{"id":400452,"date":"2025-11-24T03:15:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T03:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/400452\/"},"modified":"2025-11-24T03:15:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T03:15:14","slug":"gotham-fc-wins-nwsl-championship-on-80th-minute-rose-lavelle-goal-vs-spirit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/400452\/","title":{"rendered":"Gotham FC wins NWSL championship on 80th-minute Rose Lavelle goal vs. Spirit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gotham FC is once again the reigning National Women\u2019s Soccer League champion.<\/p>\n

The No. 8 seed ended the year fittingly with another major upset, topping the No. 2 Washington Spirit in regular time with a confident 1-0 win over their East Coast rival in front of a sellout crowd of 18,000 at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday night. Gotham lifted the trophy for the second time in three seasons, thanks to a moment of brilliance from midfielder Rose Lavelle, who once again proved why she is one of the club\u2019s biggest threats.<\/p>\n

Lavelle found the back of the net in the 80th minute, capitalizing on a set-up from teammate Bruninha, who entered the match as a second-half sub for rookie of the year Lilly Reale.<\/p>\n

The Brazilian international carried the ball towards Spirit\u2019s goal before tapping it across the box into open space. Lavelle found the ball and, with a single touch, put it away.<\/p>\n

She was named the game\u2019s MVP.<\/p>\n

\u201cBru served it on a platter,\u201d Lavelle told the CBS broadcast after the game. \u201cAll I had to do was tuck it away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gotham defeated the No. 1 Kansas City Current in a shocking result that sent the NWSL Shield winners home in the quarterfinal. They then went on to defeat the No. 4 Orlando Pride in Florida before the win on Saturday, becoming the lowest-seeded team to win an NWSL title.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know we didn\u2019t perform to our potential during the season,\u201d Lavelle told the CBS broadcast after the game. \u201cI think this playoffs is about showing to ourselves, most of all, what we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

GOTHAM FC TAKES A 1-0 LEAD IN THE #NWSL<\/a> CHAMPIONSHIP \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/axaDWBEFdW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The first half felt like a master class in defensive ability. Both teams effectively shut down their opponent\u2019s biggest attacking threats, limiting their chances. The Spirit ended the first 45 with zero shots on target.<\/p>\n

The Spirit started the second half on the front foot, cranking up the heat in their attacking third and regaining their composure. Forward Rosemonde Kouassi carried her momentum from her dominant form in the postseason, with Croix Bethune seemingly out for revenge after missing last year\u2019s championship match due to injury. Spirit forward Trinity Rodman made her expected return, though surprisingly early for a player who only recently returned from injury, subbing on for teammate Sofia Cantore in the 57th minute.<\/p>\n

But all it took was that moment of brilliance from Lavelle to turn this championship around, fueled by 23-year-old Bruninha\u2019s vision on the pitch.<\/p>\n

Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amoros praised Bruninha\u2019s efforts in assisting Lavelle\u2019s lone goal of the night. After the game, he spoke about his decision to drop Bruninha from the starting lineup for veteran defender and captain Mandy Freeman.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we had the conversation, she was ready for any scenario to help the team,\u201d Amoros said, whether that meant playing on the left or right. \u201cShe knows what she needs to do to produce magic, so when I saw her going (with) those step overs, I thought that was a very special moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bruninha entered the pitch for Reale, who went into halftime with a yellow card. In the final minute of the first half, Reale tugged on Koussai\u2019s shirt to bring her down and keep her from exploding up the right flank. Instead of risking another yellow, Amoros played it safe and subbed Reale out. The decision paid off.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Gotham\u2019s goal came as the Spirit weighed a substitution of their own. Midfielder Hal Hershfelt had just re-entered the pitch after sustaining an ankle injury mid-game. She was tended to by the Spirit\u2019s medical staff on the far sideline, and seemed to be in visible pain. Shortly after Gotham\u2019s goal, Deborah Abiodun subbed on for Hershfelt.<\/p>\n

The two sides are familiar foes, with last year\u2019s semifinal clash ending in the Spirit\u2019s favor following a tense round of penalty kicks.<\/p>\n

The Spirit coasted to the NWSL final with their confident 2-0 win over Portland Thorns last week, featuring what players described as their best soccer yet.<\/p>\n

But on Saturday, they were unable to connect in their final attacking third, resulting in a second runners-up trophy in the final.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving lost the same point last year stings just as bad,\u201d Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury said. \u201cIt\u2019s a big shock because this group completely believed that we would win. There was really no scenario where we didn\u2019t lift that trophy today. So, it definitely hurts. It was a great final, came down to a moment of brilliance from Rose Lovelle, and just super proud of the season we\u2019ve had.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Gotham, the season has been a roller coaster, one that started with captain Tierna Davidson\u2019s season-ending injury in April. Davidson, who has traveled with the team this season despite not being able to play, was again part of the team for the trip to the final. As veteran defender Emily Sonnett told reporters after the game, the players who were not physically on the pitch played an equally important role in the club\u2019s success.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir presence is obviously huge. They\u2019re pumping us up in the locker room, which I absolutely love,\u201d Sonnett, who made a crucial sliding block in the championship, said. \u201cTierna doesn\u2019t show a lot of emotion, but, man, is she jumping around right now.\u201d She described Davidson as \u201cthe glue\u201d that holds Gotham together.<\/p>\n

This championship was not about a single player, Amoros said. It was about Gotham as a collective and what they were able to achieve together this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you get older, like I am getting now,\u201d Amoros said, \u201cyou start realizing that there are certain moments in your life that stick with you forever.\u201d Saturday is one of those moments. While Gotham will take the time to celebrate, Amoros cautioned that his team will soon be preparing to do this all again and play in the FIFA Women\u2019s Champions Cup for a spot in the Club World Cup in 2028.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, we\u2019re going to celebrate,\u201d he said in Spanish, before exiting Saturday\u2019s press conference. \u201cWe played in every game that we could possibly play in. Now we have a very short break, because we have to return for preseason in a month.\u201d<\/p>\n

They will return, he said, \u201cto keep living the dream.\u201d<\/p>\n