The team that went from worst to first now takes on the three time NWSL Champs in the Thorns. Thorns are of course minus Menges out of Garden City & facing Dunn of RVC, but still full of great players. 2022 v 2023 NWSL Champs, last such matchup by Gotham facing the Supporters Shield winners in San Diego was a 1-0 loss at RBA. Here, the score line of the semi last year with Gotham topping the Thorns to go on to the final.
Gotham with the first throw in their offensive third. Very high and Esther hits the side netting. Crystal with a hopeful go on goal, it sails into the hands of the GK. Sonnett loses a challenge wins the ball but not the physical contact. Smith is sprung, 1v 1 she tucks it away but offside is the call as she was as the replay shows, off. A lead ball by Gotham is lost. The clearance blocked out of play for a Thorns throw. Sonnett beats a pair, now it’s sent forward but out of touch. Toward the endline for Smith she wins a throw, it goes into the other half. Dunn wins a challenge and is held, no call. Smith again, plays across the box a player is sent down and no call it was a potential PK from O’Hara. Miller goes hockey style with a kick save on Smith, how dangerous is she already? The corner taken short, it goes in and is over the endline. Purce is down grasping at her knee. Coffey, in clearing the ball had her follow through get the inside of the knee of Midge, it is now being manipulated by the training staff. Ryan, a past Thorns player is up. Purce is up and lots of applause. Seems the whole of Portland came over to encourage Midge. Esther brings it down off her chest and lays it off, then gets on her bike it is at the GK. Purce is back. Smith goes endline but it is cleared, and come right back from the top of the area, Weaver lets one go. Dunn fouls Reyes deep and a dangerous DFK coming, halfway between the touchline and side of the area at about 15 yards. Top of the 6, Nighswonger knocks it down and Purce again is down and a card to Reyes, who took the worst of the impact. She had a chance on a first time shot, passes I away, another lead ball to a Gotham player is not shot as well. Weaver whistled and the crowd reacts. Dunn loses it at half field. Hiatt plays the ball over the touchline after a slide tackle by O’Hara. Purce showing no ill effects from the recent hits glides inside and gets off a great near post shot, well handled by the GK. Sonnett strong and a ball in, is sent right back out by the Gotham defense. Portland beats O’Hara and sends a lofted ball in the GK grabs it no problem. Gotham with their first corner as it goes away, Purce called for a yellow. Smith straight up facing her mark, lest a bullet go to the near post but just off frame. Reyes more of a shot than her intended pass drifts on the GK. Smith gets mugged. Another Portland corner gets cleared to the bottom of the circle and Purce is down again that hurt, she is saying agani and again “I’m Out”, was a rather unusual tumble. Ryan in for Purce in extra time of this first half. Great header, bound for the back of the net, O’Hara keeps it out of the back of the net. Beckie sends it in, Hiatt urns it away and Gotham have a deep throw near their goal.
An amazing shot and goal by Smith called back as it as deemed offside. Sinclair brings the crowd to its feet as she enters the game. Bruninha in for O’Hara. Stengel takes out Dunn. Ryan wins a throw, the newly installed Brazilian international, takes it, but Brunhina is too far forward. Sinclair with an immediate impact a she plays it into a dangerous position in the 6, but behind her player just a tad. Brunhina for Ryan into the 6 for a wide open Esther, she sends it home. Esther held in an area between 4 players, yet she was left alone and dispatches the ball, inside of her foot, not overpowering it and nice as you can be nets one in her league opener. A very basic play, get it down the line into the 6, goal. Sonnett gets a loose ball and Miller again with a kick save and a beaut. The Gotham ‘keeper holds the ball a bit at her feet only to then play it rushed out over the touchline. Smith fouled and though far it will be played into a dangerous position in the area. Gotham knocks it down then cleared out to the circle by Portland, Fleming replaced. After some great passing then a shot by Ryan is blocked Stengel gets carded for a challenge on Smith, the 3rd caution issued to those involved with Smith have received. Sonnett also carded. Moultrie moves forward, gets the ball as her mark backs up and Portland has a long possession. Quick restart off a foul by Stengel, Thorns ready, Miller steps up gets it as Smith has a shot partially blocked, all set up by the quick thinking of Coffey. Weaver down again for the second time in minutes. Smith then sends a frozen rope goalward, parried over the bar by the ‘keeper. First corner of this half, and it was taken short leading to a Portland throw. Soft foul blown on Sonnett and she gets a talking to. Dangerous just beyond the corner of the area by Moultrie. 10’ extra time as Torres takes out Esther. Stengel on a run, goes straight into a defender, wants a call, she should get called for not playing it away. Sinclair called for a foul well into the offensive third. Smith fouled and card # 4 issued as she has suffered this her 6th foul, I would take those to get 2/3 of the time a player cautioned. Moultrie to the corner of the 6 and defended over the endline. Back in to SInclair it is taken on the ground by the ‘keeper, who could not hold it a knee height. Again to Miller, she lays on it and the crowd reacts, it is the typical play made so late in the game.