Gotham FC returns to New Jersey with a victory over San Diego Wave FC | OneFootball

NJ/NY Gotham kept the good times going as they beat San Diego Wave FC 1-0, their third consecutive victory by that scoreline. This result keeps the Bats at the top of the table regardless of the result this weekend for the Washington Spirit, who currently sits in second place

This was a nice way for Gotham FC to cap off their return to Sports Illustrated Stadium, their first match in their typical home venue since May 31. As mentioned, the win keeps them at the top of the table with 40 points through 19 games. This puts them on pace for 63 points, which would set their regular-season record, breaking the 2024 mark of 56, albeit in four more games.

Meanwhile, the NJ/NY side crushed the California side's chances of starting their own winning streak. The team came off a huge win last week away to Washington after going three games without a win. The Wave will have been hoping for an East Coast sweep but were unable to do so, leaving them vulnerable to dropping a place to fifth in the standings if the Kansas City Current beats the Houston Dash on Saturday.

After a lackluster home record in 2025 that saw them lose as many games as they won, 2026 has seen Gotham's home form turn around in a huge way. They are now 6-1-3 at home, good enough for the second-best home record so far with just five goals conceded. The team has always shown that they can win on the road, with all of their playoff wins in their 2023 and 2025 Championship runs coming away from home, but if they can now turn around their home form, then that will be hugely important as that's where they'll probably be playing come this year's playoffs.

What's a goal against? Gotham FC does not know

The match started after a 25-minute delay, with both teams lacking production in the opening 10-15 minutes. Gotham FC had their first pair of shots in the 17th minute when Jaedyn Shaw found Guro Reiten on the back post, with the Norwegian letting off a first-time shot that hit the Wave's far post. Then, on the ensuing recycle, Rose Lavelle picked up the ball on a lay-off from Sam Kerr, but her effort was deflected over the crossbar, and nothing came of it.

San Diego then created two chances of their own soon after. First, Lia Godfrey just missed the goal with her attempt, and then, a few minutes later, Gia Corley had her attempt saved by Ann-Katrin Berger, who was back in the lineup after being rested for the previous two matches.

The fixture then went into another lull with neither team able to create much until Gotham found the breakthrough just before halftime. After wriggling her way out of tight marking, Jordynn Dudley found Shaw with a cross-field pass. Gotham's number 10 then worked her way into the box before cutting onto her right foot and letting off a seeing-eye shot that eluded everyone and made it past Wave goalkeeper Sandra Paños on the back post to take the 1-0 lead just before halftime.

The second half was a defensive masterclass for the NJ/NY side. They held San Diego to virtually nothing in the attack and earned their third consecutive 1-0 victory. Gotham managed to hold San Diego to just 0.19 xG, two total shots, and just five box touches in the second, with the former two stats staying at zero well through the 80th minute. That is impressive, given San Diego went into the second half trailing and typically that scenario sees the trailing team generate most of the attack to end the game.

Another standout from the game was Dudley. Despite playing just 73 minutes, she led both teams in chances created with four, completed dribbles with three, and had the assist on Shaw's game-winning goal.

This was also a game of milestones for both the team and individual players. This is the first time Gotham has had 12 clean sheets in a season, and they also set the club record for the longest home unbeaten run at eight. This game also saw Taryn Torres, who came on in the 72nd minute, play her first home game since September 7, 2025. Plus, Bruninha earned her first start and 90-minute performance of the season after missing the entire first half with injury.

Also, Berger returned to the Starting XI after being rested in the previous two matches. The German looked her typical self, making three saves, keeping a clean sheet, and giving every Gotham fan a heart attack the majority of times she had the ball at her feet.

One can argue this was a nice psychological win for Gotham as well. Their one and only loss of the second half of the season came at the hands of San Diego back on July 4 in what was one of the team's most lackluster performances in the 2026 NWSL season. To now come back and push that game to the side and get a huge three points, given both teams currently reside in the top four of the standings, is big not just standings-wise but also for Gotham FC's mentality and belief moving forward.