ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The Washington Spirit lost 3-0 to Boston Legacy FC at Audi Field on Sunday afternoon, conceding all three goals in the last 10 minutes of a match that had been scoreless.
Aïssata Traoré broke the deadlock in the 81st minute from the top of the box. Boston substitute Amanda Gutierres, who had come on three minutes earlier, scored twice in stoppage time, the second off a cross from defender Lilly Reale.
The Spirit started well in the mid-80s heat, using Trinity Rodman's pace to get in behind the Boston defense. Goalkeeper Casey Murphy denied Rodman on a cross from Rosemonde Kouassi in the first half and again in the 88th minute.
The match turned physical after a foul on Rodman in the 20th minute. Hal Hershfelt and Monique Ngock both picked up yellow cards before halftime, and the teams finished the half with four cards between them. Claudia Martínez was booked in the 76th minute, making five.
Boston controlled possession for much of the second half. Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver made a diving save in the 50th minute and another in the 84th on Gutierres. She was caught off her line for the second Boston goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Boston outshot Washington 13-8 and had six shots on goal to the Spirit's three. The Spirit committed 11 fouls to Boston's eight. Boston was flagged offside seven times; Washington was not called for any.
The Spirit travel to face Chicago Stars FC on Sunday, Sept. 20. Kickoff is 5 p.m. on ESPN.
Ryan Belmore is an Alexandria resident and the founder and publisher of The Alexandria Brief. Send tips, feedback, and story ideas to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.
