Gotham FC wraps up club record-breaking regular season with 4-1 win over Utah Royals

Capping off the most successful regular season in club history, NJ/NY Gotham FC left one of their best performances for last by defeating Utah Royals FC 4-1. This is Gotham's second win from two games against Utah this year having beaten them 1-0 back in September. Plus, this was the 17th win of the season, by far their most in a season beating the previous best of 10 set in 2013 and 2017.

This win temporarily puts the Bats into second place and guarantees them a finish no lower than third as they can no longer be caught by the fourth-place Kansas City Current. The only team that can jump ahead of Gotham in the standings is the Washington Spirit. The scenarios are pretty simple going into the Spirit's last game. A win of any kind will see them tie Gotham on points but ultimately pass them in the standings as they own the goal differential tiebreaker. If Washington were to drop points, then that would keep them in third and clinch second place for Gotham. The Spirit plays on Saturday night at 7:30 PM on the road against the North Carolina Courage.

Gotham now heads into the playoffs playing arguably their best soccer of the season. It really does feel like the 13-0 win over Frazsiers Whip FC in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup has opened the goal-scoring floodgates for this team. Over their last four NWSL games since that game in Jamaica, they have scored 14 goals, one more than they scored in their previous 10 league games combined. The defensive side of things has been rock solid since game one. This is illuminated by the fact the team has given up the second-fewest goals this season. Now they seem to have the goal-scoring to go with the rock-solid defense and are rounding into season-best form just in time for the playoffs.

As a result, the team heads into next Sunday with plenty of positive momentum for the first home playoff match in club history. While this is probably the strongest playoff field in NWSL history, the Bats should feel good about heading into their first-round playoff game.

Gotham FC ended the season on a high

Knowing a win was necessary to put the pressure on the Spirit, Gotham FC came out on the front foot early on. They had a chance in the 13th minute but Mandy Freeman could not quite pick out the right play and ultimately ended up winning a corner. Soon after though Gotham would find the breakthrough as Yazmeen Ryan roofed a shot from in close off of a cross from Ella Stevens. This was shortly followed by another goal, and the first of three goal of the season contenders from the Bats. Mandy Freeman cut onto her right foot from just outside the box and picked the top right corner for her first-ever NWSL goal.

Gotham then thought they had a third in the 24th minute from Esther González but it was called back on VAR review for a handball on the forward. The ladies then went into halftime up 2-0.

In the 74th minute, Utah got one back from Hannah Betfort, who coolly slotted the ball past Ann-Katrin Berger off the near post and in. Gotham then quickly answered three minutes later as González got her first goal that counts. A long diagonal ball from Freeman found the Spaniard in stride who then first-time chipped the ball over Mandy Haught from outside of the box.

Seemingly trying to outdo herself, González scored another golazo. A low-driven corner from Ryan found her and she backheeled the ball past Haught from an acute angle, putting an exclamation point on a great game and season.

The result was a great way to end the regular season, where Gotham FC finished with 56 points. That is 21 more than their previous high of 35 in 2021 and enough to have won the Shield in every other season except for 2018. In addition, the four losses this season are the least in team history, beating the previous record of five in 2021.

Meanwhile, González ends the season as the leader in NWSL goals with nine, tied for second most in team history with Midge Purce in 2021, and only behind Sam Kerr's 17 goals in 2017. The ladies also scored 41 goals in 2024, second most in club history behind the 42 scored in 2017.

There is a lot that can be celebrated, but Gotham FC must change the focus towards the postseason.