**HARRISON, N.J.** – Gotham FC defeated the Washington Spirit, 2-0, on home turf with a second half brace by Esther González in five minutes separating the two sides for good. The result puts Gotham temporarily in 2 ^nd place with 30 points from 19 games played, while Washington remain in 6 ^th place with 26 points from 19 games played.
The first half came as both sides tested each other after a warming up period in the opening minute, with Gotham getting the first look in the 9 ^th minute. Gotham had earned a corner kick in front of their home fans, with midfielder Bruninha on corner kick duty. Her delivery was excellent as found teammate Lynn Williams in the middle of the penalty area, but though Williams was able to rise above the rest of the field, her headed chance flashed wide.
The next best opportunity for the hosts came in the 25 ^th minute, this time with forward Midge Purce causing trouble in the Spirit penalty area as she tested Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury at her near post. Purce had received a pass in the left side of the box and, after a nifty bit of footwork, worked the ball back onto her right foot. Instead of trying to curl an effort to the far post, though, Purce attempted to catch Kingsbury out at her near post. However, Kingsbury produced a great stop and parried the ball area in the end.
The Spirit did not manage to test the Gotham defense much in the first half, but forward Trinity Rodman was able to get a shot away and put Gotham goalkeeper Mandy Haught into action in the 43 ^rd minute. Rodman was released down the right side of the field, and as one of the most dangerous players in the league in open space, she was relishing an opportunity to run at the hosts’ defense. Edging her way toward goal, Rodman was able to snap a strong, low shot with her right foot, but Haught was equal to it and kept the score level.
The second half kicked off with Washington the more aggressive of the two sides, particularly Rodman as well who worried the Gotham defense with a curling shot in the 50 ^th minute. Rodman and halftime substitute Ouleymata Sarr combined down the left with Sarr feeding Rodman near the top left side of the box. Rodman then tried to pick out the top right corner of the far post, but her effort could not fully come back around as the shot sailed wide of goal.
However, a quick one-two punch by Gotham beginning in the 65 ^th minute separated the side from Washington as home debutant Esther González found the back of the net twice in five minutes to shift all momentum her side’s way. First, González buried a chance from close in after the ball had bounced around the box. Initially waved off due to an offside call, VAR review confirmed by the center official saw the decision reversed and the goal given as Gotham especially its lead.
Then, in the 70 ^th minute, Gotham raced down the left side of the box through Williams again, and she was able to pick out the run of González in the middle of the penalty area with a short pass across the penalty area. González then settled the ball with a great touch and pushed her effort low past Kingsbury for a second goal to all but lift the hosts to a big victory.
Outlasting nine minutes of stoppage time due to a handful of second half injuries, Gotham FC was able to hold on for an impressive 2-0 win and further solidify the club’s place in the playoff race with a just three games remaining.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights