Gotham Advances After Early Own Goal Against Seattle

A fourth-minute own goal by Seattle defender Jordyn Bugg gave Gotham FC a 1-0 quarterfinal win on November 8 and sent the top-seeded team into the NWSL semifinals. Gotham will face Kansas City next weekend; eighth-seeded Seattle was eliminated.

Bugg’s attempted clearance of a corner from Jaedyn Shaw went into Seattle’s net. Gotham’s keeper Ann-Katrin Berger stopped three shots, while Seattle keeper Claudia Dickey was not called on to make one. Seattle thought it had equalized in the 59th minute, but Nérilia Mondésir’s finish was disallowed because Jess Fishlock was offside in the buildup.

Gotham’s win came without a shot on target. Seattle had 11 shots to Gotham’s six, but could not beat Berger. Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amoros said the poor state of the playing surface affected his team’s performance. The league had fined Gotham $10,000 before the match over the pitch, which had also hosted other events in the preceding weeks. Players and Seattle coach Laura Harvey also criticized the field conditions.

Gotham’s semifinal against Kansas City is scheduled for next Sunday at 3 p.m. local time at Sports Illustrated Stadium.