Gotham FC Falls 2-0 to Denver Summit FC

Gotham FC dropped its first game of the young 2026 season on Wednesday night, falling 2-0 to expansion side Denver Summit FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

In the first meeting between the clubs, Denver’s Melissa Kössler and Tash Flint scored the decisive goals in the second half of a cagey match.

“It’s a disappointing night for us with that result at home,” said Gotham FC coach Juan Carlos Amorós. “We had the target to be better at home this year, and we need to have more consistent performances.”

Gotham FC (1-1-1, 4 points) dropped into the middle of the NWSL standings following the result, conceding its first goals of the 2026 campaign after opening the season with back-to-back clean sheets.

Denver created the better opportunities in the first half, forcing goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger into action early. In the 22nd minute, Berger produced a massive save to deny Kössler from close range, and Berger was called upon again moments later to comfortably gather another effort from the German forward.

The visitors found the breakthrough in the 58th minute when Kössler finished a move down the right side to give Denver the lead.

Gotham nearly equalized in the 66th minute when substitute Jordynn Dudley found herself one-on-one with Smith, but the Denver goalkeeper closed Dudley’s angle and blocked a point-blank effort.

Flint doubled Denver’s lead in the 73rd minute, capitalizing on a turnover in the defensive third to extend the margin and end the reigning champions’ unbeaten start to league play.

Gotham FC will wrap its three-match homestand on Sunday when it hosts the Orlando Pride at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Kickoff for Sunday’s match is set for 7 p.m. ET with the match streaming on Victory+.

Key Match Points

• Midfielder Sofia Cook and forward Andrea Kitahata made their first NWSL starts in tonight’s match.
• Defender Jess Carter captained Gotham FC for the third time in NWSL regular season play and completed 47 of her 49 passes.
• Defender Kayla Duran had 11 final third entries in tonight’s match, the most for either team.
• Midfielder Jaelin Howell won seven of 11 duels, gained possession back on 10 occasions and won three fouls.
• Gotham FC’s run of not conceding a goal in all NWSL competitions ended at 449 minutes.
  • Despite tonight’s loss, Gotham FC has only conceded two goals over the team’s first three matches, posting a 1-1-1 record.

Gotham FC vs Denver Summit FC

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

7 p.m. ET kickoff

Sports Illustrated Stadium; Harrison, NJ

Attendance: 5,000

Weather: 48 degrees, partly cloudy

Gotham FC (0, 0 – 0)

Denver Summit FC (0, 2 – 2)

Scoring Summary

Denver Summit FC

58’ - Melissa Kössler (Yuna McCormack)

73’ - Tash Flint

Gotham FC (4-3-3): 30 – Ann-Katrin Berger (GK); 19 – Kayla Duran, 6 – Emily Sonnett, 27 – Jess Carter (C) (63’ 15 – Tierna Davidson), 4 – Lilly Reale; 7 – Jaelin Howell, 13 – Savannah McCaskill, 21 – Sofia Cook (46’ 16 – Rose Lavelle); 11 – Sarah Schupansky (63’ 23 – Midge Purce), 24 – Andrea Kitahata (46’ 9 – Esther González), 28 – Katie Lampson (63’ 2 – Jordynn Dudley)

Unused substitutes: 1 – Shelby Hogan (GK); 14 – Talia Sommer, 17 – Mak Whitham, 34 – Khyah Harper

Head coach: Juan Carlos Amorós

Denver Summit FC (4-3-3): 1 – Abby Smith (GK); 6 – Janine Sonis, 2 – Meg Reid (68’ 23 – Eva Gaetino), 3 – Kaleigh Kurtz (C), 16 – Carson Pickett; 5 – Devin Lynch, 24 – Delanie Sheehan, 26 – Tash Flint; 14 – Yuna McCormack (79’ 7 – Ayo Oke), 25 – Melissa Kössler (68’ 11 – Ally Brazier), 9 – Yazmeen Ryan

Unused substitutes: 19 – Pauline Petraud-Magnin (GK); 4 – Natalie Means, 8 – Emma Regan, 19 – Lourdes Bosch, 33 – Olivia Thomas, 79 – Nahikari García

Head coach: Nick Cushing

Stats Summary

GFC / DEN

Expected Goals: 1.14 / 1.9

Shots: 11 / 8

Shots on Goal: 4 / 5

Saves: 3 / 4

Corners: 6 / 4

Fouls: 12 / 11

Offside: 1 / 2

Misconduct Summary

Gotham FC

39’ - Lilly Reale (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul)

90+ 5’ - Jaelin Howell (Yellow Card - Dissent)

Denver Summit FC

26’ - Tash Flint (Yellow Card - Reckless Offense)

63’ - Meg Reid (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul)

Officials

Referee: Muhammad Hassan

Assistant Referee 1: Zeno Cho

Assistant Referee 2: Matthew Rodman

4th Official: Luis Diego Arroyo

VAR: Shawn Tehini

AVAR: Tony Obas