3 things we learned from Gotham FC's second-half win over Angel City

NJ/NY Gotham FC knew what was at stake for them entering the match against Angel City FC.  A win would mean that the team would climb the table, while a loss would see them fall below the playoff line.  The game had to end with all three points.  Fortunately, the ladies had a fantastic second half to lead them to a 3-1 win.

Meanwhile, Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós was suspended and was in the stands.  At first, it felt like he would have to watch another disappointing performance from his team.  Angel City’s Kennedy Fuller scored just two minutes into the fixture.  Gotham struggled to score in the first half, despite a heavy attack.  Then, the shots on target were lackluster.

Thankfully, halftime changes led to Rose Lavelle and Midge Purce coming on, and the two made a difference.  Purce assisted on the tying goal from Gabi Portilho while Lavelle scored after goalkeeper Hannah Seabert spilled the ball, leading her to pounce and give the Bats the lead.  Jaelin Howell scored the golazo dagger afterward, and the NJ/NY side finally won their third game at home in the NWSL.  Oh, and they moved up to sixth place!

The result was a positive one, and it feels like the tide might be changing for the Bats in league play.  Here are three things we learned from Gotham FC’s win against Angel City FC.

Gotham FC’s halftime subs made the difference

As mentioned, Gotham FC struggled to find the back of the net in the first half.  They attacked and had eight shots, but were lackluster in front of the goal. So, when Lavelle and Purce came on after halftime, nobody knew how they would influence the game.  The hope was that they would make an impact.

And, they did!  While the Bats dominated play after they allowed the goal, there was a clear improvement when the two USWNT players came on.  That dominance increased, but the most important thing was that Gotham was clinical in front of the goal and extremely threatening. 

The impact was felt right away, too, for Portilho scored via a tap-in thanks to Purce’s assist in the 47th minute.  The winger had received the ball from Geyse and made her way into the box before finding the Brazilian.  The pass was perfect, and Angel City really could not stop Portilho’s shot. 

Lavelle was also brilliant in the midfield, directing her teammates on where to pass the ball and ultimately controlling the pace of play and how Gotham played.  Her goal was great too, and was her first NWSL goal of the season.  Purce also had her first assist of 2025 as well.

The decision to bring both players on is ultimately why the NJ/NY side secured all three points.  Thanks to them, this was a big win.

Jaelin Howell did it again

When someone scores a golazo, it is often the player’s best goal of the season.  In addition, it is not common for one to score multiple golazos, especially in back-to-back league matches.

So, when Howell had the ball outside of the box and looked up at the goal, it was not expected that she would score from there again.  Yet she did.  With a flick of her foot, she directed the ball into the air, watched it fly over everyone, and dip into the goal, bouncing beyond Seabert.  The brilliance just has to be seen.

Gotham FC is lucky that Howell is beginning to score goals, and at the perfect time, too. She also scored her last two in critical games, especially the road match against the Orlando Pride. It would be great for her and others to score more goals and relieve some of the pressure on Esther González.

Gotham FC can win at home

One of the biggest questions about Gotham FC surrounds where they play.  So, why does the team struggle so much to win at home?  The Bats have now just won their third match at Sports Illustrated Stadium by defeating Angel City.

Last year, the building was a fortress, and the Bats were mostly successful at home.  Hence, it is intriguing as to why the same is not the case in 2025.

Of course, it could be due to the goal-scoring struggles, which clearly were not the issue in the second half of the match. At the same time, Gotham FC should be better at home. It is vital that this changes as the team plays the final matches in New Jersey.