Gotham FC earns signature win of 2024 by defeating Shield-winning Orlando Pride 3-1

Despite missing their starting center-backs and head coach, NJ/NY Gotham FC defeated the Orlando Pride 3-1, retaining their third-place spot in the standings. This win marks Gotham's seventh in nine league games since returning from the Olympics. The Bats and Orlando have split the season series after the Pride's 2-0 home win back at the beginning of September.

There is no question the result is a statement win for the NJ/NY team. Sure, first-place Orlando might not have wanted to overexert themselves. Still, knocking off the league leaders in any context is a result to be celebrated. This win not only gives Gotham three big points in the race for second, but it increases the confidence level in a potential matchup later in the playoffs. It also looks like the ladies are finding their stride heading into the playoffs. Not only have they been more clinical in their finishing, but their overall performances have started to resemble what many fans believed they would be when this roster was put together in the offseason.

For Orlando, the alarm bells have to start ringing at this point. While these games do not affect their status as the Shield winners and the top playoff seed, going into the playoffs on a losing streak isn't something any team wants to do. Who knows, they could be a team that come playoff time can just flip a switch and go back to being the dominant force seen earlier this year. Remember Gotham last year ended the regular season on a three-match winless run before winning the championship.

Heading into the final weekend of the season, the race for the second seed behind Orlando has remained status quo. With Gotham FC's win over Orlando, the Washington Spirit's win over the Chicago Red Stars, and the Kansas City Current's win over San Diego Wave FC, the points situation between the teams in second, third, and fourth remains incredibly close with just one point being the difference. Any slip-up in the final week from one of those three teams could see a major change in the first-round playoff matchups.

Gotham FC had a statement win in New Jersey

After a cagey start from the two sides, in the 13th minute, Gotham FC got on the board first via Sam Hiatt's first goal for the club. It was a sloppy one to concede from Orlando's perspective as the ball bounced around in the box off of a corner kick before the ball slowly rolled past Pride keeper Anna Moorhouse. There was some contention over who got the final touch, but the goal was given to Hiatt.

Soon after giving the Bats the lead, Hiatt conceded a penalty in the 29th minute after fouling Pride-leading goalscorer Barbra Banda. Two minutes later, Adriana converted the penalty to draw the game level. This was her third goal in two games against Gotham this season.

Orlando then threatened for a second until in the first minute of first-half stoppage time Rose Lavelle found the back of the net thanks to another sloppy defensive breakdown for Orlando. Similarly to the first goal, the ball bounced around the box before Lavelle could get her foot to it to give Gotham FC the lead going into halftime.

The Bats then came out of the halftime break on fire. Lavelle started the third goal with arguably the pass of the season to Bruninha, who came on as a second-half sub. She was then able to find Ella Stevens with a driven ground pass that the forward finished into the roof of the net to take the 3-1 lead.

In spite of both teams having their chances for the rest of the second half, 3-1 was how this game would finish. As mentioned before, this was a huge win for Gotham. Not just for the reasons already mentioned, but the team was missing head coach Juan Carlos Amorós after he had picked up a red card last week against the Chicago Red Stars.

They do not control their own destiny going into the last week of the season though. Currently, the NJ/NY side is tied on points with the Spirit. However, the team remains in third place as Washington owns the first tiebreaker of goal differential. All Gotham FC can do is beat Utah Royals FC on the road on Friday, November 1, and hope that Washington drops points when they visit the North Carolina Courage the next day.