behind to defeat Kansas City, 2-1, at Segra Field in Leesburg.