Jadyn Shaw scored on essentially the last kick of the game and Gotham defeated the Orlando Pride 1-0 on Sunday to advance to the National Women’s Soccer League championship game.
Shaw’s winning goal came in the seventh minute of stoppage time. The 20-year-old curled a free kick into the box from the edge of the box. The ball bounced in front of Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse and was sucked into the corner.
“I know we’ve been preparing for that moment. We’ve been working hard on free kicks,” Shaw said. “I live for this moment.”
With the win, Gotham will face the Washington Spirit in the NWSL finals on Saturday in San Jose, California. The Spirit defeated the Portland Thorns 2-0 in the other semifinal on Saturday.
This will be Gotham’s second trip to the NWSL finals, having hoisted the trophy in 2023. The Pride are the reigning NWSL Champions and were looking to become the first NWSL team to successfully defend their title since 2019.
In front of 15,714 fans in Orlando, the Pride got off to a bright start for both teams.
Pride forward Lisbeth Obare was the main player in the first half. The Mexican international had a close-range shot from six yards out in the fifth minute, which was saved by Anne-Katrin Berger. On the 33rd, the ball skidded her shin and went wide with two yards to go. In a battle of two defensive teams, Gotham only attempted two shots inside the box during the game. Shaw’s goal was Gotham’s only shot on target.
In the final attack of the match, Pride defender Oihane Hernandez headed a shot into the top corner, but in the 10th minute of stoppage time Berger dived in behind and fired his shot over the bar.
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