Jaedyn Shaw scored a late free-kick goal to give Gotham a 1-0 win over Orlando Pride. Gotham will now face Washington Spirit in the NWSL championship match this Saturday.
In the seventh minute of stoppage time, 20-year-old Jaedyn Shaw curled a free kick from the edge of the penalty area. The ball bounced in front of Orlando Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse before settling into the corner of the net, securing a 1-0 victory for Gotham.
After the match, Shaw shared her excitement, saying she had worked hard on her free kicks and was ready for the moment. Her goal not only won the game but also advanced Gotham to the NWSL championship final.
Gotham will face the Washington Spirit in the NWSL final on Saturday in San Jose, California. The Spirit earned their spot by defeating the Portland Thorns 2-0. This will be Gotham's second appearance in the final, having won the championship in 2023.
The Orlando Pride began the match with energy, especially forward Lizbeth Ovalle, who made several attempts to score. She had a close-range shot saved early and another chance that went wide, but the team could not find the net.
The game was mostly a defensive struggle. Gotham managed only two shots inside the penalty area, with Shaw's goal being their only shot on target. Near the end, Pride defender Oihane Hernandez nearly scored with a header, but Gotham's goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger made a key save to keep the lead.
