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Recap: Gotham FC Shocks Top-Seeded Kansas City to Reach NWSL Semifinals |
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Katie Stengel’s dramatic game-winner in the final minute of extra time lifted Gotham FC past top-seeded Kansas City 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the NWSL Playoffs, presented by Google Pixel, producing one of the biggest upsets in league postseason history. The victory advanced Gotham FC to the semifinals to take on the reigning NWSL champion Orlando Pride at Inter&Co Stadium in Florida, with the kickoff set for 3 p.m. ET Sunday and ABC carrying the national broadcast. “We really showed the best version of ourselves – the one that we know is us,” said Gotham FC coach Juan Carlos Amorós. “Everyone wrote us off before we even played the game that it was a fact that Gotham was going home. We knew internally that the spirit, the quality that these players have, the vision ownership has, the work the staff does behind the scenes – that said something different.” Sunday’s game brought back familiar feelings for Gotham FC, which, as the lowest seed in the 2023 bracket, upset the top-seeded Portland Thorns en route to winning the NWSL Championship, the first trophy in club history. This time, Gotham FC was playing the most successful team in NWSL regular season history. Kansas City produced multiple league records en route to a dominant 21-3-2 record, including no home losses at CPKC Stadium. Until Sunday. Gotham looked the stronger team throughout the contest, though Kansas City’s Ally Sentnor came the closest to scoring in the first half, hitting a long-range effort that required a world-class fingertip save from Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. Halfway through the second half, Jaedyn Shaw provided the breakthrough for the visitors, collecting a lofted Emily Sonnett pass, turning past a defender and then holding her off before sliding home a low right-footed finish to take the lead in the 68th minute. The 20-year-old Shaw scored her first career playoff goal on Sonnett’s first career playoff assist, and it looked as though it would stand as the winner. Deep into stoppage time, Kansas City’s Ellie Wheeler snuck a curling shot just inside the near post to level the game with only two minutes remaining in the expected added time, extending a riveting match at CPKC Stadium for 30 more minutes. But in the second half of extra time, the substitute Stengel – who scored the game-winner in the 2023 upset of Portland – once again delivered the knockout blow against a top seed, battering in a close-range shot off the crossbar from Shaw’s assist. “Relieved – oh, thank god,” Stengel said. “It was a big, long game, but it was the best we’ve played all season long that I’ve seen. Everyone was working well together. To go through such a high, then such a low, it was nice that we ended how we deserved.” Key Match Points
Gotham FC at Kansas City Current Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025 12:30 p.m. ET kickoff CPKC Stadium; Kansas City, Missouri Attendance: 11,500 Weather: 31 degrees, blustery Gotham FC (0, 1, 0, 1 – 2) Kansas City Current (0, 1, 0 , 0 – 1) Scoring Summary Gotham FC 68’ - Jaedyn Shaw (Emily Sonnett) 120+1’ - Katie Stengel (Jaedyn Shaw) Kansas City Current 90+6’ - Ellie Wheeler (Lo’eau LaBonta) Gotham FC (4-3-3): 30 – Ann-Katrin Berger (GK); 3 – Bruninha (103’ 5 — Josefine Hasbo), 6 – Emily Sonnett, 27 – Jess Carter, 4 – Lilly Reale; 7 – Jaelin Howell, 11 – Sarah Schupansky (90’ 19 — Kayla Duran), 16 – Rose Lavelle (C); 23 – Midge Purce, 2 – Jaedyn Shaw, 18 – Gabi Portilho (90+4’ 28 — Katie Stengel) Unused substitutes: 1 – Shelby Hogan (GK); 9 – Esther González, 13 – Ella Stevens, 21 – Sofia Cook, 22 – Mandy Freeman, 34 – Khyah Harper Head coach: Juan Carlos Amorós Kansas City Current (4-3-3): 23 – Lorena (GK); 4 – Hailie Mace, 7 – Elizabeth Ball (72’ 5 – Ellie Wheeler), 27 – Kayla Sharples, 18 – Izzy Rodriguez; 10 – Lo’eau LaBonta (C), 21 – Ally Sentnor, 14 – Claire Hutton; 8 – Nichelle Prince (68’ 13 – Haley Hopkins), 9 – Bia Zaneratto (114’ 22 — Bailey Feist) , 99 – Debinha (85’ 47 – Alex Pfeiffer) Unused substitutes: 81 – Laurel Ivory (GK); 2 – Regan Steigleder, 11 – Rocky Rodriguez, 19 – Mary Long, 24 – Gabrielle Robinson Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski Stats Summary GFC / KC Expected Goals: 0.86 / 1.17 Shots: 15 / 16 Shots on Goal: 5 / 8 Saves: 7 / 3 Corners: 2 / 4 Fouls: 15 / 15 Offside: 2 / 2 Misconduct Summary Gotham FC 90+10’ - Emily Sonnett (Yellow Card - Reckless Offense) 120+2’ - Jaedyn Shaw (Yellow Card - Reckless Offense) Kansas City Current 81’ - Bia Zaneratto (Yellow Card - Reckless Offense) 94’ - Haley Hopkins (Yellow Card - Reckless Offense) Officials Referee: Elijio Arreguin Assistant Referee 1: A. Max Smith Assistant Referee 2: Jeremy Smith 4th Official: Gerald Flores VAR: Greg Dopka AVAR: Tom Felice Key Quotes HEAD COACH JUAN CARLOS AMORÓS On the importance of Emily Sonnett’s leadership
From the game and the family today, I thought it was the kind of performance you could show in academies for young girls or boys – to see how she defended, balanced the team, knew when to shift, when to step up, stayed calm on the ball and changed tempo. She was excellent.
Even at the end, she felt we could have the upper hand and started going forward, helping create overloads out wide. She was outstanding. The way she cares about this team is incredible. She’s been our iron woman, even though she missed a few minutes. She broke the club record for most minutes played in a regular season – and it’s completely deserved. Her performance today was unbelievable.
Defensively, everyone worked incredibly hard, but she, Jess [Carter], Jaedyn, and Ann were unbelievable. The way we play leaves them very exposed at times, but they handled it so well. I’m very happy with Emily and her unit – if we can call it that. MIDFIELDER JAEDYN SHAW On the message after the end of regulation heading into extra time
I think we’ve been in that position before. We really came together in that moment, and we knew we could come out of this game with a win. That belief was shared across the entire team – from the bench to the field, top to bottom – we all knew we could win this game.
The table doesn’t show how good of a team this is. We’re not an eighth-place team. And I’m sorry, but underdog my ass – we are not an underdog. We came into this game knowing people thought we were, that we were just the last seed that barely made it into the playoffs. That’s not who we are.
We’re going to continue to grow as a team, and like I said earlier, this is only the beginning. FORWARD KATIE STENGEL On the feelings after today’s match
Relieved. Oh, thank God. It was a big, long game, and I think it was the best we’ve played all season. Everyone was working well together, and things were coming off.
To go through such a high and then such a low, it was nice that we finally ended how we deserved. |