Gotham at Spirit NWSL Semis from Audi Field
Both teams as is the case throughout the NWSL are dotted by international players, Gotham of course famously acquired a handful of them during the offseason at one time. Gotham features from the US Sonnett, Davidson, Ryan, Lavelle, Silva, Nighswonger, Williams and past players, such as Zerboni, Brazil’s Bruninha Germany ‘keeper Berger Lioness Carter and of course Spain’s Esther. The Spirit feature from the USWNT Krueger, Rodman, Hatch and a cast of others, including Santos of Colombia. Gotham, the reigning champions became a bit of a Super Club, with the aforementioned US players, the German GK, Lioness and others, how Coach has been able to meld all these top players into one cohesive unit is astounding, given there is but one ball. Both teams feature head coaches out of Spain, a top international team in WOSO. It has just been stated that the stadium is sold out, in just 72 hours.
Freeman and her mark both go to ground upon her hard tackle no call. Esther in less than a minute wins a tackle, releases the steal from Hershfelt and goes just off the crossbar. Long ball for Rodman despite her speed, too long. Gotham work it out of the back, now to the endline, lost just outside the area. Gotham, swarming in their defense take their time getting forward out of the back. With a double team at the touchline, Gotham win a throw. Again a ball to Trinity is just off. Gotham steal and get a number of passes together, Ryan to the area lays it back its back to her and her ball through the area. Ryan way wide on a distant shot. Lavelle with a strong tackle upends the GK, they always get better protected than do field players, though I think this would have been called at midfield as well. Esther has her shot blocked at the top of the area. Gotham recover, Stevens picked out by Carter on a crossing ball, she did not miss by much. Just 8’ in and Gotham are getting forward well. Esther quick spin and shot off a misplay by the defender as the ball bounded off her heel. Double save by Berger off a quick release and Rodman with a great pass. Lavelle down losing a challenge, into the area and again Berger comes up big, this on a low pass Kouassi making a menace out of herself already. The corner wasted as it stays low and gets behind the goal. She holds Carter and gets called for it her arm was around the leg of the defender. It has just been brought up that the Spirit have caused half the losses of Gotham on the year. Carter suffers a hard foul, her arm grabbed and she was ridden out of play. Ryan into the area it gets to Sonnett but was just a step or two ahead of her. At 15’ in, they mention the term “Super Team”. Carter, fouled hard twice, now trips from the ground from behind and gets called for the play on Kouassi, a bit early for a physical player to get carded as she is up against a great one. Hatch blocks a clearance it gets to Kouassi, her low shot no issue for Berger. Martin goes through Hatch near the touch line just beyond the top of the area, 20 yards? Into the area poorly boxed out by Berger into the area, a defender sends it out of touch. Ryan pressures the GK off a soft back pass, Gotham throw. Berger is down, working her left quad, back of knee. Again first commercial with Sue Bird, a part owner of Gotham out of my hometown of Syosset. As she is up now, the camera pans around, hard to get a full screen without an international player in it. Sheehan cautioned for a tackle on Santos from behind, she spun her to the floor at 23’. Into the area goes the ball and it is skied, as player leans back to shoot. Ryan fed by Carter she loses a pair, then in the area it is played out again. Carter draws a foul, the Spirit coach is smiling ear to ear but the right call on Kouassi. I see no foul as does one of the talking heads, no hard shoulder, foot contact and the other player went down at the endline in the area denying Lavelle the time to play the ball off. Spirit corner at 29’, Berger moves her players about Stainbrook tries to take the kick beyond the corner arc, again it is behind the goal, is she not gauging the wind, just looking to go near post or trying for an Olympico? Ryan to Esther to Stevens, a nutmeng and she is on goal, but a bit too close off the defender and to the GK. Ryan for Rose to Esther the GK takes it off her foot and now the Spirit get forward. A first time shot, though not so easy by Esther may have been the move as the GK advanced. Rose with a fake a turn and pass springs Ryan, she loses it out