NJ/NY Gotham FC HubNJ/NY Gotham FC's title defense fell short as they lost to Washington Spirit 1-1 (3-0) in penalties. The match was intense, with six combined yellow cards and two frames of extra time.
What happened?
Gotham FC took the lead in the 56th minute with a goal from Esther González. However, the Spirit equalized with a header from Hal Hershfelt in the second minute of stoppage time.
Turning point
The game changed when Bruninha received a yellow card in the 101st minute, forcing Gotham to play with a man down. The Spirit generated plenty of chances, but Ann-Katrin Berger made several key saves.
Penalty shootout
The match went to penalties, where Aubrey Kingsbury made three consecutive saves to secure the Spirit's win. Jenna Nighswonger's penalty was saved by Kingsbury, ending Gotham's title defense.
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| NJ/NY Gotham FC | 1 |
| Washington Spirit | 1 (3-0) |
