Ann-Katrin Berger made three saves and top-seeded Gotham FC protected a one-goal lead for most of the game, defeating the eighth-seeded Seattle Reign 1-0 in the NWSL quarterfinals on Sunday in Harrison, N.J.
Gotham got on the board in the fourth minute on an own goal credited to Seattle’s Jordyn Bugg. Jaedyn Shaw sent a corner kick toward the near post and Bugg misplayed it, sending it straight past her goalkeeper, Claudia Dickey.
Berger made one save in the first half and two more after halftime, the most dangerous chance coming on Maddie Mercado’s shot from the center of the box in the 71st minute. One of the best goalies in the sport, Berger led the league with a 0.85 goals-against average this season.
Gotham, who edged the San Diego Wave by three points for the NWSL Shield and home-field advantage in the first two rounds of the playoffs, will face the No. 4 seed Kansas City Current in the semifinals next weekend.
–Field Level Media
