NJ / NY Gotham FC 8-7-7 2 x 1 OL REIGN FC 9-8-5 at Snapdragon Stadium ( home of San Diego Wave ) in San Diego , California
The NJ / NY Gotham FC has reached the NWSL Championship after finishing last place in 2022 .
It is the second straight season a team has reached the final after finishing the previous year with the fewest points . It had never happened prior to Kansas City reaching the 2022 NWSL Championship .
The Reign have won two of their 11 total knockout matches across all NWSL competitions ( D2 L7 , lost PK shootout in both draws ). Their two 1x0 wins in this year ’ s playoffs make them the second NWSL team ever to have multiple 1 x 0 wins in the playoffs ( also Chicago in 2019 and 2021 ).
This year ’ s NWSL Championship will feature two clubs who played in the league ’ s inaugural season of 2013 and neither ever got the title . It will be Gotham FC ’ s first appearance in the Championship , as all four of the other NWSL clubs who have played every season in league history have reached the final at least twice . OL Reign ’ s two appearances came in 2014 and 2015 where they suffered defeats .
The statics led all the expectations to OL Reign which has beaten Gotham FC in four straight games entering their last meeting when Gotham scored a 4 x 1 road win . That victory back in May was tied for Gotham ’ s largestever win in the series with wins in June 2021 and May 2013 . Also , 27 points separated them during the season and despite all that , NJ / NY made it here to dispute the trophy with OL Reign . “ The game is played ”.
A big surprise came very early in the match , at only 5 minutes played , Reign ’ s Rapinoe got an injury forcing her to exit the game . Replacing Rapinoe was forward Bethany Balcer , who jumped in and adapted to the circumstances right away as best as she could .
NWSL Final ’ s Summary At 6 ’ Rapinoe injured by herself . 29 ’ Williams - NY Gotham ’ s goal 38 ’ Lavelle - Reign ’ s goal 45 ” 2 # 9 Esther , 5 ’ 3 ” NY victory goal
The first attack opportunity came in the 21 st minute when a cross into the box from Gotham defender Bruninha was headed to the opposite side of the area by a Reign defender where Gotham forward Lynn Williams was waiting . Williams was able to collect the ball and get a shot away that sailed toward the far post , but she could not get over it enough to direct it into the back of goal .
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