Jaedyn Shaw scored on a free kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time to propel eighth-seeded Gotham FC past the host Orlando Pride 1-0 in the NWSL playoff semifinals on Sunday afternoon.
Shaw’s right-footed kick from 5 yards outside the left side of the penalty box curled past the outstretched leg of forward Midge Purce and goaltender Anna Moorhouse into the right side of the net for the game-winner.
Gotham FC, who stunned the top-seeded Kansas City Current in the quarterfinals, will face the No. 2 seed Washington Spirit — who were 2-0 winners over the Portland Thorns — in the championship game on Saturday night in San Jose, Calif., for a chance to win their second title in three years.
Ann-Katrin Berger, the 2024 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year, made two saves for Gotham, including one on a header by Oihane Hernandez off a Marta free kick in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage that would have forced extra time.
A physical and defensive first half featured just a combined eight shot attempts, one shot on goal and two good scoring chances, both by the Pride’s Lizbeth Jacqueline Ovalle.
The first came in the fifth minute following a nifty run and baseline pass to the near left post from Marta, but Berger denied Ovalle’s right-footed shot with a leg save. The second came in the 33rd minute on a Julie Doyle cross from the right side of the 6-yard box that a sliding Ovalle deflected just wide of the left post with her left foot.
Play tightened up even more in the second half when the two teams combined for just five shot attempts, none on goal, until Shaw’s game-winner.
–Field Level Media
