Gotham FC Extends Home Unbeaten Streak with Chicago Win

Jaedyn Shaw became the youngest player in NWSL history to reach 25 goals, scoring a pair in a 3-1 Gotham FC win over visiting Chicago on Friday night at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

The win extended Gotham FC’s unbeaten run at home to 11 matches and again cushioned its lead atop the NWSL standings to six points.

“Today was a really good game from the team,” said Gotham FC coach Juan Carlos Amorós. “They really deserved that performance. The work that they've put in behind the scenes, it's been unbelievable. The staff – we come on the back of a very difficult month being away from home, three trips in a row, and we wanted to have that performance today where we were dominant, but we were able to score goals and we were able to enjoy on the pitch. I think it ticked all the boxes.”

With its sights set on the NWSL Shield, given to the league’s top team in the regular season, Gotham FC (16-4-6, 54 points) wasted no time playing on the front foot at home. Despite the late Chicago goal, Gotham FC rarely relinquished control.

Shaw first broke through for Gotham FC in the ninth minute, blasting in a one-time right-footed effort from eight yards out to finish Sam Kerr’s fourth assist. It was Shaw’s team-leading eighth goal, and she wasn’t done there.

Kerr swapped spots on the scoresheet for Gotham’s second goal, heading in Guro Reiten’s teasing cross in the 50th minute, a familiar sight for Chelsea FC fans over the past few years. The Australian forward now has four goals since joining Gotham FC this summer, while Reiten – who signed in March – is tied for the team lead with five assists.

In the 66th minute, Rose Lavelle tidy footwork shed a defender in the area before setting up an unmarked Shaw, who could pick her spot from 16 yards out. The 21-year-old passed her shot into the far post, securing the first two-goal performance of her career.

With four games to go, Gotham FC is six points clear of San Diego, which also won Friday evening. Third-place Washington, on 46 points, could move back within five of Gotham FC with a win Saturday against red-hot Angel City FC.

Gotham FC now has a few days off before turning its own attention to Angel City for the penultimate home match of the 2026 NWSL regular season at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET Sunday, with coverage on ABC.

Key Match Points

• Midfielder Jaedyn Shaw scored her eighth and ninth goals of the 2026 NWSL regular season, opening the scoring for Gotham FC in the first 10 minutes before adding a second 20 minutes into the second half.
  • The goals marked Shaw’s first career brace in the NWSL.
  • With the goals, Shaw became the youngest player to score 25 regular season goals, at 21 years, 309 days old, surpassing Sophia Wilson, who reached the mark at 22 years, 317 days old.
  • Shaw has contributed to goals in each of her last five NWSL home matches, recording four goals and three assists.
  • Shaw has scored the opening goal in seven NWSL matches this season.
• Forward Sam Kerr scored her fourth goal of the 2026 NWSL regular season, netting Gotham FC’s second goal of the match.
  • The goal marked Kerr’s 32nd regular season goal for Gotham FC, adding to her club record.
• Kerr also recorded her fourth assist of the 2026 NWSL season, setting up Shaw for Gotham FC’s opening goal.
  • The assist moved Kerr into a tie with Alex Morgan for sixth-most regular season assists in NWSL history with 28.
  • Kerr has contributed to goals in each of her last three games, recording three assists.
  • After entering the match needing one goal contribution to set the club record, Kerr recorded two tonight and now holds the Gotham FC record for most goal contributions in all NWSL competitions with 42.
• Winger Guro Reiten recorded her fifth assist of the 2026 regular season, setting up Kerr for Gotham FC’s second goal.
• Midfielder Rose Lavelle recorded her second assist of the NWSL season, setting up Shaw for Gotham FC’s third goal of the match.
  • Lavelle has recorded assists in back-to-back games.
  • Lavelle passed Sarah Woldmoe for sixth in club history with 21 regular season goal contributions.
• Midfielder Denise O’Sullivan surpassed 15,000 career NWSL regular season minutes, ending the match with 15,039.
• Midfielder Jaelin Howell made her 100th NWSL regular season start.
• Midfielder Taryn Torres reached 50 regular season appearances for Gotham FC, becoming the 29th player in club history to reach the milestone.
• Gotham FC is now undefeated in its last 11 regular season home matches, extending a club record.
• Gotham FC has scored in each of its last 10 NWSL home matches.
• Gotham FC has scored eight goals in the first 15 minutes of the first half this season. Only Portland Thorns FC has scored more in the NWSL with 11.
• Gotham FC has scored 21 first-half goals in 26 games this season. Portland is the only team with more, with 26.
• Gotham FC has avoided defeat in its last 15 NWSL matches when scoring first.
• Gotham FC improved to 13-1-3 when scoring the opening goal in the NWSL this season.
  • Gotham FC also improved to 6-0-2 when scoring the opening goal at home this season.

Gotham FC vs. Chicago Stars FC

Friday, September 25, 2026

8 p.m. ET kickoff

Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, New Jersey

Attendance: 9,176

Weather: 67 degrees, cloudy

Gotham FC (1, 2 – 3)

Chicago Stars FC (0, 1 – 1)

Scoring Summary

Gotham FC

9’ - Jaedyn Shaw (Sam Kerr)

50’ - Sam Kerr (Guro Reiten)

66’ - Jaedyn Shaw (Rose Lavelle)

Chicago Stars FC

87’ - Tessa Dellarose (Micayla Johnson)

Gotham FC (4-3-3): 30 – Ann-Katrin Berger (GK); 23 – Midge Purce (74’ 3 – Bruninha), 27 – Jess Carter, 15 – Tierna Davidson (C), 18 – Guro Reiten (66’ 8 – Taryn Torres); 7 – Jaelin Howell, 5 – Denise O’Sullivan, 16 – Rose Lavelle (75’ 14 – Talia Sommer); 2 – Jordynn Dudley (74’ 24 – Andrea Kitahata), 20 – Sam Kerr (81’ 25 – Meredith Speck), 10 – Jaedyn Shaw

Unused substitutes: 1 – Shelby Hogan (GK); 13 – Savannah McCaskill, 22 – Mandy Freeman, 28 – Tess Boade

Head coach: Juan Carlos Amorós

Chicago Stars FC (4-3-3): 1 – Alyssa Naeher (C) (GK); 11 – Nadia Gomes, 3 – Sam Staab, 77 – Maitane Lopez, 14 – Taylor Wood (77’ 18 – Simone Charley), 10 – Brianna Pinto, 31 – Anna Gasper (59’ 20 – Bea Franklin), 7 – Julia Grosso (77’ 34 – Tessa Dellarose), 28 – Emma Egizii (45’ 5 – Michelle Alozie), 9 – Mallory Swanson (45’ 23 – Micayla Johnson), 4 – Jenna Bike

Unused substitutes: 27 – Katie Atkinson (GK); 6 – Oihanne Valdezate, 15 – Elise Evans, 25 – Aaliya Farmer

Interim head coach: Karina Báez

Stats Summary

GFC / CHI

Expected Goals: 2.51 / 1.11

Shots: 16 / 6

Shots on Goal: 7 / 1

Saves: 0 / 4

Corners: 3 / 0

Fouls: 10 / 13

Offside: 2 / 0

Misconduct Summary

Gotham FC

20’ - Midge Purce (Yellow Card - Reckless Offense)

84’ - Bruninha (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul)

Chicago Stars FC

14’ - Anna Gasper (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul)

28’ - Brianna Pinto (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul)

89’ - Micayla Johnson (Yellow Card - Reckless Offense)

Officials

Referee: Lauren Aldrich

Assistant Referee 1: Jennifer Garner

Assistant Referee 2: Jake Brochu

4th Official: Laadi Issaka

VAR: Promise Adebayo-Ige

AVAR: Kevin Huet