After a subdued performance against the Portland Thorns on Tuesday, Gotham FC stormed onto Audi Field today with a clear shift in mentality.
Gotham overwhelmed the Washington Spirit 3-0 after a dominant showing in the first half that saw rookie Sarah Schupansky score her first NWSL goal and forward Esther González net her third brace this season. She leads the league with seven goals after seven games, which puts her well ahead of the four goals scored by Barbara Banda of Orlando Pride and Ashley Hatch of Washington.
It was sweet revenge for the club after last year's crushing NWSL semifinal loss that saw Gotham fall to the Spirit in a penalty shootout.
Gotham FC: 11 shots, 7 shots on target, 47% possession, 316 passes, 76% pass accuracy, 15 fouls, 2 blocks
Washington Spirit: 13 shots, 3 shots on target, 53% possession, 351 passes, 77% pass accuracy, 21 fouls, 2 blocks
Goals:
• Gotham FC, Sarah Schupansky, 3'
• Gotham FC, Esther González, 32'
• Gotham FC, Esther González, 39'
Attendance: TK
Aggressive offense
Gotham came out far more aggressive in today's match against the Spirit compared to their more cautious second-half showing against the Thorns earlier this week. From the opening whistle, Gotham applied relentless pressure on the Spirit's defensive lineup, setting a faster pace and forcing the Spirit onto the back foot.
Geyse made her debut start for Gotham, adding a much-needed spark to the team's attack after attempting a shot on target during the first minute of the game. But it was a rookie-to-rookie goal in the third minute that opened the scoring in Gotham's favor. Defender Lilly Reale cut the ball through a gap in Spirit's defense to a wide-open Schupansky, who easily slotted the ball past Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury for her first professional goal.
"Anytime Lilly is on the flank, I know it's going to be a great ball in," said Schupansky. "The timing of my run and the timing of the arrival is all I have to do. It was clearly a really great ball, and there was support all around me. I was just glad I could finish it off for us."
Gotham's momentum didn't slow down after halftime. Minutes into the second half, forward Gabi Portilho attempted a right-footed shot that was saved by Kingsbury. Schupansky nearly scored a brace a minute later with a header assisted by Reale, but Kingsbury blocked the shot.
"For us, we wanted to come into this game with a bit more of an aggressive approach," said Reale. "For us rookies, we're learning every game and seeing the little things that make the difference every game. So for us, it was so important to come into this one without dwelling on the last game, instead just adjusting the things we needed to and coming in with a bit more fire under us."
Esther's third brace
The Spanish striker continued her remarkable scoring streak by netting her third brace in four games. After Spirit midfielder Rebeca Bernal conceded a penalty in the 31st minute, González stepped up to take it with a strike in the bottom right corner of the net. Kingsbury got her hands on the ball, but González' ball had too much momentum to be stopped.
Her second goal came just minutes later with a beautiful header off of Schupansky's corner kick cross. This is González' fourth time scoring twice in under 8 minutes, with one brace scored in just two minutes against Utah Royals FC last season.
Courtesy Gotham FC
"In terms of certain aspects of the game, [Esther] is one of the best in the world," said Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amorós. "How Esther plays the game is probably the best. She is super good technically, holding the play and reading the play. She is able to appear in the key moments, and on top of that, she's a fantastic finisher. She's been brilliant, and it's a pleasure to work with her."
González' performance today adds to her impressive season tally of seven goals, consistently delivering in high-stakes matches.
Fewer gaps, tighter formations
Gotham tightened their back line in today's match, putting together a much sharper defensive performance against the Spirit's attack. Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger led the strong showing, making several critical saves and blocks in the second half.
"I think we were a lot more on the same page compared to Tuesday, which helped a ton," said Schupansky. "I'm so proud of the back line today. They kept it a clean sheet when Washington had a lot of chances to change that reality. Ann-Katrin Berger, she is incredible. I know she put on a great performance and hopefully made the Gotham fans back home proud."
In a compact and disciplined performance, the team limited the Spirit's ability to find openings, forcing them into tougher positions that resulted in three shots on target of the 13 shots made. While Washington pushed forward at times, Gotham's defense held firm, showing better awareness, quicker recoveries, and more definitive blocks.
Gotham is back at home on Sunday, May 4, when they host the Chicago Stars at 1 pm ET.
