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Spirit opens regular season at Audi Field in playoff rematch

The Washington Spirit takes on OL Reign in a semifinal rematch of the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) playoffs at D.C.’s Audi Field on May 1. Washington will face the other 11 NWSL teams two times apiece in the 2022 season over the span of five months. The Spirit’s first regular-season home game, scheduled to start at 5 p.m., is the first of six home games at the Buzzard Point venue. It will also host the first road visits from the league’s two expansion sides, Angel City FC (May 15) and San Diego Wave FC (Sept. 10).



As part of their agreement with D.C. United, the reigning NWSL champions will play their remaining five home games at Segra Field in Loudoun County, Virginia. Most of Washington’s games at their second home will take place in the summer. The Spirit’s first regular-season match at Segra Field is a rematch of the NWSL Championship game against Chicago Red Stars on June 1. The Spirit will end their regular season against the Houston Dash on Oct. 1 at Audi Field.

Fans can begin purchasing single match tickets for either venue on March 23 at 10 a.m. Those interested can register online for a chance to win presale access to purchases tickets before the general public. Season ticket members will have a special discounted presale starting Monday. Can’t wait that long? Washington will participate in the 2022 Challenge Cup before the start of the regular season. Group play begins on Friday in Orlando as the Spirit take on the Pride at 7 p.m. Segra Field will host the first of the Spirit’s three home group-stage matches, taking on NJ/NY Gotham FC on March 25 at 7:30 p.m. Afterward, Audi Field will host Washington’s remaining home matches against North Carolina (March 30) and Orlando (April 3). Tickets for the Challenge Cup are on sale online on the team’s website.

Messi subs in and scores again as defending World Cup champ Argentina beats Jordan to sweep group

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Giovani Lo Celso became the first Argentina player other than Lionel Messi to score in this World Cup as the defending champions finished the group stage with a three-game sweep after a 3-1 victory over Jordan on Saturday night. Lo Celso, in his first World Cup start, put Argentina ahead to stay when he scored on a direct free kick in the 19th minute. Messi added one of his own after entering the game in the second half, and the top scorer in World Cup history extended his mark to 19 goals. “I am very happy for him, for the moment he is having,” Lo Celso said in translated remarks about their captain. Messi, the leader in this tournament with six goals, was among nine Argentina starters changed from the previous game since Group J was already clinched before the match. He entered in the 60th minute, three days after his 39th birthday and in the same stadium where he broke the scoring mark Monday, and scored in the 80th minute.
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