Washington experienced an unusually tense atmosphere as police set up checkpoints in immigrant neighborhoods and military presence on streets heightened unease among longtime residents lacking congressional voting representation. Despite that, 11,691 attended a Washington Spirit vs Racing Louisville NWSL match at Audi Field, where sections of the crowd chanted 'free DC' in support of statehood. The match featured an energetic, end-to-end game, Sofia Cantore scoring a long-range opener and Louisville later equalizing and taking a late lead. Rosemonda Kouassi salvaged a stoppage-time draw, producing a raucous stadium reaction. The Spirit's ownership change and investment have elevated the club's local standing while DC United struggles on the field.
On U street Friday night, the usual throngs of drunken party goers were decidedly smaller. Lines outside clubs and bars were nonexistent. The week prior, residents of the District watched as the reality of US president Donald Trump's crackdown unfolded in front of them. Police set up checkpoints in some of their city's immigrant strongholds and approached other people at random.
The match itself was an entertaining, end-to-end affair. The crowd at Audi Field felt energetic and invested, exploding into bedlam when the Spirit's recent prize catch Ballon D'Or nominee Sofia Cantore smashed home the opener from distance. Louisville later equalized and took the lead late in the match but when Spirit attacker Rosemonda Kouassi salvaged a draw nine minutes into second-half stoppage time, the entire building shook.
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