Gotham FC Advances to Semifinals of NWSL Playoffs with Last-Minute Goal
Harrison, N.J. – In a thrilling quarterfinal match, Rose Lavelle netted a stoppage-time goal, leading Gotham FC to a 2-1 victory over the Portland Thorns on Sunday. This win secures Gotham’s spot in the semifinals of the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs, where they will face the second-seeded Washington Spirit next weekend, who triumphed over Bay FC 2-1 in their own quarterfinal clash earlier in the day.
This game marked a significant moment in the career of Thorns forward Christine Sinclair, who played her final match after dedicating 12 seasons to the club. The contest attracted a club-record crowd of 15,540 fans at Red Bull Arena. Gotham FC concluded the regular season as the third seed with an impressive record of 17 wins, 4 losses, and 5 draws, while the Thorns managed to secure the eighth and final playoff spot, despite struggling throughout the latter part of the season.
The excitement began early on as Portland’s Sophia Smith thought she had scored in the 43rd minute, but her goal was disallowed due to an offside call. The second half saw a lengthy video review to assess a potential handball by Portland’s defender Becky Sauerbrunn in the box that could have resulted in a penalty for Gotham, but ultimately, the call went in favor of the Thorns.
In the 67th minute, Tierna Davidson made her mark by scoring her first goal of the season, granting Gotham a 1-0 lead from a free kick set up by Lavelle. However, the Thorns equalized shortly after when rookie Reilyn Turner scored with a well-placed header from a set piece in the 75th minute. Morgan Weaver nearly put Portland ahead, but her effort hit the post before Lavelle struck again, scoring the decisive goal seven minutes into stoppage time. “It’s always nice to score in stoppage time so you don’t have to go into overtime,” Lavelle commented after the match.
Sinclair, who is 41 years old, has been a cornerstone of the Thorns since the NWSL’s inception in 2013 and has played a pivotal role in the team’s championship victories in 2013, 2017, and 2022. With a remarkable total of 65 regular-season goals, she holds the club record and ranks third all-time in the league. Last year, Sinclair retired from the Canadian national team, leaving behind a legacy as international soccer’s all-time leading scorer with 190 goals, the highest for both men and women.
In the other semifinal match, the top-seeded Orlando Pride, who also won the Shield, will take on the Kansas City Current next weekend. The much-anticipated NWSL championship is set to take place on November 23 at Kansas City’s CPKC Stadium.