of touch. Hatch gets a call. Over the top for Rodman she draws a pair but a late offside call. Morgan called for a foul and not happy about it. Ryan to take it. Her last one got to Sonnett near the goal . This one just into the area played out and then tackled away for a Spirit throw, now Gotham has one. Some great ball movement by Gotham near the area, they get on goal, it gets rejected. Spirit pressure, Gotham beat it but lost a ball over the top. Stevens called for a foul. Trinity for Casey Carter suffers a hard foul and it is coming out, Jess is up and smiling. I have no idea why Berger takes the kick, she was down earlier. The crowd is loud with their “Let’s go Spirit” chant. Sonnett blocks a go on goal but it was offside, Kouassi is still at it. Lead ball to Rodman played out by Freeman for a corner. A quick shot is wide by the home team from the corner. Morgan in a discussion with the center over a whistle. Sonnett for Ryan, she beats two the third nothing doing. Again Ryan and a corner given up by Krueger. Ryan over the ball as the first half winds down. Her try is played out at the edge of the 6. Sheehan beyond all players and a goal kick coming, there are 2’ stoppage time. Hatch spins Sonnett to the ground as she grabs her midsection and turns her. Emily with the restart. Neither team should be concerned as both failed to score in the first half of the last game it is stated.
Second half opens with a decent shot by Kouassi but handled no issue by Berger. Freeman on a yellow and Kouassi both go down the Spirit player remains down, her Gotham counterpart seems a bit off. This coming just 2’ into the 2nd stanza could be very telling. The leg of Freeman was caught between both of Kouassi but each seem well enough to continue. Now off the field Kouassi keeps getting attention. Lavelle sends the restart to the top of the area and it is played away. Nighswonger is now on and easy to watch as her left back position is at the very bottom of the screen. Ella beats her defender it crosses the goalmouth. Lavelle runs it down looking for Esther the Spirit get it and then lose it at the bottom of the circle near the far touchline,. Spirit take it back. But go too long, a deep Gotham throw, just ten yards off their own endline. Hatch wins a throw despite being double teamed. Headed out by Jenna to Shields who is then taken down. Ryan wins a tackle, leads a ball, but well too far goal kick. Kouassi takes a ball over, given too much space carries a good 20 yards into the area and then it’s played out. Kouassi for Santos a high shot picked out of the air by Berger. Rodman and Nighswonger on the wing, Trinity wins a throw very deep. Hatch whistled, the crowd boos, she smiles. Great ball in then to Esther she gets high and sends it home off her head at 56’, the Gotham faithful are going batty. Lavelle sprung Ryan down the line, then lofted in for Esther and she made no mistake. Rodman puts Jenna down then makes a show of carding to the AR. Berger again with a big kick coming. Sonnett misplays a ball crowd and Spirit players calling for a handball, she lays it back to the GK. Though not intentional, it was a handball, the hand off the body. Lavelle with the restart just into her defensive half. A partially blocked shot by Santos and a heavy touch by the attacking player allows Berger to get to it first. Freeman down but walking around well now that she is up. Stevens down the line has it tackle away it gather up by a trailing teammate, she regains and loses it at the endline. Krueger and Esther battle for the ball, Spirit get the call. Berger cuts back on a forward and gets away with it in her area. Stevens offside. Bruninha for the injured Freeman. Spirit press and relief comes as it goes to Berger. Rodman loses her concentration for a second and they were getting forward, now a throw in going the other way. Spirit press, Jenna with a partial clear that is taken away. Hatch counts how many fouls she has suffered as she is again put to the ground. Morris is in for Stainbrook, rook for rook. DFK from below the center circle gets to Berger well off her line, the crowd counts to 13 as she has it. Ryan called for a close offside but got it off to the goal. Rose just misses on as it is take late by the GK and she rushed her, the deflection just wide. Forget RESPECT, Kouassi given far too much space, her go on the far post was all but fully open. Berger grabs a crossing ball then goes to ground, a bit early for this and hears it from the crowd. Stevens has a chat with the ref, seems he gave her the ok to step off for treatment, she heads to the touchline by the team, cannot see if she stepped off but the Spirit skipper is getting loud. Bruninha puts Kouassi to the ground, she had her hand up on the touchline and the Spirit player went down, caution issued. Stevens is now out for Williams, Gotham wants the win, not trying to park the bus. Santos dances around the ball, defender does not commit it goes off her heel and out. Hatch makes a run into the 6, her pass, defended out for a corner. Sonnett beat on her first try makes the sliding stop with a great 2nd effort. Some great first touch soccer then Williams has her pass go too far, Gotham holds. Williams a top goal getter in the NWSL is 3rd in post season tallies, so yes, they are still going for it. Gotham has 12 as Washington has 11 2nd half goals, good for places #1 & 2. Kouassi outpaces Bruninha then Martin, her shot blocked, this as she carried the ball. Santos for Rodman then just shy of Hatch in the area. Berger again down holding the back of her knee, she had dove out for the last ball. Carle with a hard foul in the area of Gotham DFK coming and here comes Zerboni for Sheehan, here is a sub of a more attacking player for one of less but far more physical and oh yes a past member of the USWNT. What an unreal bench for Gotham. Davidson stands strong and plays Kouassi out for a corner. The past coach of the Barca women’s side is again acting out. Great effort by Berger as she punches one away. A trio are down now, one ran into Lavelle taking both down and Kouassi was already down, DFK, Spirit. Headed down and cleared out by Gotham. Rodman takes Bruninha inside beats her, the distant shot blocked. Williams finds Ryan with space, goes to shoot, blocked and Spirit have it then go back 30 yards. Nighswonger with the ball slows down to draw contact gets a bit, goes to ground no call. Hatch with a rocket through the area. Miscommunication with Gotham a player runs down the ball, you can hear coach telling her not to do so. Kouassi out, I leave her in as she has been dangerous all game, lose season is over, leave her out there. Looking for Ratcliffe, Berger gets it, lays on it for a second. Wow 7’ of stoppage time as Williams has her try go high and wide of the goal. Ratcliffe sends one goal ward but wide. Nighswonger puts the player down as she holds both shoulder. DFK feet from the area 6 yards off the endline. A professional foul but very far forward and in a dangerous position. She picks out the head of Hersfelt it is tied, now it is gut check tie, last week Rose got one in extra time to put them through, who will step up from which team today? You must make teams pay for their mistakes, exactly what transpired her. Rodman well beyond the area as Hatch was taken down earlier but play on was called. She is up, but bent over holding her midsection, maybe her arm to her side? A corner is just over the bar, hitting the netting atop the goal. There has been a massive shift in momentum here. Rodman down holding her head, due to injury or frustration or injury elsewhere? A pair of 15’ periods to come.
Gotham must get back on track, they have been on the back foot for some time. Spirit finally got their restarts working with a goal and a near goal very late in regulation.
Kizer and Silva in for Gotham, Ryan and Lavelle off. Silva cannot get around Krueger as US stops Portugal. Silva fouls Krueger. Silva, on but 3’ has a pair of outside of the foot flicks to her credit. Sonnett called for a hard tackle. Rodman with a rip from just beyond the 18, covered up well by Berger. Krueger gets a card. Rodman found open and then Hatch, going for placement and leans a bit back, poor follow through, skies one. Berger down again. She did get a paw to the ball for a corner, Berger, the GK is up now and replacing her gloves, corner Spirit. Bruninha now cautioned, it is her 2nd, out with 2’ of stoppage time. Berger goes up has contact, now holding the back of her head, struck by Hatch with her shoulder. Checking her for a ruptured eardrum, now concussion checks, she remains on the field. Hatch plays the ball into the area, gets a corner off the defender, she hit it rather hard. Morris to the far end of the 6, Ratcliffe has her shot blocked from the top of the area. First OT, over.
Gotham has an uphill battle, down a player and not having much of the ball over the last hour or so. Spirit take your time, find your spots, Gotham has plenty of offensive firepower do not get too far forward.
