Rose Lavelle scores against former team and Gotham FC share points with Seattle Reign

Women's soccer never disappoints and the match between NJ/NY Gotham FC and Seattle Reign FC at the Red Bull Arena was proof of that. From the opening whistle, the match was a spectacle of emotion and skill, culminating in a thrilling draw that left fans wanting more.

From the first minute, Gotham FC showed what they were about, creating a clear goal-scoring opportunity with Crystal Dunn, whose shot took a deflection and fell to Ella Stevens. Stevens, like a hungry lioness, fired a shot wide, but Reign goalkeeper Claudia Dickey was alert and made a brilliant save. This was just the start of a match that promised great emotions.

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Eight minutes in, another chance for Gotham. Delanie Sheehan, with the precision of a maestro, made a perfect pass to Rose Lavelle, who shot powerfully, but Dickey, in a Herculean effort, managed to save. The first half ended goalless, but with a palpable feeling that something big was coming.

And it was. Shortly after the start of the second half, Gotham FC finally broke the deadlock. Jenna Nighswonger, with vision worthy of an eagle, slipped behind the Seattle defense and found Stevens. The striker calmly dribbled past the goalkeeper and passed to Lavelle, who put the ball in the back of the net with a soft touch.

But soccer, my friends, is unpredictable. In injury time, the Seattle Reign found their equalizer in dramatic fashion. Quinn, with a millimeter pass, launched the ball into the Gotham box and, in an unfortunate move for the hosts, the ball ended up in the back of the net after an own goal. The draw was a blow, but it didn't take the shine off Gotham's performance.

Gotham FC dominated in shots (15-8), shots on goal (5-3) and possession (53%-47%). But that's soccer, sometimes even with the statistics in your favor, the result doesn't reflect the effort.

This match also marked the temporary farewell of six Gotham FC players, who are now preparing for the Summer Olympics in Paris. Jenna Nighswonger, Tierna Davidson, Emily Sonnett, Rose Lavelle, Crystal Dunn and Lynn Williams will take their talents to the world stage, leaving Gotham fans eager for their return.

The draw may have left a bittersweet taste. However, Gotham FC are still in fourth place in the NWSL table, reacting to last week's defeat by reaching 28 points. For their part, the Reign, who managed to fight back after the lights went out, are in a delicate situation, far from the playoffs, with 10 points