Gotham FC continues to ride the wave of momentum with win over San Diego Wave | OneFootball

Following a week where the team made headlines off the field, NJ/NY Gotham FC earned a 2-0 away win over San Diego Wave FC to earn their fourth straight win and sixth in a row without a loss in all competitions. Over those six games, they have outscored their opponents 11-2, while also keeping four clean sheets.

The feeling around this team has completely flipped in recent weeks, from the feeling of dread that followed the poor results against the Houston Dash and Utah Royals FC to now looking at the table and seeing Gotham somehow up to third place. While that could still change depending on other results this weekend, even just having it be a possibility is quite remarkable.

Meanwhile, San Diego continues to spiral. After a strong start to the season that saw this young team look ahead of schedule in the rebuild, they could find themselves as low as seventh depending on other results this weekend. This is their fourth game in a row without not just a win, but a goal. It is also their sixth in a row without a win at home.

This is arguably the third week in a row where Gotham capitalized on their opponents being in a suboptimal situation. They caught the Orlando Pride on a five-match winless run. They then matched up against Angel City FC, and now they caught San Diego in a poor run of form. Crucially, though they earned nine points from these three games, something most fans may not have been confident in happening had this happened earlier in the season.

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As the game started, the first thing to note was the personnel and formation of Gotham. The Starting XI featured the same 11 players who were on the field when they scored those two quick goals at the beginning of the second half last week against Angel City. This saw Esther González at times playing so deep in midfield that the only players behind her were those in the backline.

It also saw a somewhat fluid frontline of Geyse, Gabi Portilho, and Midge Purce, all interchanging and swapping spots depending on the game situation at the time. It also once again saw the 3-4-3 shape in possession they had last week, with both fullbacks, Lilly Reale and Bruninha, given license to run forward.

The first half started with a pretty low-event first 30ish minutes, with both teams not really having any noteworthy chances. That changed in the 30th minute when a Kenza Dali shot forced Ann-Katrin Berger into a save that was somewhat reminiscent, albeit less spectacular, than her save from this summer's Euros that went viral.

Then, in the last minute of normal time in the first half, Gotham got on the board when González scored her league-leading 13th goal of the season. It started when Kennedy Wesley underhit a back pass to Kailen Sheridan, which Geyse was able to pounce on and create a bit of havoc. The ball then popped into González's path and slid the ball into an empty net to give the NJ/NY side the lead just before halftime.

Gotham and González then very nearly doubled their lead when a Rose Lavelle corner kick found the Spaniards head, creating a looping shot towards goal. Sheridan subsequently made a spectacular save that saw her tip the ball onto the crossbar and cleared by her Wave teammates. The Bats then get another shot through Portilho, which ended up going straight at Sheridan just before the halftime whistle.

The second half started with Jaedyn Shaw making her Gotham debut, replacing Portilho. She joined Lavelle in the midfield. This forced González back into her usual number 9 role and Geyse out to the left wing position.

The second half, somehow, began even slower than the first. Neither team had a shot until the 70th minute when Geyse managed a tight-angle shot that was saved by Sheridan. Shortly thereafter, Gotham found their second, and it was none other than the record signing herself.

Shaw actually started this move by picking up the ball in midfield and finding Bruninha with a long diagonal down the right wing. The Brazilian played an infield pass to Jaelin Howell, who found Shaw with a great cross into the box that the 20-year-old met with her head and got past Sheridan to double Gotham's lead.

The Bats then thought they had a third when Purce made a blazing run down the right wing and cut the ball to González, who had an easy tap-in to extend Gotham's lead to 3-0. However, a VAR review cancelled the goal due to Purce being just fractionally offside.

After, the team survived a late push from San Diego in a last-ditch effort to find a goal. Yet, they survived, retained the clean sheet, and walked out of San Diego with their first win in San Diego since the 2023 Championship.

For as much as players like González, Lavelle, Berger, and now Shaw will get given their flashy highlights, fans should give their props to Howell. She has been arguably Gotham FC's most consistent performer this season. In addition to suddenly becoming a goal contribution machine, she has taken her general game up a level. Whether it be passing, defending, winning fouls, winning duels, or just doing what needs to be done to win, Howell will be key to the team going far in the playoffs.