Gotham FC earns the critical three points in the home win over Angel City FC | OneFootball

In arguably their most important game of the NWSL season, NJ/NY Gotham FC pulled off a 3-1 win over Angel City FC, giving them some much-needed movement up in the standings and also marking the acting head coach, Andy Spence, his first NWSL win as a head coach.

The win extends Gotham's unbeaten run in all competitions to five and their winning streak to three. It also sees them jump both Seattle Reign FC and Racing Louisville FC to sixth in the standings. It also creates some breathing space between them and ninth-placed Angel City, as that gap is now up to four points.

These were three important points as Gotham now heads out on a three-game road trip on the West Coast, including next week's visit to third-place San Diego Wave FC. This was only Gotham's third win at home in NWSL play this season as well, and being able to bank these points at home is very important, even with the team's impressive away record.

It was not easy, though, for Gotham FC's first half did not go the team's way. The match started with a very early Angel City goal. Forward Riley Tiernan did a great job of getting the ball into the Bats' defensive third and then put a dangerous cross into the box that eventually found Kennedy Fuller. Fuller subsequently uncorked a shot from outside the box that deflected off of Sarah Schupansky, went through the legs of Jess Carter, and just squeaked past the outstretched Ann-Katrin Berger before going off the post and into the net to give the visitors the lead less than two minutes in.

Gotham FC beat Angel City for the second time in 2025

That did not stop Gotham, for they eventually started to build up a decent amount of momentum. Still, Angel City continued to have their fair share of chances. Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir forced a turnover from the backline, which resulted in a one-on-one with Berger, but the Icelandic international shot wide of the goal. M.A. Vignola later had a great chance of her own, but Berger stood tall and kept the deficit at one.

Gotham had their fair share of chances as well, with Schupansky hitting a long-range shot that Hannah Seabert deflected just over the bar. Gabi Portilho had a great chance, too, after forcing a turnover in the Angel City box. Unfortunately, the Brazilian scuffed her shot, and it deflected off the outside of the post.

While the Bats were not quite as clinical or as free-flowing as seen at times last week against the Orlando Pride, they certainly created enough to get the equalizer in this first half. But as it has been the case for most games this season, they just cannot quite nail that final pass or finish like everyone knows these players can.

The game changed, though, at halftime when Spence brought on Midge Purce and Rose Lavelle for Schupansky and Josefine Hasbo, and both made an immediate impact. In the 47th minute, Purce made a signature charging run off the right wing into the box before finding Portilho with a cutback. The Brazilian did not make a mistake this time as she was able to score the equalizer. This was Purce's first assist for the club since the 2023 NWSL Championship game, where she bagged two.

Then just four minutes later, it was Lavelle's turn. Bruninha fired a cross into the box that was spilled by Seabert in goal. Lavelle did not need any sort of invitation and pounced on the loose ball and put the ball in the net to turn the game on its head less than six minutes into the half. This was also the midfielder's first goal of 2025 for Gotham.

The two teams then traded chances before the NJ/NY side found their third of the game. A good piece of build-up play saw Geyse slide a pass to Jaelin Howell on the outside of the box, and the defensive midfielder scored her second banger in two games. Howell unleashed a first-time shot, with her right foot this time, that flew past Seabert and off the crossbar and into the net to give Gotham a 3-1 lead.

In the second half stoppage time, Lavelle almost scored her second. She hit the post with her initial shot before the ball fell to second-half sub Taryn Torres, whose shot deflected onto the crossbar before Angel City were able to clear. Luckily, that goal wasn't needed as Gotham got their second win over Angel City this season.

The Player of the Match in this one has to go to Howell, who continued to play brilliantly since being moved to the defensive midfield position. In addition to another stellar goal, she had the most tackles and duels won of any player and also had a 90% pass completion on the day. This was also the first time Gotham managed to win a game in NWSL play that Esther González did not score in.

While González will hopefully continue to score at a consistent rate for the rest of the season, getting this result with having to rely upon her for the offense is not only good for the group as a whole, but could also help them break through a mental block that they might be thinking that's the only way they can win.