**Seattle, Washington** – OL Reign defeated NJ/NY Gotham FC by a defiant 4-1 scoreline on Sunday afternoon with a brace and assist from Megan Rapinoe as the home crowd was treated to a vintage performance.
The hosts began to pile on the pressure early with attacker Tziarra King whacking the goalframe with an effort in the 10 ^th minute. A ball played long over the top toward the left side for Rapinoe eventually led to the playmaker crossing into the middle of the penalty area. A glancing header from a Gotham defender allowed King to collect possession at the back post with only one defender in front of her. Opting to fire on goal after a touch, King rattled the crossbar with a powerful effort as the ball bounced back into play, though the visiting team’s defense would eventually get clear of danger.
However, just five minutes later the Reign would open the scoring through midfielder Rose Lavelle after a quick throw-in by Rapinoe. Taking the throw just a few yards inside of the opposition’s half, Rapinoe’s ball ended up bouncing over the leg of a Gotham defender on an attempted clearance and into the path of Lavelle, who was streaking toward goal. Facing on one-on-one with goalkeeper Michelle Betos, Lavelle lashed a left-footed shot across goal that nestled into the bottom far corner and in to go one-up.
Gotham would find half-chances few and far between through the remainder of the second half, but their night turned even more sour when defender Ellie Jean was judged to have fouled Rapinoe in the penalty area resulting in a spot kick for the hosts. Stepping up to take was Rapinoe and she sent Betos the wrong way with a strong right-footed effort into the right side of the goal to help increase her side’s lead.
At the half, the Reign were in comfortable position with a two-goal advantage and momentum in their favor.
Into the second half, the Reign would find their third goal of the night in the 69 ^th minute when Rapinoe capped off her impressive night with her second goal as she beat Betos with a drive from just inside the penalty area. The hosts took a throw-in from the left side of the field and aimed it toward forward Jordyn Huitema, who was to hold up play in the box as her teammates were set in motion. Choosing to lay it off to Rapinoe just a few feet toward the edge of the box, Rapinoe then beat another right-footed effort to the right-middle side of goal that Betos made contact with but was ultimately unable to keep out.
However, Gotham brought a little excitement back into the affair just three minutes later when they pulled one back via forward Taylor Smith. An impressive goal out of direct motion forwards, attacker Ifeoma Onumonu received the ball on the half-turn as she put her eyes toward goal. Onumonu then spotted the run of Smith from the right side into a central position where Smith received a pass still cutting toward the left side of the field. Then, just outside of the penalty area, Smith lined up a left-footed shot that snuck around the Reign defense and past goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce to breathe a little life into her side.
Unfortunately for Gotham, though, defender Mandy Freeman’s own goal in the 73 ^rd minute—just one minute after the club’s opening goal—would crystallize the Reign’s win and serve as the game’s final goal. Rapinoe was in possession inside the left side of the penalty area when she surveyed the box and attempted to cross to substitute Tobin Heath in the center. However, Freeman intercepted the pass with her own headed effort and ended up sending the ball over Betos and into the back of her own net.
In the end, it was a dominant Reign performance that led to their 4-1 win, a result that helps them bounce back from a loss at home against the Dash last weekend. For Gotham, though, the loss is their fourth straight as they now sit in 11 ^th place on 12 points with 13 games played.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights