In a thrilling match at Harrison, New Jersey, United States midfielder Rose Lavelle delivered a crucial goal in the 62nd minute, leading NJ/NY Gotham FC to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Angel City FC. This win marked Gotham's third straight triumph, pushing their record to 6-2-3 with 21 points, and keeping them unbeaten since April 20. During this impressive run, Gotham has secured five wins and two draws.
Lavelle's game-winning goal, her second of the season, was set up by Delanie Sheehan, who notched her first assist of the season. Lavelle's strike from the center of the box proved to be the difference in a match that was tightly contested throughout.
Angel City FC, which now stands at 3-6-2 with 11 points, had managed to equalize in the 51st minute when Clarisse Le Bihan fired a long-range shot into the bottom left corner, assisted by Alyssa Thompson. However, Angel City couldn't maintain their momentum and ultimately suffered their third loss in four games, with their last victory dating back to May 3.
The match's opening goal came early, courtesy of Crystal Dunn in the 26th minute. Dunn capitalized on a fast-break opportunity, slotting the ball into the bottom left corner with an assist from Yazmeen Ryan. The early strike set the tone for an intense and physical contest.
As the match wore on, tensions flared, resulting in over 20 minutes of stoppage time being added. Two yellow cards were issued, one to Madison Curry and another to Mandy Freeman, reflecting the chippy nature of the game. Despite Angel City's efforts to equalize in the dying moments, including a dangerous attempt by Messiah Bright, Gotham's goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger made a crucial save to preserve the victory.
Gotham FC's continued success solidifies their standing in the league, while Angel City FC looks to regroup and find their form after a challenging stretch of games.