Gotham no stranger to a big game and down a player, in last year’s final, the GK sent off had the memorable Nealy Martin in goal, they won, will this happen again? Three times into the area and finally cleared by Gotham. Hatch from Krueger, so well positioned was Berger all she had to do was get low and had the header readily in her hands. I would think Washington is pushing to win more as they have the player advantage, not that Gotham will go into a defensive mode. Krueger bests Silva on the endline, winning a goal kick. Kizer with great D, leads to goal kick. The fresh legs of Silva allow her to catch a lead ball, now to Esther, too far wide. Silva for Esther, she wants the corner and the ref does indicate it is just that. Esther meets it and not this time, a tremendous save thwarts her. Another corner, Sonnett gets on the end of it then, a card to Zerboni at 116’. Sonnett now in the defensive end clears one out for a throw, Nighswonger clears and back in again, Rodman hits the side netting. Esther clears it out at 119’. We are going to PKs.
I would give the edge in net to Berger, though banged up. First up to the spot is Hatch, left off the Olympic squad she has something to prove facing the German GK who took Bronze. She goes right, as does Berger, her one hand not enough to keep it out as the shot was a bit higher as well. Gotham send Esther, the goal getter for Gotham, poorly taken as she tried left, but did not get it far left enough, the same way the GK went and even hopped that way twice. They say if the GK makes one save, they have done their job. Now Solano for the home side she goes right the GK left 2-0 Spirit. To pull one back now Gotham goes with Zerboni, the veteran defender so focused. Goes left, as does the GK, again maybe 1/3 of the way to that side. Spirit player, McKewon gets it past her going left, if Gotham does not get one it is over. Jenna the Rookie of the Year has lots of pressure on her now. Why are all going left, not getting them far enough? Forget the scouting report, she had stopped all others. A trio of international players make the same mistake, it makes no sense to me. Gotham did not play well enough for long enough to deserve the win, never more clear than during the spot kicks. The Spirit owner is on the field giving out hugs.
Gotham at Spirit NWSL Semis from Audi Field
Both teams as is the case throughout the NWSL are dotted by international players, Gotham of course famously acquired a handful of them during the offseason at one time. Gotham features from the US Sonnett, Davidson, Ryan, Lavelle, Silva, Nighswonger, Williams and past players, such as Zerboni, Brazil’s Bruninha Germany ‘keeper Berger Lioness Carter and of course Spain’s Esther. The Spirit feature from the USWNT Krueger, Rodman, Hatch and a cast of others, including Santos of Colombia. Gotham, the reigning champions became a bit of a Super Club, with the aforementioned US players, the German GK, Lioness and others, how Coach has been able to meld all these top players into one cohesive unit is astounding, given there is but one ball. Both teams feature head coaches out of Spain, a top international team in WOSO. It has just been stated that the stadium is sold out, in just 72 hours.
Freeman and her mark both go to ground upon her hard tackle no call. Esther in less than a minute wins a tackle, releases the steal from Hershfelt and goes just off the crossbar. Long ball for Rodman despite her speed, too long. Gotham work it out of the back, now to the endline, lost just outside the area. Gotham, swarming in their defense take their time getting forward out of the back. With a double team at the touchline, Gotham win a throw. Again a ball to Trinity is just off. Gotham steal and get a number of passes together, Ryan to the area lays it back its back to her and her ball through the area. Ryan way wide on a distant shot. Lavelle with a strong tackle upends the GK, they always get better protected than do field players, though I think this would have been called at midfield as well. Esther has her shot blocked at the top of the area. Gotham recover, Stevens picked out by Carter on a crossing ball, she did not miss by much. Just 8’ in and Gotham are getting forward well. Esther quick spin and shot off a misplay by the defender as the ball bounded off her heel. Double save by Berger off a quick release and Rodman with a great pass. Lavelle down losing a challenge, into the area and again Berger comes up big, this on a low pass Kouassi making a menace out of herself already. The corner wasted as it stays low and gets behind the goal. She holds Carter and gets called for it her arm was around the leg of the defender. It has just been brought up that the Spirit have caused half the losses of Gotham on the year. Carter suffers a hard foul, her arm grabbed and she was ridden out of play. Ryan into the area it gets to Sonnett but was just a step or two ahead of her. At 15’ in, they mention the term “Super Team”. Carter, fouled hard twice, now trips from the ground from behind and gets called for the play on Kouassi, a bit early for a physical player to get carded as she is up against a great one. Hatch blocks a clearance it gets to Kouassi, her low shot no issue for Berger. Martin goes through Hatch near the touch line just beyond the top of the area, 20 yards? Into the area poorly boxed out by Berger into the area, a defender sends it out of touch. Ryan pressures the GK off a soft back pass, Gotham throw. Berger is down, working her left quad, back of knee. Again first commercial with Sue Bird, a part owner of Gotham out of my hometown of Syosset. As she is up now, the camera pans around, hard to get a full screen without an international player in it. Sheehan cautioned for a tackle on Santos from behind, she spun her to the floor at 23’. Into the area goes the ball and it is skied, as player leans back to shoot. Ryan fed by Carter she loses a pair, then in the area it is played out again. Carter draws a foul, the Spirit coach is smiling ear to ear but the right call on Kouassi. I see no foul as does one of the talking heads, no hard shoulder, foot contact and the other player went down at the endline in the area denying Lavelle the time to play the ball off. Spirit corner at 29’, Berger moves her players about Stainbrook tries to take the kick beyond the corner arc, again it is behind the goal, is she not gauging the wind, just looking to go near post or trying for an Olympico? Ryan to Esther to Stevens, a nutmeng and she is on goal, but a bit too close off the defender and to the GK. Ryan for Rose to Esther the GK takes it off her foot and now the Spirit get forward. A first time shot, though not so easy by Esther may have been the move as the GK advanced. Rose with a fake a turn and pass springs Ryan, she loses it out of touch. Hatch gets a call. Over the top for Rodman she draws a pair but a late offside call. Morgan called for a foul and not happy about it. Ryan to take it. Her last one got to Sonnett near the goal . This one just into the area played out and then tackled away for a Spirit throw, now Gotham has one. Some great ball movement by Gotham near the area, they get on goal, it gets rejected. Spirit pressure, Gotham beat it but lost a ball over the top. Stevens called for a foul. Trinity for Casey Carter suffers a hard foul and it is coming out, Jess is up and smiling. I have no idea why Berger takes the kick, she was down earlier. The crowd is loud with their “Let’s go Spirit” chant. Sonnett blocks a go on goal but it was offside, Kouassi is still at it. Lead ball to Rodman played out by Freeman for a corner. A quick shot is wide by the home team from the corner. Morgan in a discussion with the center over a whistle. Sonnett for Ryan, she beats two the third nothing doing. Again Ryan and a corner given up by Krueger. Ryan over the ball as the first half winds down. Her try is played out at the edge of the 6. Sheehan beyond all players and a goal kick coming, there are 2’ stoppage time. Hatch spins Sonnett to the ground as she grabs her midsection and turns her. Emily with the restart. Neither team should be concerned as both failed to score in the first half of the last game it is stated.
