Washington Spirit vs Gotham FC, 2024 NWSL, Playoffs - Semifinals

· Washington Spirit advance 3-0 on penalties

Washington Spirit

90'+3': Hal Hershfelt

FT - Penalties
1 - 1
Washington Spirit advance 3-0 on penalties

Gotham FC

56': Esther González
101': Bruninha

Washington Spirit triumphs over NJ/NY Gotham FC in penalty shootout

Aubrey Kingsbury makes three PK saves to send Spirit to NWSL final

Washington's Hal Hershfelt delivered a stoppage-time goal to level the score at 1, leading to a dramatic finish decided by penalties.

Match Timeline

0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
0': First Half begins.
1': Esther González (Gotham FC) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box.
6': Attempt missed. Yazmeen Ryan (Gotham FC) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Rose Lavelle.
7': Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
7': Foul by Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC).
8': Attempt blocked. Esther González (Gotham FC) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
8': Ella Stevens (Gotham FC) hits the left post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Jess Carter with a cross.
9': Attempt saved. Esther González (Gotham FC) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
10': Attempt saved. Leicy Santos (Washington Spirit) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Trinity Rodman.
10': Attempt saved. Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
11': Esther González (Gotham FC) wins a free kick on the right wing.
11': Foul by Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit).
12': Attempt saved. Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Leicy Santos.
12': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Ann-Katrin Berger.
13': Foul by Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit).
13': Jess Carter (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
14': Foul by Heather Stainbrook (Washington Spirit).
14': Yazmeen Ryan (Gotham FC) wins a free kick on the right wing.
17': Foul by Jess Carter (Gotham FC).
17': Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
17': Jess Carter (Gotham FC) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
18': Attempt saved. Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ashley Hatch.
18': Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick on the left wing.
18': Foul by Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC).
20': Delay in match because of an injury Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC).
22': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
23': Foul by Delanie Sheehan (Gotham FC).
23': Leicy Santos (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick on the left wing.
23': Delanie Sheehan (Gotham FC) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
24': Attempt missed. Paige Metayer (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Esme Morgan following a set piece situation.
26': Foul by Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit).
26': Jess Carter (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
27': Foul by Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC).
27': Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
29': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Jess Carter.
32': Foul by Delanie Sheehan (Gotham FC).
32': Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
33': Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
33': Jess Carter (Gotham FC).
34': Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
34': Foul by Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC).
34': Offside, Washington Spirit. Trinity Rodman is caught offside.
36': Ella Stevens (Gotham FC) wins a free kick on the right wing.
36': Foul by Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit).
38': Foul by Ella Stevens (Gotham FC).
38': Heather Stainbrook (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
39': Foul by Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit).
39': Jess Carter (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
41': Attempt blocked. Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rosemonde Kouassi.
41': Offside, Washington Spirit. Rosemonde Kouassi is caught offside.
41': Foul by Paige Metayer (Washington Spirit).
41': Mandy Freeman (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
43': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Mandy Freeman.
43': Attempt missed. Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Heather Stainbrook with a cross following a corner.
44': Esther González (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
44': Foul by Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit).
45': Corner, Gotham FC. Conceded by Casey Krueger.
45'+1': Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
45'+1': Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC) wins a free kick on the right wing.
45'+1': Foul by Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit).
45'+3': First Half ends, Washington Spirit 0, Gotham FC 0.
45': Second Half begins Washington Spirit 0, Gotham FC 0.
45': Substitution, Gotham FC. Jenna Nighswonger replaces Jess Carter.
46': Attempt saved. Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Ashley Hatch.
47': Foul by Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit).
47': Mandy Freeman (Gotham FC) wins a free kick on the right wing.
48': Delay in match because of an injury Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit).
50': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
53': Delanie Sheehan (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
53': Foul by Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit).
56': Foul by Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit).
56': Nealy Martin (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
56': Goal! Washington Spirit 0, Gotham FC 1. Esther González (Gotham FC) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Yazmeen Ryan with a cross.
59': Foul by Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit).
59': Jenna Nighswonger (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
60': Foul by Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit).
