Match Recap: Gotham FC clinches first home playoff game in club history
CHICAGO, IL (Saturday, October 12, 2024) - NJ/NY Gotham FC defeated the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday by a score of 2-0. After knocking on the door of a goal for much of the match, a penalty kick scored by forward Lynn Williams and an extra time strike from forward Esther tallied goals. With the win, the team clinches its first home playoff game in club history.
The first half was a defensive battle for both teams, neither being able to score the opening goal. Gotham FC led the way in shots (7-1), possession (68%-32%), and total passes (266-130) in the opening 45 minutes.
In the 85th minute, Gotham FC was awarded a penalty kick after forward Ella Stevens drew a foul inside the box. Williams stepped up to the spot and drilled a shot to the nearside netting and converted to take the 1-0 lead.
The team struck again in the 97th minute. Esther received the pass in the middle of the box, took one touch, and shot the ball across the goal finding the back of the goal to double the team’s lead to 2-0. Esther’s goal brings her total season tally to seven, which leads the team.
Forward Jéssica Silva assisted on the goal, which marks her first goal contribution with the club.
With the win, Gotham FC moves to second place in the NWSL standings. The club also extended its unbeaten streak when scoring first in the NWSL to 30 matches.
In the match, Gotham FC paced Chicago in shots (12-2), possession (60%-40%), total passes (451-309), and passing accuracy (85%-70%). This is Gotham FC’s ninth clean sheet, second in the league only to the Orlando Pride.
Gotham FC will return to action Wednesday, Oct. 16 against Tigres Femenil as the team returns to Concacaf W Champions Cup play at Red Bull Arena. Fans can catch the match at 8:00 p.m. EST (Paramount+).
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Key Match Notes
- Gotham FC clinched a top-4 finish with the 2-0 win, guaranteeing the club its first-ever home playoff game.
- Saturday’s match was the 250th in club regular season history.
- Gotham FC is 15-0-3 when scoring first this year, 7-0-2 away from home, and is undefeated in its last 31 matches when scoring first in league play.
- GFC as a team has nine clean sheets, second in the league, and has blanked 17 of 24 league opponents in the first half. The Red Stars were held to two shots, one on goal, in the game.
- Gotham FC’s 20 first-half crosses were a club record for a first half in the regular season since Opta started tracking in 2016.
- Lynn Williams’ penalty kick goal was her 80th in all NWSL competitions, adding to her league record. She also extended a league mark with her 22nd regular season game-winning goal. It was her seventh regular season GWG for Gotham FC, tying Sam Kerr for second in club history. Williams’ 68 career regular season goals remain second in league history to Kerr’s 77. Defensively, Williams won possession eight times, which led GFC and tied for the game high.
- Ann-Katrin Berger tied Brittany Cameron’s 2013 club record with her eighth regular season shutout.
- Esther put away her ninth career Gotham FC goal. The goal, at 97:22, was the fifth-latest regular season goal in club history and moved her into the club lead for this season with seven goals. She completed 22 of 23 passing attempts (95.7%).
- Jéssica Silva passed out her first GFC regular season assist on the Esther goal.
- Emily Sonnett connected on 69 of 75 passes.
Lineups:
GFC: Ann-Katrin Berger, Jenna Nighswonger (Mandy Freeman 74’), Tierna Davidson (Sam Hiatt 45’), Emily Sonnett, Jess Carter (Cece Kizer 83’), Nealy Martin, Lynn Williams, Delanie Sheehan (Jessica Silva 74’), Rose Lavelle, Yazmeen Ryan, Esther González
CHI: Alyssa Naeher, Taylor Malham, Hannah Anderson, Cari Roccaro, Tatumn Milazzo (Ally Cook 96’), Julia Grosso, Bea Franklin, Mallory Swanson, Ally Schlegel (Jenna Bike 76’), Ludmila, Shea Groom (Jameese Joseph 89’)
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