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Gotham FC silences Seattle Reign — The NWSL standings just took a wild turn

A dominant performance by Gotham FC leaves fans wondering: Is this the team to beat in the NWSL? Find out how they secured their latest victory

By Izabelle Franca

NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Delanie Sheehan (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first half against Seattle Reign FC at Lumen Field
NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Delanie Sheehan (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first half against Seattle Reign FC at Lumen Field / Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
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NJ/NY Gotham FC took another stride in the right direction toward the top of the NWSL with their seventh win this season, defeating Seattle Reign 2-0. The New York side earned three valuable points but also reconfirmed their ability to take charge of the game in all aspects. With goals apiece from Delanie Sheehan and Esther, Gotham once again proved they could be effective if given the chance.

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First Half: A Battle of Strategies

The match started with both teams trying to impose their style, but Gotham FC would show quickly that they had a well-defined game plan. Solid in defense, fast-paced attacks, New York managed to balance the ball control with creating chances. For most of the first 45 minutes, Gotham managed to null the offensive efforts of the Reign and gave them barely any space to operate.

However, but despite the first half bringing minimal clear-cut opportunities either way, Gotham FC continued to press on and eventually found the breakthrough in the 41st minute. From pure persistence to calmness, Delanie Sheehan slotted into the back of the net from the rebound in the box.

Ball Possession and Offensive Efficiency

Gotham's dominance wasn't all about defense, though: the New York team had 57% possession and took 12 shots in total, neutralizing most of the Reign's attempts. Seattle struggled for a rhythm through much of the 90 minutes, managing only seven shots.

Quick transitions and precision passing from Gotham were the keys to victory. Yazmeen Ryan gave a masterclass in vision as her season's fourth assist setup Esther for the second goal in the 85th minute-a move that sealed the result and took any kind of comeback away from Seattle Reign.

Unstoppable Defense: Gotham's Trump Card

While the attack did its job, Gotham FC's defense was impenetrable. Backed by a sterling performance from goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who recorded her sixth shutout of the season, New York kept the Reign in check, limiting the hosts to just one second-half shot on target. Notably, Berger now ties Kailen Sheridan's 2021 record to become Gotham's second-best goalkeeper in a single season, underlining how truly consistent defense has been for the team.

This balance between offense and defense puts Gotham FC in a prime spot in the NWSL. The shutout, number seven on the season, shows this team continues to know how to manage matches-whether holding onto a lead or pushing to extend it.

Climbing the Standings

That victory moved Gotham FC up into third in the NWSL standings, past Kansas Current. It was not only about taking a commanding position but also about being consistent through the season. With such a phenomenal record of 12-0-2 when scoring first in regular season play, Gotham has indeed been one sure team to make a lead count.

But their 9-0-1 leading-at-half-time record spells it out very clear that Gotham knows to keep their cool under pressure. These statistics mirror the tactical maturity of the squad in terms of the way they can handle various types of opponents and game situations.

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