Gotham FC Withstands Red Card in Draw vs. Washington

Gotham FC held firm while playing down a player for more than an hour, earning a 0-0 draw on Saturday with visiting rival Washington in front of a season-high 13,860 fans at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Brazilian forward Geyse was given a red card in the 30th minute after video review of a challenge on Washington defender Gabrielle Carle.

But Gotham FC (5-5-5, 20 points) staved off the danger despite the disadvantage, producing the best opportunity of the second half that nearly saw forward Katie Stengel net the game-winner. The result was Gotham’s sixth shutout of the campaign and extended its unbeaten run to four matches stretching back to the June 13 win at Utah before the league’s summer break.

“Structurally we had to change and adjust,” said Gotham FC captain Mandy Freeman. “We played well and kept the intensity. Playing down is never easy, but we worked together and defended well together, and we had our moments to finish and put the game away, too.”

Recent affairs between Gotham and Washington have bubbled up a budding rivalry between the Eastern seaboard teams situated along Interstate 95. Washington swept the series last year, beating Gotham twice in the regular season and prevailing in a penalty shootout in the semifinals of the NWSL playoffs.

This year, Gotham has taken four of a possible six points from the two meetings with the Spirit, shutting out one of the league’s most talented attacking units for 180 minutes. Star goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who now has five full clean sheets and shared the sixth with reserve Ryan Campbell, made three saves.

“Everyone saw that performance today,” said Gotham FC coach Juan Carlos Amorós. “I’m super proud of every single player. They were outstanding — they rose to the challenge, worked for each other and executed what we asked of them. Even after going down to 10 players again, they fought until the end. It’s a bit bittersweet to only take one point, because if that late chance had gone in, it would’ve been three. From (Berger) to (forward Midge Purce), who was the last to come on, every single player was excellent. The group pushed themselves to their limits, and I can only praise them.”

Gotham FC continues its three-match homestand Sunday, Aug. 17, hosting the Houston Dash at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET, with broadcast coverage on MSG Networks, Paramount+ and NWSL+.

Key Match Points

• Gotham FC played in front of the fourth-largest home crowd in club history (13,860), and second-largest for a regular season match behind 15,058 against San Diego in June 2023.
• This was the third scoreless tie in 32 regular meetings in the series against Washington – and the first since 2021.
• Forward Gabi Portilho made her first appearance for Gotham FC since April 26, also against the Washington Spirit, coming on as a second-half substitute.
• Mandy Freeman tied Sarah Woldmoe’s club record with her 106th appearance on Saturday.
  • She tied Christie Pearce for third-most starts in club history (85).
• Ann-Katrin Berger made three saves to become the third Gotham goalkeeper to reach at least 100 career saves with the club, joining Kailen Sheridan and Brittany Cameron (101 total saves).
  • She also started her 37th consecutive game, extending her club record for goalkeepers.
• Defender Kayla Duran made her NWSL debut tonight, entering the game as a substitute in the second half.

Gotham FC vs Washington Spirit

Saturday, August 9, 2025

12 p.m. ET kickoff

Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, New Jersey

Attendance: 13,860

Weather: 83 degrees, sunny

Gotham FC (0, 0 – 0)

Washington Spirit (0, 0 – 0)

Gotham FC (4-3-3): 30 – Ann-Katrin Berger (GK); 22 – Mandy Freeman (C), 6 – Emily Sonnett, 27 – Jess Carter (79’ 19 – Kayla Duran), 4 – Lilly Reale; 7 – Jaelin Howell, 11 – Sarah Schupansky (63’ 28 – Katie Stengel), 16 – Rose Lavelle (63’ 14 – Nealy Martin); 34 – Khyah Harper (46’ 18 – Gabi Portilho), 9 – Esther González (88’ 23 – Midge Purce), 10 – Geyse

Unused substitutes: 1 – Shelby Hogan (GK); 3 – Bruninha, 8 – Taryn Torres, 21 – Sofia Cook,

Head coach: Juan Carlos Amorós

Washington Spirit (4-3-3): 1 – Aubrey Kingsbury (GK); 14 – Gabby Carle, 9 – Tara McKeown, 24 – Esme Morgan, 6 – Kate Wiesner (58’ 16 – Courtney Brown); 4 – Rebeca Bernal, 5 – Narumi Miura (71’ 8 – Makenna Morris), 17 – Hal Hershfelt; 19 – Rosemonde Kouassi (46’ 27 – Sofia Cantore), 21 – Gift Monday (58’ 2 – Trinity Rodman), 7 – Croix Bethune (88’ 22 – Heather Stainbrook)

Unused substitutes: 28 – Sandy McIver (GK); 13 – Brittany Ratcliffe, 25 – Kysha Sylla, 26 – Paige Metayer

Head coach: Adrián González

Stats Summary

GFC / WAS

Expected Goals: 0.32 / 0.94

Shots: 9 / 11

Shots on Goal: 4 / 4

Saves: 3 / 4

Corners: 3 / 4

Fouls: 13 / 13

Offside: 1 / 2

Misconduct Summary:

Gotham FC

30’ - 10 – Geyse (Red Card - Violent Conduct)

59’ - 16 – Rose Lavelle (Yellow Card - Time Wasting)

72’ - 9 – Esther González (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul)

90 + 1 - Gotham Bench (Yellow Card - Poor Sportsmanship)

Washington Spirit

11’ - 6 – Kate Wiesner (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul)

61’ - 5 – Narumi Miura (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul)

Officials

Referee: Jaclyn Metz

Assistant Referee 1: Rhett Hammil

Assistant Referee 2: Tom Felice

4th Official: Stephanie MacFarland

VAR: Danielle Chesky

AVAR: Karen Coulson