A promising NWSL Challenge Cup ended early for the Washington Spirit, who were unable to find their way past Sky Blue FC in a tactically engrossing quarterfinal. With the match finishing scoreless, Sky Blue won the penalty kick tiebreaker after Kailen Sheridan saved Bayley Feist’s attempt in the fifth round of the shootout.
Sky Blue had marginally the better start, getting to the endline on both flanks to force the Spirit to do some defending in the goalmouth. However, Washington offered some through balls to Ashley Hatch that also looked threatening, and after being a bit unsettled in the first 10 minutes, the Spirit began piling up possession as they are built to do.