Second half opens with a decent shot by Kouassi but handled no issue by Berger. Freeman on a yellow and Kouassi both go down the Spirit player remains down, her Gotham counterpart seems a bit off. This coming just 2’ into the 2nd stanza could be very telling. The leg of Freeman was caught between both of Kouassi but each seem well enough to continue. Now off the field Kouassi keeps getting attention. Lavelle sends the restart to the top of the area and it is played away. Nighswonger is now on and easy to watch as her left back position is at the very bottom of the screen. Ella beats her defender it crosses the goalmouth. Lavelle runs it down looking for Esther the Spirit get it and then lose it at the bottom of the circle near the far touchline,. Spirit take it back. But go too long, a deep Gotham throw, just ten yards off their own endline. Hatch wins a throw despite being double teamed. Headed out by Jenna to Shields who is then taken down. Ryan wins a tackle, leads a ball, but well too far goal kick. Kouassi takes a ball over, given too much space carries a good 20 yards into the area and then it’s played out. Kouassi for Santos a high shot picked out of the air by Berger. Rodman and Nighswonger on the wing, Trinity wins a throw very deep. Hatch whistled, the crowd boos, she smiles. Great ball in then to Esther she gets high and sends it home off her head at 56’, the Gotham faithful are going batty. Lavelle sprung Ryan down the line, then lofted in for Esther and she made no mistake. Rodman puts Jenna down then makes a show of carding to the AR. Berger again with a big kick coming. Sonnett misplays a ball crowd and Spirit players calling for a handball, she lays it back to the GK. Though not intentional, it was a handball, the hand off the body. Lavelle with the restart just into her defensive half. A partially blocked shot by Santos and a heavy touch by the attacking player allows Berger to get to it first. Freeman down but walking around well now that she is up. Stevens down the line has it tackle away it gather up by a trailing teammate, she regains and loses it at the endline. Krueger and Esther battle for the ball, Spirit get the call. Berger cuts back on a forward and gets away with it in her area. Stevens offside. Bruninha for the injured Freeman. Spirit press and relief comes as it goes to Berger. Rodman loses her concentration for a second and they were getting forward, now a throw in going the other way. Spirit press, Jenna with a partial clear that is taken away. Hatch counts how many fouls she has suffered as she is again put to the ground. Morris is in for Stainbrook, rook for rook. DFK from below the center circle gets to Berger well off her line, the crowd counts to 13 as she has it. Ryan called for a close offside but got it off to the goal. Rose just misses on as it is take late by the GK and she rushed her, the deflection just wide. Forget RESPECT, Kouassi given far too much space, her go on the far post was all but fully open. Berger grabs a crossing ball then goes to ground, a bit early for this and hears it from the crowd. Stevens has a chat with the ref, seems he gave her the ok to step off for treatment, she heads to the touchline by the team, cannot see if she stepped off but the Spirit skipper is getting loud. Bruninha puts Kouassi to the ground, she had her hand up on the touchline and the Spirit player went down, caution issued. Stevens is now out for Williams, Gotham wants the win, not trying to park the bus. Santos dances around the ball, defender does not commit it goes off her heel and out. Hatch makes a run into the 6, her pass, defended out for a corner. Sonnett beat on her first try makes the sliding stop with a great 2nd effort. Some great first touch soccer then Williams has her pass go too far, Gotham holds. Williams a top goal getter in the NWSL is 3rd in post season tallies, so yes, they are still going for it. Gotham has 12 as Washington has 11 2nd half goals, good for places #1 & 2. Kouassi outpaces Bruninha then Martin, her shot blocked, this as she carried the ball. Santos for Rodman then just shy of Hatch in the area. Berger again down holding the back of her knee, she had dove out for the last ball. Carle with a hard foul in the area of Gotham DFK coming and here comes Zerboni for Sheehan, here is a sub of a more attacking player for one of less but far more physical and oh yes a past member of the USWNT. What an unreal bench for Gotham. Davidson stands strong and plays Kouassi out for a corner. The past coach of the Barca women’s side is again acting out. Great effort by Berger as she punches one away. A trio are down now, one ran into Lavelle taking both down and Kouassi was already down, DFK, Spirit. Headed down and cleared out by Gotham. Rodman takes Bruninha inside beats her, the distant shot blocked. Williams finds Ryan with space, goes to shoot, blocked and Spirit have it then go back 30 yards. Nighswonger with the ball slows down to draw contact gets a bit, goes to ground no call. Hatch with a rocket through the area. Miscommunication with Gotham a player runs down the ball, you can hear coach telling her not to do so. Kouassi out, I leave her in as she has been dangerous all game, lose season is over, leave her out there. Looking for Ratcliffe, Berger gets it, lays on it for a second. Wow 7’ of stoppage time as Williams has her try go high and wide of the goal. Ratcliffe sends one goal ward but wide. Nighswonger puts the player down as she holds both shoulder. DFK feet from the area 6 yards off the endline. A professional foul but very far forward and in a dangerous position. She picks out the head of Hersfelt it is tied, now it is gut check tie, last week Rose got one in extra time to put them through, who will step up from which team today? You must make teams pay for their mistakes, exactly what transpired her. Rodman well beyond the area as Hatch was taken down earlier but play on was called. She is up, but bent over holding her midsection, maybe her arm to her side? A corner is just over the bar, hitting the netting atop the goal. There has been a massive shift in momentum here. Rodman down holding her head, due to injury or frustration or injury elsewhere? A pair of 15’ periods to come.
