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Seattle Reign FC 0
NJ/NY Gotham FC 2
September 16, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season
Seattle Reign FC hosted NJ/NY Gotham FC on Monday night at Lumen Field. The hosts had the opportunity going in to extend an unbeaten run in league play to eight and continue an improbable move from the bottom of the table to the playoff line. Gotham was looking to stay solidly in the top tier of the table and home field advantage for at least some of the playoffs.
The visitors brought a number of former Reign players while the roster makeover in Seattle continued this week.
Reign FC vs Gotham FC
Gotham pressed forward in the early going, trying to put pressure on the retooled Reign line up. The early stages saw the ball mostly in the Seattle defensive half as a result. There were some opportunities and pressure, but limited real chances in that early going even with all the pressure.
The extensive retooling of the Reign line up included the recently acquired Hanna Glas getting the start in place of Sofia Huerta, loaned out to Lyon this week.
Seattle fans welcomed back the returning Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett; two players who had played a huge role in the Reign’s run to the NWSL Championship match in 2023. The early season struggles in Seattle had only highlighted those losses. As the ownership situation finally sorted out and the roster moves have followed, the Reign finally have gotten their collective feet under them in recent matches.
Weathering the early Gotham pressure without conceding meant the match progressed to the middle third still goalless. Using some successful counters, the Reign managed to put the Gotham defense under pressure and create some chances.
Lavelle reminded the home crowd of her brilliance in the 36th minute. Taking the ball in her own half she went on a long run through the Reign defense, cracking a long shot just wide.
Delanie Sheehan would get Gotham on the board in the 41st. Capitalizing on some frantic defense in the Reign penalty area, Sheehan would slot a left footed shot to the near post past Reign keeper Claudia Dickey. The goal would carry into the interval.
The Gotham attack was active throughout the first half. But, their defense was excellent in holding shape and not allowing for many easy looks on goal. Keeper Ann-Katrin Berger was active and in control of her defense and appeared to be in sync with the central defenders Sonnett and Tierna Davidson. Even as Seattle came out pressing to begin the second half, the Gotham defense was disciplined and resilient.
With Seattle pressing to equalize, the Gothem counter became even more dangerous. The flow of play became more end to end as a result, only becoming more pronounced as the match progressed and the scoreline remained unchanged. Lavelle would nearly double the lead in the 68th with a long left footed blast that tested Dickey.
Fresh legs up front for Seattle meant a more direct approach in parts as the minutes wound down. Haitian Nerilia Mondesir and Veronica Latsko became running targets.
However, the second goal would come as an Esther Gonzalez shot would handcuff Dickey, causing a bobble into the net and a two goal margin in the 85th minute.
Although the hosts would still press to get one back, in the end it was not enough. Gotham heads back East with the 2-0 victory.
Reign FC vs Gotham FC
Gotham grabbed three points to jump them over Kansas CIty into third in the table.
The seven match unbeaten run comes to an end for Seattle. They have made a move up the table, but points are at a premium and there is not a lot of time left in 2024 to make the playoffs.
