Washington Spirit in the NWSL playoffs

Because I've been following their worst-to-playoffs season, which would only be a worst-to-playoffs season if they made the playoffs, I touted the win-and-they're-in game on Saturday (August 16).

Well, they lost, putting their playoff prospects into the realm of uncertainty.

Fortunately, soccer being the fun unpredictable sport that it is, the Western New York Wambachs, er, the Western NY Flash, managed to gut out a tie with the Chicago Red Stars, which could have supplanted the Spirit in the playoffs with a win.  A desperate second half with Chicago down 3-1 included a WNY goalie bobble that could have been a goal, a WNY save on a Chicago, a late Chicago PK to tie it, and one last dangerous situation that didn't result in a score.  Result:  Chicago out, Washington in.

Because Portland won on Sunday, Washington ends up having to play Seattle, the top team in the league.  But soccer is indeed a funny game.  Anything can happen.

Spirit clinch first playoff berth