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New York Post
13-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Weary Gotham FC looking to get back into NWSL playoff picture
There's a busy schedule, and then there's what Gotham FC has. 'I don't think there's a team that works harder in this league than Gotham,' owner Carolyn Tisch Blodgett said last weekend. Advertisement Three weeks ago, the team was in Monterrey, Mexico, claiming the inaugural CONCACAF W Champions Cup — an achievement that was celebrated Tuesday night, when the Empire State Building was lit up in Gotham blue. Then it was off to international duty for many of the team's standouts. Then, Gotham (3W-3D-5L) returned to regular-season NWSL play, losing a 2-1 decision to first-place Kansas City on Saturday that dropped them to 10th place in the 14-team league. Advertisement Two more NWSL tilts to try to claw up the standings — starting with Friday night's road game against the Utah Royals (9:30 p.m. Eastern) — and then it's time for a month-plus-long international break that for a sizable chunk of the roster isn't a break at all as they scatter to the corners of the world to play for their national teams. 'Our team knows that if they want it easy, they probably wouldn't have come to Gotham,' Tisch Blodgett said. 'We have high standards. New York, New Jersey has high standards, and players come here because they want to compete with the best.' To that end, five Gotham players soon will depart for the summer's marquee event, the Women's Euro: forward Esther González (Spain), goalie Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany), defender Jess Carter (England), forward Jéssica Silva (Portugal) and the team's newest signing, former Harvard midfielder Josefine Hasbo (Denmark). Forward Gabi Portilho (Brazil) will participate in Copa América. Advertisement Gotham FC owner Carolyn Tisch Blodgett says her squad has 'high standards.' Getty Images And midfielder Rose Lavelle is expected to join back up with the U.S. women's national team for a round of friendlies after returning from an ankle injury last weekend. How about a lull later in the summer? Nope. On Thursday, Gotham announced four extra matches for August through October as they look to defend their W Champions Cup title. Advertisement 'I think people are still understanding the significance of that in the global game,' Tisch Blodgett said of the CONCACAF trophy. 'When we came in as new owners last year, we set a vision to be the first global women's sports franchise, and this is a critical step in that.' Gotham FC coach Juan Carlos Amoros said he believes his team is in a 'good place' despite their recent struggles in NWSL games. EM Dash-Imagn Images But first, of course, the not-so-small matter of working their way back into at least the NWSL's top eight and a playoff spot. Gotham has lost three straight regular-season matches on either side of all their extracurriculars, though head coach Juan Carlos Amoros, typically the optimist, said Thursday, 'I think the team is in a good place.' Still, the stakes against Utah (1W-2D-8L) are heightened with Gotham in desperate need of three points. 'If you're in the bottom of the league, everything counts, every single shot, every single duel. If we don't get it right, we can actually end up even lower, and I think all the girls know that,' Berger said. 'And I think Utah actually have a really good team, and I think they're playing really nice soccer.' Forwards Midge Purce and Ella Stevens did not travel to Utah after getting subbed off due to injuries in the loss to Kansas City.
New York Post
07-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Rose Lavelle's return not enough as Gotham FC falls to Kansas City Current
Rose is back From her ankle boo-boo The rain fell down Advertisement And Gotham did, too. The return of star midfielder Rose Lavelle, meant to spark Gotham during a patchy run of league form, instead provided just a silver lining on a gray and rainy Saturday afternoon during a 2-1 home loss to the Kansas City Current. 5 Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle (16) tries to get past Kansas City Current midfielder Claire Hutton (14) during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium on June 7, 2025. John Jones-Imagn Images Advertisement 5 Gotham FC midfielder Nealy Martin (14) controls the ball as Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga (6) defends during the first half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. John Jones-Imagn Images It was the first appearance for Lavelle — the fan favorite who had been sidelined from Gotham (3W-3D-5L) and the U.S. women's national team following offseason ankle surgery — since Nov. 16. 'All the hard work she's put in with the medical team, the high-performance team, the coaches, has been amazing, but especially her,' Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amorós said this week. 'We can see her finally with her teammates, where she belongs, doing what she loves — which is playing for her team, for Gotham in front of our fans.' The cheers for Lavelle started in the 31st minute when she rose from the substitutes' bench to begin warming up beyond the goal line. Advertisement 5 Kansas City Current forward Michelle Cooper (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. John Jones-Imagn Images At halftime, she shared a hug with Liberty counterpart Breanna Stewart, who joined the crowd at what's now known as Sports Illustrated Stadium for the team's annual Pride match. Lavelle entered in the 74th minute to a sustained round of applause, and wasted little time getting on the ball and showcasing her trademark saucy dribbling. Minutes later, she sent a left-footed shot just wide of the top corner. She also applied the pressure that led to a Current own goal deep into stoppage time. Advertisement The day of mixed emotions ended with the ceremonial presentation of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup, the regional club title Gotham won last month, further underscoring where the team is caught at the moment. 