Jaedyn Shaw’s Last-second Goal Propels Gotham Fc Into Nwsl Championship

Jaedyn Shaw scored pinch practically nan past footwear of nan crippled and Gotham FC hit nan Orlando Pride 1-0 connected Sunday to beforehand to nan National Women’s Soccer League title game.

Shaw’s match-winning extremity came successful nan seventh infinitesimal of stoppage time. From nan separator of nan box, nan 20-year-old coiled a free-kick into nan box. The shot took a bounce correct successful beforehand of Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse and past nestled into nan corner.

“I conscionable knew that I had prepared myself for that moment, I person been moving tirelessly connected my free kicks,” Shaw said. “I unrecorded for these moments.”

With nan win, Gotham will return connected nan Washington Spirit successful nan NWSL last connected Saturday successful San Jose, California. The Spirit downed nan Portland Thorns 2-0 successful nan different semi-final Saturday.

It will beryllium Gotham’s 2nd NWSL last appearance, having lifted nan trophy successful 2023. The Pride are nan reigning NWSL champions and were aiming to go nan first NWSL squad to successfully take sides their title since 2019.

In beforehand of 15,714 fans successful Orlando, nan Pride started nan brighter of nan 2 sides.

Pride guardant Lizbeth Ovalle was astatine nan bosom of nan action successful nan first half. The Mexican world saw a close-range changeable from six yards retired saved by Ann-Katrin Berger successful nan 5th minute. In nan 33rd, nan shot skidded disconnected her shin and went wide erstwhile she was 2 yards out.

In a conflict of 2 protect teams, Gotham attempted conscionable 2 shots successful nan container during nan match. Shaw’s extremity was Gotham’s only changeable connected target.

With nan very past onslaught of nan game, Pride defender Oihane Hernández sent a header towards nan apical area but Berger was capable to dive backwards and extremity it complete nan barroom successful nan 10th infinitesimal of stoppage time.