HARRISON, NJ (Sunday, September 22, 2024) - NJ/NY Gotham FC moves to second in the NWSL standings with its third straight NWSL regular season win, defeating the Utah Royals 1-0. With the victory, Gotham FC also secured a spot in the 2024 NWSL Playoffs. 

 

It took just three minutes for Gotham FC to get on the board first. Forward Lynn Williams delivered a precise pass across the box to midfielder Yazmeen Ryan, who took one touch before firing it into the net for the opening goal. Ryan scored the fastest goal for the club this season. 

 

Gotham FC almost doubled its lead in the 32nd minute. Williams set herself up at the top of the box and shot a curling ball that nearly snuck in the goal, but Royals keeper Mandy Haught made the leaping tip to keep the score 1-0. 

 

In the first half, Gotham FC showed offensive dominance. The club paced Utah in shots (10-6), shots on goal (7-2), possession (60%-40%), and total passes (283-190). 

 

On the defensive end, Gotham FC also shined. Utah had a chance to level the score in the 71st minute, but a strong play from defender Tierna Davidson blocked the path of a clear shot to keep the lead in Gotham FC’s favor. 

 

Neither team secured a goal in the second half, leaving the score with a 1-0 Gotham FC victory. With the win, Gotham FC moves up to second place in the NWSL standings, the highest placement the club has had this season, and clinches a playoff spot. 

 

The team also secured its 8th clean sheet of the season, which ranks second behind only the Orlando Pride. 

 

Gotham FC will travel to Kansas City Saturday, Sept 28 to face the Current at 1:00 p.m. EST. Fans can catch the game on CBS and Paramount+.

 

 

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QUOTES

Gotham FC Head Coach Juan Carlos Amoros

On Kelley O’Hara’s season ending injury…

Yeah, it's been a very difficult year for a lot of different reasons. Now we have had at the beginning of the year with Sinead, with Midge, and and now with Kelley. I always say that it's not about being sad because it's finished, but happy because it happened. and for us to still have her in the local with us in the Leadership group yesterday. I may have a fantastic meeting with her where she's trying, you know, to help us be better. She's a winner. She was the first one out there celebrating with a smile.

 

On clinching a spot in the playoffs and pressure of winning back to back championships…

Pressure is something very tangible, how you go about every day, the players that we have here, the stuff that we have here. We are extremely demanding with ourselves, and that pressure comes from within. 

 

Gotham FC Midfielder Yazmeen Ryan

On the team’s 3-game week schedule…

Yeah, I mean, this is our second or third 3-game week, so we kind of knew what to expect going into it. It's like clockwork at this point, but we definitely are still tired, but amped up that we got the win and were able to clinch playoffs and 3 clean cheeks throughout the whole time. So that's awesome for us.

On the team’s mentality after her early goal…

Yeah, it could be tough. It's important not to relax, and not to think that anything is going to come easy. After that it only puts a little bit more pressure to keep going. Wish we could have got more goals, but so proud of us for keeping that clean sheet and making that goal worth it. So yeah, it's it's it can be tough. But we did a good job.

 

MATCH SUMMARY

Gotham FC vs. Utah Royals

September 22, 2024 – Red Bull Arena

 

Goals by Half           1 2 F  

Gotham FC           1           0         1

Utah Royals               0           0         0

 

Scoring Summary:

GFC: Yazmeen Ryan (Lynn Williams, 3’)

 

Misconduct Summary:

UTA: YC: Cloé Lacasse (44’), Hannah Betfort (88’)

 

Lineups:

GFC:  Ann-Katrin Berger, Jenna Nighswonger (Mandy Freeman 87’), Tierna Davidson, Emily Sonnett, Jess Carter, Delanie Sheehan (McCall Zerboni 87’), Lynn Williams (Crystal Dunn 63’), Ella Stevens (Cece Kizer 63’), Rose Lavelle, Yazmeen Ryan, Esther (Bruninha 89’)

UTA: Mandy Haught, Zoe Burns (Madison Pogarch 75’), Kaleigh Riehl, Kate Del Fava, Olivia Griffitts, Dana Foederer (Agnes Nyberg 89’), Claudia Zornoza (Mikayla Cluff 65’), Cameron Tucker (Michele Vasconcelos 65’), Paige Monaghan, Cloé Lacasse, Hannah Betfort

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