SANDY, UT (Friday, November 1, 2024) - On Friday night, NJ/NY Gotham FC defeated the Utah Royals 4-1 in the final regular-season match of 2024. Forward Yazmeen Ryan buried her fifth goal of the regular season, defender Mandy Freeman scored her first goal in the league and forward Esther notched her second brace of the season.

Gotham FC broke through with its first goal of the game in the 15th minute. Forward Ella Stevens won the ball down the right flank and drove towards the goal. She cut the ball back to the back post and Ryan buried the goal first time, marking her fifth goal of the season. 

Just two minutes later, the club doubled the score with a golazo from defender Mandy Freeman. The ball fell to Freeman outside of the box where she took a prep touch and ripped a shot to the upper-90 of the goal. 

Gotham FC closed the first half leading in possession (60%-40%) and shots (10-2). The team also set a new club record for most corners in a half with nine. 

After a quiet beginning to the second half from both sides, Utah found its lone goal of the match in the 74th minute, when forward Hannah Betfort broke loose and scored on a one-on-one opportunity. 

Three minutes later, Gotham FC responded with its third goal, which came from Esther in the 77th minute. Freeman played a deep ball over Utah’s backline, and Esther volleyed the ball over the goalkeeper and into the goal. 

Esther completed her brace in the 84th minute. Ryan drilled a corner kick at the near post and the forward redirected the ball back into the net to bring the score to 4-1. 

Gotham FC will host the club’s first ever quarterfinal match for the 2024 NWSL Playoffs on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena (ABC). 
 

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Key Match Notes

• Gotham FC extends its club record for wins (17) and points (56) and will either be the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the playoffs, pending Washington’s result on Saturday at North Carolina.
• Gotham FC is now 17-0-3 when scoring first this year.
• Gotham FC’s nine corner kicks were the club’s most ever in a first half in all competitions.
• Esther became the 11th Gotham FC player to reach 10 regular season goals with the club and then added an 11th, taking nine shots for the game. The brace is her second of the season, tying Monica Ocampo (2013), Katie Johnson (2018) and Carli Lloyd (2019) for the club record, and the third of her career, a new club record. Only Sam Kerr (two braces, two hat tricks) has more multi-goal games for the club.
• Mandy Freeman scored her first NWSL goal in her 95th regular season appearance and picked up her third assist on Esther’s first goal.
• Ann-Katrin Berger extended her club record with her 16th win of the season.
• Yazmeen Ryan scored her fifth goal of the season and passed out her fifth assist, both adding to career highs. The five assists are tied with five other players for second-most in a single season in club history.
• Ella Stevens picked up her fourth assist of the season on Ryan’s opener.
• Emily Sonnett completed 79 of 84 passes and Nealy Martin hit 36 of 38.
• Gotham FC won 16 of 19 tackles, led by a 4-for-4 showing from Jess Carter and 3-for-3 performances from Ryan and Esther.
• Juan Carlos Amoros’ regular season win percentage improves to 65.3%. His 31st regular season win ties him with Sean Nahas for seventh in league history, pending North Carolina’s match Saturday.

 

MATCH SUMMARY

Utah Royals vs. Gotham FC

November 1, 2024 | America First Field

 

Goals by Half               1    2    F

Utah Royals                   0   1     1

Gotham FC                    2    2    4

 

Scoring Summary:

UTA: Hannah Betfort (Kate Del Fava 74’)

GFC: Yazmeen Ryan (Ella Stevens 15’), Mandy Freeman (17’), Esther (Mandy Freeman 77’, Yazmeen Ryan 84’)

 

Misconduct Summary:

UTA: YC: Dana Foederer (83’), 

GFC: YC: Ella Stevens (22’), Jenna Nighswonger (87’), Jess Carter (90+7’)

 

Lineups:

UTA: Mandy Haught, Madison Pogarch, Kaleigh Riehl, Ana Tejada, Kate Del Fava, Dana Foederer (Shaelan Murison 85’), Claudia Zornoza, Mina Tanaka (Cameron Tucker 45’), Allyson Sentnor, Brecken Mozingo, Hannah Betfort

 

GFC: Ann-Katrin Berger, Sam Hiatt, Mandy Freeman, Jess Carter, Emily Sonnett, Nealy Martin, Delanie Sheehan (McCall Zerboni 85’), Yazmeen Ryan (Yazmeen Ryan 87’), Esther (Bruninha 85’), Ella Stevens (Lynn Williams 64’), Rose Lavelle (Jenna Nighswonger 64’)