Gotham FC Secures NWSL Championship Berth with 97th-Minute Game-Winner

Orlando, Florida – NJ/NY Gotham FC dramatically advanced to the 2025 NWSL Championship, defeating the Orlando Pride 1-0 in a thrilling semifinal match on November 16, 2025. The decisive goal came in the 97th minute from Jaedyn Shaw, securing Gotham's place in the final for the second time in three seasons. The victory, achieved on the road at Inter&Co Stadium, showcased Gotham's resilience and continued their improbable playoff run as the No. 8 seed.The match remained deadlocked until deep into second-half stoppage time when a foul on Rose Lavelle set up a free kick for Gotham FC. Jaedyn Shaw, who has been instrumental in Gotham's playoff campaign, stepped up and delivered a stunning strike from just outside the 18-yard box. Her shot sailed past the Orlando defense, marking her third goal contribution of the playoffs and becoming the latest goal in regulation in NWSL postseason history.The drama continued even after Shaw's breakthrough. In the 100th minute, the Orlando Pride mounted a desperate attack, creating a shot that mirrored Gotham's late goal. However, Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger made a crucial save, denying the Pride a late equalizer and preserving her team's narrow lead. "Gotham FC really came through in the last four minutes of that semifinal. Shocking goal and a save for the ages at the absolute death of the match," remarked Franklin Leonard on social media, capturing the intensity of the game's closing moments.This hard-fought win follows Gotham's upset victory over the top-seeded Kansas City Current in the quarterfinals, where Katie Stengel scored a dramatic extra-time winner. The team, led by Coach Juan Carlos Amorós, is now aiming for its second NWSL title, having previously won in 2023 as the No. 6 seed. This year, they are repeating history as the lowest seed to reach the championship.Gotham FC will now face their archrival, the Washington Spirit, in the 2025 NWSL Championship on November 22 at PayPal Park in San Jose, California. The final will be a rematch of a heated 2024 semifinal and promises another intense showdown between two formidable NWSL sides.