5 NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Margaret Purce (23) is given assistance from the pitch after an injury during the second half against the Kansas City Current at Sports Illustrated Stadium. John Jones-Imagn Images There's another trophy to be proud of and show off, affirming the club's ambitions to be relevant on an international level. At the same time, there's the reality of the standings: Last year's NWSL semifinalists finished the afternoon in ninth place, outside of playoff position, and faced the prospect of sinking as low as 12th (out of 14) by the end of the weekend. They are winless in their past four NWSL matches (0-1-3), a stretch dating back six weeks to an April 26 victory over the Washington Spirit. They have scored just 13 goals in 11 games, despite a wealth of attacking options, and have a goal differential of plus-1. Kansas City (9-0-2) is the best team in the league and quickly showed why. Gotham conceded in the third minute off a giveaway by Emily Sonnett, allowing Temwa Chawinga to spring Michelle Cooper for a quick strike. The visitors doubled their lead in the 11th minute on a blink-of-an-eye move up the right side, this time Chawinga converting off a cross from Cooper. Advertisement 5 NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Geyse (10) moves the ball past Kansas City Current midfielder Claire Hutton (14) during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. John Jones-Imagn Images Gotham twice appeared to have pulled one back in the second half, only for both goals to be disallowed. In the 49th minute, Sonnett headed in Sarah Schupansky's corner kick, but Sonnett was whistled for a foul on the set piece. In the 63rd minute, Esther González was judged to be offside after collecting a loose ball in the box and slotting home what would have been her league-leading eighth goal of the season.
New York Post
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Gotham FC topples UANL Tigres to win first CONCACAF W Champions Cup
MONTERREY, México — Spain international Esther Gonzalez scored a late goal as Gotham FC defeated the UANL Tigres 1-0 on Saturday to win the first edition of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. The 32-year-old striker Gonzalez secured the landmark win with a goal in the 82nd minute for the NWSL team. Earlier, Pietra Tordin, Payton Linnehan, and Olivia Moultrie scored as the Portland Thorns beat Club America 3-0 to secure third place in the tournament. Gotham FC players celebrate after their 1-0 win over UANL Tigres on May 24, 2025 to win the first edition of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. AP Tordin opened the scoring just before half-time, Linnehan added a second in the 52nd and Moultrie sealed the win in the 81st. Gotham FC defeated Club America 3-1 on Wednesday to advance to the final, while Tigres, who lost in the Mexican Clausura quarterfinals, defeated the Portland Thorns 2-0 in their semifinal. The W Champions Cup is the region's annual women's club championship and will serve as the qualification event for the FIFA Women's Champions Cup, which launches next year.
San Francisco Chronicle
25-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Gotham FC defeats the UANL Tigres to become the first CONCACAF W Champions Cup winner
MONTERREY, México (AP) — Spain international Esther Gonzalez scored a late goal as Gotham FC defeated the UANL Tigres 1-0 on Saturday to win the first edition of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. The 32-year-old striker Gonzalez secured the landmark win with a goal in the 82nd minute for the NWSL team. Earlier, Pietra Tordin, Payton Linnehan, and Olivia Moultrie scored as the Portland Thorns beat Club America 3-0 to secure third place in the tournament. Tordin opened the scoring just before half-time, Linnehan added a second in the 52nd and Moultrie sealed the win in the 81st. Gotham FC defeated Club America 3-1 on Wednesday to advance to the final, while Tigres, who lost in the Mexican Clausura quarterfinals, defeated the Portland Thorns 2-0 in their semifinal. The W Champions Cup is the region's annual women's club championship and will serve as the qualification event for the FIFA Women's Champions Cup, which launches next year.
25-05-2025
- Sport
Gotham FC defeats the UANL Tigres to become the first CONCACAF W Champions Cup winner
MONTERREY, México -- Spain international Esther Gonzalez scored a late goal as Gotham FC defeated the UANL Tigres 1-0 on Saturday to win the first edition of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. The 32-year-old striker Gonzalez secured the landmark win with a goal in the 82nd minute for the NWSL team. Earlier, Pietra Tordin, Payton Linnehan, and Olivia Moultrie scored as the Portland Thorns beat Club America 3-0 to secure third place in the tournament. Tordin opened the scoring just before half-time, Linnehan added a second in the 52nd and Moultrie sealed the win in the 81st. Gotham FC defeated Club America 3-1 on Wednesday to advance to the final, while Tigres, who lost in the Mexican Clausura quarterfinals, defeated the Portland Thorns 2-0 in their semifinal. The W Champions Cup is the region's annual women's club championship and will serve as the qualification event for the FIFA Women's Champions Cup, which launches next year.
