Gotham FC Stuns Reign FC With Dramatic Late Comeback
- Eric Liu
- Jul 18
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 26
NEW YORK — Gotham FC produced one of its most memorable finishes in club history Saturday afternoon, rallying from a two-goal deficit to defeat Seattle Reign FC 3-2 at Icahn Stadium.
After a weather delay pushed kickoff back more than two hours, Seattle wasted little time taking control. Mia Fishel converted a penalty in the 14th minute before Maddie Mercado doubled the visitors’ lead eight minutes later, giving Reign FC a 2-0 advantage heading into halftime.
Gotham struggled to break down Seattle’s organized defense for much of the match, but the momentum shifted after head coach Juan Carlos Amorós made attacking substitutions early in the second half. Esther González came off the bench and immediately changed the pace of the game.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 81st minute when González finished a cross from Jaedyn Shaw to cut the deficit in half. Gotham continued to press forward, creating wave after wave of attacks as Seattle looked to protect its lead.
With stoppage time winding down, González struck again in the 94th minute, once more finishing a Shaw assist to level the match at 2-2 and ignite the crowd at Icahn Stadium.
The comeback was completed just three minutes later. Sam Kerr found Rose Lavelle in the box, and the U.S. international fired home the dramatic game-winning goal in the 97th minute, capping an incredible three-goal rally in the final minutes.
The victory marked the first time in nine years that Gotham FC had overcome a two-goal deficit to win an NWSL match. The result also moved Gotham to the top of the league standings at the halfway point of the season.
For Seattle, the defeat was a heartbreaking ending after controlling much of the match. Reign FC defended well for more than 80 minutes, but Gotham’s relentless late pressure proved too much to withstand.
Gotham finished with a significant advantage in possession and chances, reflecting the pressure it applied throughout the second half before finally breaking through in dramatic fashion.
The 3-2 victory extended Gotham’s strong run of form and provided another signature moment in front of the home supporters. For a team with championship ambitions, Saturday’s comeback demonstrated both resilience and belief, turning what appeared to be a disappointing afternoon into one of the club’s most memorable victories of the season.
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