Gotham must get back on track, they have been on the back foot for some time. Spirit finally got their restarts working with a goal and a near goal very late in regulation.
Kizer and Silva in for Gotham, Ryan and Lavelle off. Silva cannot get around Krueger as US stops Portugal. Silva fouls Krueger. Silva, on but 3’ has a pair of outside of the foot flicks to her credit. Sonnett called for a hard tackle. Rodman with a rip from just beyond the 18, covered up well by Berger. Krueger gets a card. Rodman found open and then Hatch, going for placement and leans a bit back, poor follow through, skies one. Berger down again. She did get a paw to the ball for a corner, Berger, the GK is up now and replacing her gloves, corner Spirit. Bruninha now cautioned, it is her 2nd, out with 2’ of stoppage time. Berger goes up has contact, now holding the back of her head, struck by Hatch with her shoulder. Checking her for a ruptured eardrum, now concussion checks, she remains on the field. Hatch plays the ball into the area, gets a corner off the defender, she hit it rather hard. Morris to the far end of the 6, Ratcliffe has her shot blocked from the top of the area. First OT, over.
Gotham has an uphill battle, down a player and not having much of the ball over the last hour or so. Spirit take your time, find your spots, Gotham has plenty of offensive firepower do not get too far forward.
Gotham no stranger to a big game and down a player, in last year’s final, the GK sent off had the memorable Nealy Martin in goal, they won, will this happen again? Three times into the area and finally cleared by Gotham. Hatch from Krueger, so well positioned was Berger all she had to do was get low and had the header readily in her hands. I would think Washington is pushing to win more as they have the player advantage, not that Gotham will go into a defensive mode. Krueger bests Silva on the endline, winning a goal kick. Kizer with great D, leads to goal kick. The fresh legs of Silva allow her to catch a lead ball, now to Esther, too far wide. Silva for Esther, she wants the corner and the ref does indicate it is just that. Esther meets it and not this time, a tremendous save thwarts her. Another corner, Sonnett gets on the end of it then, a card to Zerboni at 116’. Sonnett now in the defensive end clears one out for a throw, Nighswonger clears and back in again, Rodman hits the side netting. Esther clears it out at 119’. We are going to PKs.
I would give the edge in net to Berger, though banged up. First up to the spot is Hatch, left off the Olympic squad she has something to prove facing the German GK who took Bronze. She goes right, as does Berger, her one hand not enough to keep it out as the shot was a bit higher as well. Gotham send Esther, the goal getter for Gotham, poorly taken as she tried left, but did not get it far left enough, the same way the GK went and even hopped that way twice. They say if the GK makes one save, they have done their job. Now Solano for the home side she goes right the GK left 2-0 Spirit. To pull one back now Gotham goes with Zerboni, the veteran defender so focused. Goes left, as does the GK, again maybe 1/3 of the way to that side. Spirit player, McKewon gets it past her going left, if Gotham does not get one it is over. Jenna the Rookie of the Year has lots of pressure on her now. Why are all going left, not getting them far enough? Forget the scouting report, she had stopped all others. A trio of international players make the same mistake, it makes no sense to me. Gotham did not play well enough for long enough to deserve the win, never more clear than during the spot kicks. The Spirit owner is on the field giving out hugs.