**ORLANDO, Fla.** – Gotham FC bested the Orlando Pride on Sunday night, earning a 3-1 win at Exploria Stadium that saw the visitors score three unanswered after going down in the 9 ^th minute. The result helps Gotham remain in the hunt for the East Division as it sits in 2 ^nd place with 7 points from three games played, one point behind the North Carolina Courage but with a game in hand.
The hosts Orlando jumped out to an early lead when defender Megan Montefusco headed her side in front after just 9 minutes. The Pride had earned a free kick on the left wing, just a few yards from the corner flag. From that position, midfielder Erika Tymrak whipped in a cross toward the near post that Montefusco leapt to meet, then guiding the ball to the far post and into the side netting to give the crowd something to root for.
Then, in the 28 ^th minute, Orlando sprung forward with hopes of increasing their lead as midfielder Mikayla Cluff fed forward Ally Watt down the right side of the field. Watt then chased the pass down and worked her way to the endline, eventually cutting a pass back for Cluff on the return run, but Cluff’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Amanda Haught only for an offside decision to be made after the fact.
Six minutes later, though, Gotham changed the match with forward Midge Purce demonstrating incredible footwork in drawing a challenge from Orlando defender Brianna Martínez to earn a penalty. Stepping up to the spot was forward Jenna Nighswonger, and she converted a perfect spot kick to beat Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse to bring the match level once again.
Barring a late free kick for Gotham that forced Moorhouse into a punch, the remainder of the first half was even still as the pair shared the spoils heading into the halftime interval.
Into the second half, Gotham was the more attacking of the two sides and forced Haught into action as soon as five minutes into the half.
However, in the 55 ^th minute, midfielder McCall Zerboni drilled a shot from distance to stun the hosts and give her side its first lead of the evening. Zerboni was on the ball enter the attacking third when she received a pass, took a single touch forward, and sent a rocket flying toward the top right side of the goal. The shot whistled through the air and stunned Moorhouse with its placement and Gotham went up, 2-1.
To make matters more complicated for Orlando, Gotham then found a third goal on the evening via attacker Yazmeen Ryan just two minutes later. Ryan was in possession and had played multiple one-two movements with her teammate Zerboni. Receiving a second return pass just to the right of the center of the goal and still outside the box, Ryan then drifted to her left and kept the defense at bay before pulling up from right at the edge of the area. Ryan then sent a left-footed shot toward the bottom right corner past Moorhouse again to provide a little extra cushion for her team.
Unfortunately for Orlando, their attack had lost its teeth and was unable to produce enough in front of the Gotham goal to find another goal, and the visitors held on for a big win on the road. Up next for Orlando is a trip to North Carolina next Saturday evening, while Gotham are on the road against Washington on the Friday prior.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights