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Recap: Gotham FC Clinches Playoff Spot with Draw vs. Racing Louisville |
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Late game magic from Rose Lavelle salvaged a critical point for Gotham FC on Sunday at Sports Illustrated Stadium, helping the home team rally to a 2-2 draw against Racing Louisville and clinch a spot in the NWSL Playoffs for the third consecutive year. Gotham FC’s position in the postseason’s knockout bracket will be determined on the NWSL’s Nov. 2 Decision Day – when 12 of the league’s 14 teams play at 3 p.m. and the last two play at 5 p.m. Coach Juan Carlos Amorós’s team could place anywhere from third to eighth. “Making it to the playoffs is a must,” Amorós said. “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. … It’s been a tough year with injuries, but the team showed incredible effort, and I’m super proud of them.” Gotham FC (9-7-9, 36 points) entered Sunday’s match knowing a draw or win would clinch a postseason berth after results elsewhere only impacted the team’s place in the standings as opposed to entirely knocking out ninth-place North Carolina. The team’s play reflected that urgency, generating 1.54 expected goals from 17 shots, including seven on target. Gotham twice hit the woodwork, and Racing goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer made five saves. Jaelin Howell’s well-struck right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area put Gotham FC in front after just 14 minutes, capping a flurry of early pressure from the hosts with a curling effort in off the post. Then Midge Purce’s drive from 10 yards out smacked off the crossbar in the 20th minute, nearly putting Gotham up 2-0. But Racing (9-9-7, 34 points) clawed a goal back in the 29th minute when Janine Sonis’s shot took a deflection to beat Gotham goalkeeper Shelby Hogan, who appeared in position to safely parry the effort. Sarah Weber added the second Louisville goal in the 65th minute. That teed up Lavelle’s big moment, with her left-footed curling shot from 20 yards out narrowly beating Bloomer to the near post. Now Gotham FC will close out the 2025 NWSL regular season on the road at North Carolina, facing the Courage on Sunday, Nov. 2, with the chance to claim a home playoff game with a top-four finish. Key Match Points
Gotham FC vs. Racing Louisville FC Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025 3 p.m. ET kickoff Sports Illustrated Stadium; Harrison, New Jersey Attendance: 11,219 Weather: 73 degrees, partly cloudy Gotham FC (1, 1 – 2) Racing Louisville FC (1, 1 – 2) Scoring Summary Gotham FC 15’ - Jaelin Howell 85’ - Rose Lavelle Racing Louisville FC 29’ - Janine Sonis (Emma Sears) 65’- Sarah Weber Gotham FC (4-3-3): 1 – Shelby Hogan (GK); 3 – Bruninha (65’ 22 – Mandy Freeman), 6 – Emily Sonnett, 27 – Jess Carter (82’ 19 – Kayla Duran), 4 – Lilly Reale (82’ 18 – Gabi Portilho); 7 – Jaelin Howell, 16 – Rose Lavelle (C), 5 – Josefine Hasbo (74’ 11 – Sarah Schupansky); 23 – Midge Purce, 28 – Katie Stengel, 2 – Jaedyn Shaw Unused substitutes: 12 – Ryan Campbell (GK); 21 – Sofia Cook, 34 – Khyah Harper Head coach: Juan Carlos Amorós Racing Louisville FC (4-3-3): 24 – Jordyn Bloomer (GK); 2 – Lauren Milliet, 5 – Ellie Jean, 3 – Arin Wright (C), 16 – Janine Sonis; 26 – Taylor Flint, 8 – Ary Borges, 20 – Katie O’Kane (72’ 14 – Marisa DiGrande); 13 – Emma Sears, 42 – Sarah Weber, 6 – Ella Hase (63’ 9 – Kayla Fischer) Unused substitutes: 1 – Katie Lund (GK), 77 – Madison White (GK); 11 – Courtney Petersen, 12 – Allie George, 17 – Maddie Pokorny, 32 – Avery Kalitta, 88 – Bethany Balcer Head coach: Bev Yanez Stats Summary GFC / LOU Expected Goals: 1.54 / 0.72 Shots: 17 / 9 Shots on Goal: 7 / 3 Saves: 1 / 5 Corners: 7 / 3 Fouls: 9 / 11 Offside: 1 / 2 Misconduct Summary Gotham FC 53’ - Bruninha (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul) 67’ - Emily Sonnett (Yellow Card - Dissent) Racing Louisville FC 84’ - Taylor Flint (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul) Officials Referee: Alexandra Billeter Assistant Referee 1: Matt Trotter Assistant Referee 2: Nicholas Seymour 4th Official: Justen Lopez VAR: Jamie Padilla AVAR: Brian Marshall Key Quotes HEAD COACH JUAN CARLOS AMORÓS On Gotham clinching a playoff spot
Happy with that, with the final part. Making it to the playoffs is a must. Being Gotham Football Club in such a difficult league, especially over the last three years, demonstrates consistency. I want to give a lot of credit to the players and staff for their effort throughout the year. They’ve had to fight against many challenges, especially with midweek games and missing key players. Today, they showed resilience. The team deserved to win. The goalkeeper punished us at times, and we made a few mistakes we need to correct. But the fans, Rose [Lavelle] and Kayla [Duran] coming on as a nine all contributed. It’s been a tough year with injuries, but the team showed incredible effort, and I’m super proud of them.
MIDFIELDER ROSE LAVELLE On clinching playoffs
Excited to clinch playoffs. It’s not an easy thing to do in this league — there’s so much parity and every game is really hard. So, I’m excited to clinch playoffs. That said, I’m definitely disappointed to come away with a tie. I think it’s a game [that] we controlled a lot of but didn’t finish our chances and let them capitalize on theirs. It’s a little bittersweet — [I’m] excited about playoffs, but we know we can do better.
MIDFIELDER JAELIN HOWELL On her goal
I thought we were possessing well in our attacking half. Anytime Jaedyn Shaw is on the ball, she can thread passes and draw so many defenders. When I saw her on top of the box with the ball, I wanted to put myself in a position to shoot — and they’ve been falling for me recently, so I thought, why not? I’m just going to shoot it. It was good team play up until that point, so I was happy to get that one.
FORWARD MIDGE PURCE On halftime adjustments
We were just looking at some of the film and where the space was, and I think I could have done a little more double movement in the first half to get in behind. I was just trying to get in behind a little too early — a bit trigger happy with that. So it was about creating more space for myself.
DEFENDER LILLY REALE On staying grounded
I think as you climb up the ranks and into professional sports, it gets really stressful. Even in college, things are higher stakes — there’s more viewership and more pressure. Coming back to the reasons you play, finding that fun, and keeping it with you throughout everything is important. As you get into your professional career, it gets hard sometimes because there are always players competing for your spot. But really finding the joy in soccer is something that grounds me as I’m playing.
MIDFIELDER JAEDYN SHAW On CONCACAF W Champions Cup vs. playoffs pressure
I think we treat every game equally. We go into every match wanting to get three points. Regardless of who’s on the field, we know [they are] going to get the job done. It’s about making sure we’re all locked in, [that we know] our roles, and [are] ready for whenever our names are called. |