HARRISON, NJ (Saturday, November 16, 2024) - In its final game of the season, NJ/NY Gotham FC lost to the Washington Spirit in penalties in the semifinals of the 2024 NWSL Playoffs. 

 

In just the first minute of the match, Gotham FC forward Esther was able to fire a shot from distance. The shot ricocheted off the crossbar and out of bounds. 

 

Gotham FC had its next opportunity on goal in the eighth minute. After some combination play from Jess Carter and Yazmeen Ryan down the sideline, Carter served a cross into the box. Forward Ella Stevens got on the end of it, but she headed it just wide. 

 

Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was called upon in the ninth minute. The Spirit fired off a shot that Beger initially deflected. Then, the Spirit fired off another shot from the rebound, in which Berger saved again. 

 

Neither team could break through and the first half closed scoreless. 

 

Gotham FC finally broke through with a goal from Esther in the 56th minute. After some possession, midfielder Rose Lavelle slipped a ball through to Ryan. The forward cut the ball back and lofted the ball into the box, where Esther redirected the ball back to the front post off of her back foot.

 

In the 78th minute, Berger would deny Washington again. The goalkeeper made a quick kick-save to keep the opposition scoreless. 

 

However, Washington found the equalizer in stoppage time to send the game into extra time. 

 

Gotham FC continued to push forward and create chances during extra time, but could not convert. The two teams faced off in penalty kicks, in which Washington would win the game. 

 

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KEY NOTES

• Gotham FC went to penalty kicks for the fourth time in club history in all competitions. They defeated Washington (2020 Challenge Cup quarterfinal) and Chicago (2024 Summer Cup group stage) and lost to Portland (2021 Challenge Cup final) and now to Washington.
• Gotham FC is now 1-0-1 in playoff overtime games (PK shootouts count as a tie for record purposes).
• Gotham FC scored for the 10th straight match.
• Gotham FC has now won or tied its last 35 matches in the NWSL regular season or playoffs when scoring first.
• Esther scored her second career playoff goal in the 56th minute, taking eight shots, four on target, in the game.
• Yazmeen Ryan passed out her first career playoff assist on the Esther goal, was second on the team with two shots and led the team by winning possession nine times.
• Ella Stevens won 11 duels to lead Gotham FC and tied for the most overall in the match.
• Ann-Katrin Berger made nine saves in goal on 10 Washington shots on goal.

 

MATCH SUMMARY

Washington Spirit vs. Gotham FC

November 16, 2024 | Audi Field 

 

Goals by Half               1    2    F

Washington Spirit           0   1    1 

Gotham FC                    0    1    1

 

Scoring Summary:

WAS: Hal Hershfelt (Makenna Morris 90+3’)

GFC: Esther (Yazmeen Ryan 56’)

Misconduct Summary:

WAS: Casey Krueger (97’), Trinity Rodman (102’)
GFC: YC: Jess Carter (17’), Delanie Sheehan (23’), Bruninha (67’, 101’), Jenna Nighswonger (90+2’), McCall Zerbonie (116’)

 

Lineups:

GFC:  Ann-Katrin Berger, Mandy Freeman (Bruninha 65’), Tierna Davidson, Emily Sonnett, Jess Carter (Jenna Nighswonger 45’), Nealy Martin, Ella Stevens (Lynn Williams 72’), Delanie Sheehan (McCall Zerboni 82’), Rose Lavelle (Cece Kizer 90’), Yazmeen Ryan (Jéssica Silva 90’), Esther 

 

WAS: Aubrey Kingsbury, Casey Krueger, Esme Morgan (Annaïg Bute 105’), Tara McKeown, Paige Metayer (Gabrielle Carle 67’), Hal Hershfelt, Rosemonde Kouassi (Brittany Ratcliffe 89’), Heather Stainbrook (Makenna Morri 67’), Leicy Santos (Lena Silan 79’), Trinity Rodman, Ashley Hatch
 

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