3 things we learned from Gotham FC's quarterfinal win over Portland Thorns FC

NJ/NY Gotham FC is not known for their attendance numbers at Red Bull Arena.  While the Bats have an incredible fan base, not everyone tends to go to the games in person.  Yet, many showed up to break their attendance record for the first NWSL Playoff game in team history.  15,540 supporters were in the stands as the Bats took on Portland Thorns FC in the quarterfinals.

Gotham won both of their previous NWSL games against the Oregon side, including their season opener in Portland.  The home fixture took place right after the Olympics, and the Bats comfortably beat the visitors 2-0.  One needs to keep in mind though there were a few players missing for the Thorns.  Therefore, the home team could not enter this game assuming they would win.

Luckily, Gotham FC did not do that by any means.  They dominated Portland to win 2-1 despite some defensive mistakes and poor attacking quality at times.  Tierna Davidson and Rose Lavelle scored for the Bats, with Lavelle scoring the winning goal in stoppage time.

As always, there is plenty to discuss about the win.  Here are three things we learned from Gotham FC’s quarterfinal matchup against Portland Thorns FC.

3 things we learned from Gotham FC’s 2-1 playoff win

1. Rose Lavelle is a hero for Gotham

Lavelle was a major factor in Gotham FC’s 2-1 win.  While it took time for some of her teammates to improve their quality of play, she was ready to go from the beginning.  She was one of the players who was threatening in the first half despite some lackluster chances by the team.

Things improved for Gotham in the second half, which is why Lavelle contributed to both goals.  With the first one, she took the free kick and sent the ball into the box.  Lynn Williams might have gotten the assist since the ball went off of her before it fell to Davidson, but it was Lavelle’s free kick that put the ball in a scoring position in the first place.  If she was slightly off, then it is possible the first goal might have never occurred.

Of course, the midfielder scored the winning goal seven minutes into stoppage time.  In some ways, it can be called a striker’s goal, for she was in the right spot at the right time. Delanie Sheehan sent the ball into the center of the box where Lavelle was waiting.  The USWNT star subsequently sent the ball into the back of the net to secure the win for Gotham FC.  Lavelle was the hero and Player of the Match.  Without her, one can only wonder whether the Bats would still be moving on in the postseason.

2. The game might have gone differently without Jess Carter

In the first half, the Gotham FC backline had a few mistakes, especially from Ann-Katrin Berger.  The goalkeeper, who still had a decent game, made questionable choices.  In other words, she was not playing like one of the best keepers in the league.

There were a few moments that took the breath out of the stadium, but there was one that might have been the difference in the match.  In the 40th minute, Berger kicked the ball right to the retiring Christine Sinclair.  Her block led the ball to go beyond the goalkeeper and the Canadian responded by chasing after the ball. 

Thankfully, Jess Carter was paying attention and quickly reacted to retrieve the ball.  She kept Sinclair from getting a shot on the goal and kept Gotham in the game.  If Carter did not respond, then there is no question the Portland legend would have scored.  Therefore, the Bats would have been chasing to tie the fixture rather than trying to take the lead.  This intervention was critical for the outcome of the game.

3. Gotham FC must increase attendance in the future

As mentioned, Gotham FC broke the club’s attendance record with 15,540 fans.  Normally, there are fewer fans at Red Bull Arena and the team often struggles to fill the lower bowl.

The environment of the higher attendance was clearly seen.  The energy from the fans spread to the players on the pitch, increasing the fight to find the winning goal.  Plus, everything was louder and crazier, which is how a soccer game should be.

Gotham FC must increase the attendance levels in the future and try to get crowds like the one from Sunday.  Watching the team is enjoyable, but more supporters make it better.  Players will want to experience the environment again, so that should be a goal heading into 2025.