FLUSHING – The Queens Classic at Citi Field. It’s been advertised by the team and the league as the “Biggest women’s sporting event in NYC history”, with two fierce rivals on a direct collision course to showcase their talents in front of a sell-out crowd of 40,000 supporters at Citi Field.
Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit resume their on-field hostilities since the NWSL Championship in San Jose in a match quietly called a “dress rehearsal” at a neutral site before moving their home matches from Sports Illustrated Stadium to Etihad Park in 2028.
At 11 minutes, Gotham nearly scored when Esther González received a pass from Rose Lavelle, but her shot was too high. One minute later, Sarah Schupansky connected with Jordynn Dudley, but the Spirit defense easily blocked her shot from the center of the box, illustrating the quick succession of key moments.
Gabrielle Carle tried to respond for the Spirit in the 28th minute. After taking a pass from Trinity Rodman, she fired off a blistering shot, but it found the sure hands of Gotham’s goalkeeper, Ann-Katrin Berger, who quietly ended the scoring threat.
Gotham FC broke through the scoreless deadlock in the 37th minute. Rose Lavelle took a pass from Jaelin Howell and floated the ball high over the keeper, Sandy MacIver, who helplessly watched it nestle into the right corner of the net.
Sam Kerr, one of the most prolific scorers in league history before heading to Chelsea Football Club, made her debut in the 64th minute, and the huge crowd roared as she hit the pitch. She nearly made an impact, rushing to get to the ball before MacIver did.
42,175, the fourth-largest in league history, came and went home happy by the time the final whistle blew, sending Gotham FC into a three-way tie for second place in the league table. With the win and the now historic event happily behind them, Gotham FC has a lot to look forward to ahead of their match on Saturday afternoon against Seattle Reign FC.
Starting Lineups and Substitutions:
NJ/NY Gotham FC: Ann-Katrin Berger, Midge Purce (Bruninha ’78), Emily Sonnett, Tierna Davidson, Guro Reiten (Mandy Freeman ’78), Jaelin Howell, Sarah Shupansky (Sam Kerr 64′), Jordynn Dudley (Jess Carter 34′), Rose Lavelle, Jaedyn Shaw, Esther González (Savannah McCaskill 46′)
Washington Spirit: Sandy MacIver, Lucia Di Guglielmo (Elisabeth Tse ), Esme Morgan, Tara Rudd, Gabrielle Carle (Kate Weisner 64′), Andi Sullivan (Rebecca Bernal 64′), Trinity Rodman, Leicy Santos, Hal Hershfelt (Deborah Abiodun 78′), Rosemonde Kouassi (Gift Monday 64′), Sofia Cantore (Claudia Martinez 78′)
Scoring Summary:
37′ | NJ/NY Gotham FC – Rose Lavelle, assisted by Jaelin Howell
Disciplinary Summary:
45+4′ | Washington Spirit – Gabrielle Carle – Yellow card
70′ | Washington Spirit – Hal Hershfelt – Yellow card
80′ | Washington Spirit – Gift Monday
86′ | Washington Spirit – Tara Rudd – Yellow card
Match Officials:
Referee: Jeremy Scheer
Assistants: Tom Felice, Zeno Cho
4th Official: Shaye Lane
VAR/AVAR: Anya Voight/Kevin Huet