Gotham FC gets back in the win column with a win over Seattle Reign FC | OneFootball

NJ/NY Gotham FC got back in the win column with a 2-0 victory over Seattle Reign FC. This win gives them some nice positive momentum heading into CONCACAF W Champions Cup play on Wednesday.

It was a nice bounce-back result after failing to pick up three points against Boston Legacy FC in the last game. The performance was once again strong, with the lineup remaining largely intact from what was seen over this five-match unbeaten run. Rose Lavelle remains out with a hamstring injury, but instead of Sarah Schupansky taking Lavelle's place as she did against Boston, Sofia Cook started her second match of the NWSL season, taking up that role instead.

Seattle's goalscoring woes continued after a strong defensive performance by the Bats. This was the Reign's fifth straight match without a goal. They had a few opportunities, especially later in the game, to find the back of the net, but they did not create enough throughout the 90 minutes to make Gotham think a goal was coming.

The NJ/NY team will now head into CONCACAF play in Mexico on Wednesday against Club America with a nice confidence boost from this game. They'll be going for their second consecutive CONCACAF title and their third trophy win in two years overall.

Gotham FC secured 3 points from the PNW

The first half was very stodgy and a low event. Neither team really had a good look at goal until the 24th minute when Gotham FC opened the scoring. Just two minutes after picking up a yellow card, Jaedyn Shaw picked up her third goal in as many games with a blast inside the box that left Reign goalkeeper Claudia Dickey rooted to the goal line.

It started with an outlet pass from Jaelin Howell down the right wing to Jordynn Dudley. Dudley then dribbled into the box, left defender Shae Holmes on the floor with some fancy footwork before finding Savannah McCaskill in the box. McCaskill failed to successfully shoot the ball, and it found Shaw instead. She blasted it home to give Gotham the 1-0 lead.

Seattle had their most dangerous chance in the 41st minute when Mia Fishel found Maddie Dahlien with an outlet pass down the right wing. The second year forward made a charging run into the box, but part-time fullback Guro Reiten made a great defensive play to prevent a shot and only conceded a corner kick.

Gotham started the second half with a substitution that saw Emily Sonnett replace Jess Carter in a like-for-like move. 10 minutes later, the Bats doubled their lead through the captain, Tierna Davidson. A corner from Reiten found McCaskill, who then passed the ball out to Sofia Cook on the edge of the box. Cook attempted to shoot, but instead, the ball was deflected by Davidson past Dickey to give Gotham the 2-0 advantage.

That was Davidson's first regular-season goal and second overall for the NJ/NY side, with her first coming in the 2024 NWSL playoff quarterfinal match against Portland Thorns FC. This was also the first assist for Cook in her pro career in just her second start of the NWSL season. Cook has so far appeared in every game apart from one and seems to be growing in both confidence and stature within the Gotham squad in her second season. Don't be shocked if she ends up forcing her way into more and more games and more and more minutes as the season progresses.

Gotham then nearly had a third 15 minutes later, again off a corner kick. This time Shaw's cross went over everyone's head and landed at the feet of Midge Purce. She let off a powerful shot that smacked off the near post before Seattle was able to clear.

The home side came the closest to finding a goal in the 85th minute when a missed tackle from Davidson led Brittany Ratcliffe in 1-v-1 with Ann-Katrin Berger. The German international made a great stop to maintain the clean sheet and the unbeaten streak. Hence, the Bats' streak is now five matches and also gives them their seventh clean sheet in 10 games this season.

This result, combined with the Washington Spirit's 2-1 loss to San Diego Wave FC, means Gotham FC is now tied on points with the Spirit, behind on just goal differential. This win was not only good from an NWSL standings perspective but also gives them a lot of positive momentum as they move into their Wednesday matchup against Club America in the W Champions Cup semifinals.