Gotham FC Second-Half Goals Secure Another Concacaf W Champions Cup Group Stage Victory

Geyse converted a penalty in the 62nd minute and rookie Kayla Duran scored her first professional goal in Gotham FC’s 2-0 win over Alianza FC in the Concacaf W Champions Cup group stage on a rainy Tuesday night in El Salvador.

The win nudged Gotham FC (2-0-0, 6 points) to the brink of clinching a spot in the W Champions Cup semifinals for the second consecutive season, with a win on Sept. 21 at Vancouver Rise Academy the last remaining barrier.

“It wasn’t our best performance,” Duran said on the postmatch broadcast interview on Paramount Plus, ”but odds are sometimes stacked against us with traveling and all that, and we’re happy to get three points.”

Gotham FC controlled the proceedings at Estadio Las Delicias in Santa Tecla, a small city an hour west of San Salvador, the capital and largest city in the Central American country. The visitors held 74% of possession and outshot Alianza, 13-3, but struggled to find the target until Geyse’s breakthrough.

In the build-up to Geyse’s goal, her second in Concacaf competition after scoring the go-ahead goal in last season’s semifinal, midfielder Sofia Cook won a penalty on the edge of the box when Alianza defender Linda Guillén knocked her down pursuing a bouncing loose ball.

Geyse left no doubt with her penalty, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and slotting home a shot in the top right corner.

Duran, a rookie starting her second Concacaf group stage match after signing her first pro contract with Gotham earlier this summer, found a free header on the back post in the fourth minute of stoppage time to provide some late-game insurance.

The result chips away at the goal differential advantage the Washington Spirit owns heading into tomorrow’s match against Vancouver Rise Academy. Gotham FC (plus-3) will have work to do to catch Washington (1-0-0, 3 points, plus-7 differential), with the Spirit heavily favored vs. their Canadian visitors.

The Oct. 1 match in Philadelphia between Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit is shaping up to be a decisive game in the Group A standings of the Concacaf W Champions Cup, though Mexican powerhouse CF Monterrey may still have something to say when it plays the Spirit on Oct. 16.

Gotham FC now returns to NWSL action, coming home for a clash with West Coast side Angel City FC on Sunday at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. ET, with broadcast coverage on ESPN.

Key Match Points

Gotham FC opens with back-to-back wins in the Concacaf W Champions Cup group stage for the first time in club history.
- In 2024, GFC recorded one win and one draw through its first two group stage matches.
This is Gotham’s fourth clean sheet in tournament history, having recorded three shutouts in four group stage matches last year.
The club has now scored in all but one of its matches in Concacaf W Champions Cup play through both editions of the competition.
Forward Geyse scored her first goal of the 25-26 Concacaf W Champions Cup group stage on a first-half penalty.
- This is her third goal this season for Gotham, and first since notching the game winner against Bay FC on June 21.
Defender Kayla Duran recorded her first Gotham FC goal in second half stoppage time.
Rookie midfielder Sarah Schupansky notched her sixth total assist this season, and first of this year’s Concacaf W Champions Cup.
Forward Mak Whitham made her first competitive start in a match for Gotham FC, becoming the youngest player to start a game in club history (15y/1m/6d).
Midfielder Nealy Martin led all players in touches (106), and tied Schupansky in duels won (9).

Gotham FC at Alianza FC

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

9 p.m. ET kickoff

Estadio Las Delicias, Santa Tecla, El Salvador

Attendance: 294

Weather: 76 degrees, mostly cloudy

Gotham FC (2, 0 – 2)

Alianza FC (0, 0 – 0)

Goal Summary:

Gotham FC

62’-- Geyse

90+4 – Kayla Duran (Sarah Schupansky)

Gotham FC (4-3-3): 1 – Shelby Hogan (GK); 22 – Mandy Freeman © (65’ 23 – Midge Purce), 19 – Kayla Duran, 27 – Jess Carter (46’ 3 – Bruninha), 8 – Taryn Torres; 11 – Sarah Schupansky, 14 – Nealy Martin, 21 – Sofia Cook; 34 – Khyah Harper, 17 – Mak Whitham (46’ 28 – Katie Stengel) (75’ 5 – Josefine Hasbo) , 10 – Geyse (63’ 18 – Gabi Portilho)

Unused substitutes: 12 – Ryan Campbell (GK); 4 – Lilly Reale, 7 – Jaelin Howell

Head coach: Juan Carlos Amorós

Alianza FC (4-3-3): 1 – Roxana Vega (GK); 23 – Irma Hernández, 5 – Santana Pressley, 17 – Priscila Ortíz, 3 – Marilyn Cabrera (81’ 26 – Yaneth Sotelo); 12 – Génesis Carpio (58’ 19 – Raquel Ramirez), 4 – Linda Gullién (29 – Neyda Martinez), 22 - Mónica Menjivar (8 – Joseline Rivas); 10 – Ashley Webb, 9 – Paola Calderon, 7 – Tatiana Hawkins

Unused substitutes: 25 – Samantha Valadez (GK); 6 – Rosmery Mendoza, 14 – Paola Cerén, 16 – Iliana Molina, 20 - Keyri Garcia, 24 – Jessica Silva, 27 – Alejandra Agundez, 30 – Gladis Ulloa

Head coach: Luis Sosa

Stats Summary

GFC / ALI

Expected Goals: 1.58 / .06

Shots: 13 / 13

Shots on Goal: 2 / 0

Saves: 0 / 2

Corners: 8 / 0

Fouls: 12 / 14

Offside: 0 / 1

Misconduct Summary:

Gotham FC