It was a Gotham golazo that helped the NWSL club secure its spot in the postseason on Sunday with a 2-2 draw against Louisville FC.
Gotham star Rose Lavelle scored off a free kick in the 85th minute from 22 yards out that sailed into the corner of the net for the equalizing goal to guarantee her team’s third consecutive trip to the playoffs.
“With the set piece, it was a matter of waiting to see where the wall set up and where the keeper stood. It felt like we were going to get one — it wasn’t a matter of if, but when. We wish we could have gotten a third, and that’s something we’ll keep working on in training, making sure we’re clinical. It starts there,” Lavelle said.
There is still one final week remaining in the NWSL season before the playoffs begin and Gotham has a chance to lock up a top-four finish, which allows them to host in the first round.
Gotham is currently seventh in the standings.
The club is just two years removed from winning the NWSL title in 2023 and is in the midst of the most successful run in Gotham FC’s history.
Before their championship in 2023, Gotham had made the postseason just twice previously in 2013 and 2021.
“Making it to the playoffs is a must,“ Gotham FC coach Juan Carlos Amorós said. “Being Gotham Football Club in such a difficult league, especially over the last three years, shows consistency. I want to give a lot of credit to the players and staff for their effort all year. They’ve had to fight against so many challenges, especially with midweek games and missing key players. Today, they showed resilience. The team deserved to win.”
The NWSL playoffs begin on Nov. 7 and Gotham will play its final regular-season match of the year on Nov. 2 against NC Courage.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