60': Mandy Freeman (Gotham FC) wins a free kick on the right wing.
61': Attempt blocked. Leicy Santos (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
62': Delay in match because of an injury Mandy Freeman (Gotham FC).
63': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
64': Offside, Gotham FC. Esther González is caught offside.
65': Substitution, Gotham FC. Bruninha replaces Mandy Freeman because of an injury.
66': Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
66': Foul by Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC).
67': Substitution, Washington Spirit. Makenna Morris replaces Heather Stainbrook.
68': Offside, Gotham FC. Yazmeen Ryan is caught offside.
70': Attempt missed. Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Leicy Santos.
71': Delay in match because of an injury Ella Stevens (Gotham FC).
71': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
72': Foul by Bruninha (Gotham FC).
72': Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
72': Bruninha (Gotham FC) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
72': Substitution, Gotham FC. Lynn Williams replaces Ella Stevens because of an injury.
73': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Emily Sonnett.
75': Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
75': Foul by Nealy Martin (Gotham FC).
77': Foul by Esther González (Gotham FC).
77': Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
78': Attempt blocked. Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Casey Krueger.
78': Attempt missed. Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
78': Delay in match because of an injury Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC).
79': Substitution, Washington Spirit. Lena Silano replaces Leicy Santos.
79': Substitution, Washington Spirit. Gabrielle Carle replaces Paige Metayer.
80': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
81': Foul by Gabrielle Carle (Washington Spirit).
81': Yazmeen Ryan (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82': Substitution, Gotham FC. McCall Zerboni replaces Delanie Sheehan.
83': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Tierna Davidson.
86': Foul by Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC).
86': Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
87': Offside, Gotham FC. Rose Lavelle is caught offside.
87': Attempt blocked. Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Casey Krueger.
87': Attempt blocked. Yazmeen Ryan (Gotham FC) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lynn Williams.
89': Substitution, Washington Spirit. Brittany Ratcliffe replaces Rosemonde Kouassi.
90': Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.
90'+1': Attempt missed. Lynn Williams (Gotham FC) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by McCall Zerboni following a fast break.
90'+1': Attempt missed. Brittany Ratcliffe (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Gabrielle Carle with a cross.
90'+2': Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+2': Foul by Esther González (Gotham FC).
90'+2': Foul by Jenna Nighswonger (Gotham FC).
90'+2': Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90'+2': Jenna Nighswonger (Gotham FC) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+3': Goal! Washington Spirit 1, Gotham FC 1. Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Makenna Morris with a cross following a set piece situation.
90'+4': Offside, Gotham FC. Esther González is caught offside.
90'+5': Attempt blocked. Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ashley Hatch.
90'+5': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Bruninha.
90'+6': Attempt missed. Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Makenna Morris with a cross following a corner.
90'+7': Foul by Bruninha (Gotham FC).
90'+7': Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+9': Second Half ends, Washington Spirit 1, Gotham FC 1.
90': First Half Extra Time begins Washington Spirit 1, Gotham FC 1.
90': Substitution, Gotham FC. Cece Kizer replaces Rose Lavelle.
90': Substitution, Gotham FC. Jéssica Silva replaces Yazmeen Ryan.
92': Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
92': Foul by Jéssica Silva (Gotham FC).
94': Foul by Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC).
94': Lena Silano (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
95': Attempt saved. Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Trinity Rodman.
97': Bruninha (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
97': Foul by Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit).
97': Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
99': Attempt missed. Esther González (Gotham FC) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by McCall Zerboni.
100': Attempt missed. Lynn Williams (Gotham FC) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by McCall Zerboni.
101': Foul by Bruninha (Gotham FC).
101': Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick on the left wing.
101': Second yellow card to Bruninha (Gotham FC) for a bad foul.
102': Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit) is shown the yellow card.
103': Foul by Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit).
103': McCall Zerboni (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
104': Attempt saved. Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Trinity Rodman.
104': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Ann-Katrin Berger.
104': Delay in match because of an injury Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC).
105': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
105': Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
105'+1': Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
105'+1': Foul by Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit).
105'+1': Delay in match because of an injury Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC).
105'+1': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
105'+4': Attempt blocked. Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
105'+4': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Tierna Davidson.
105'+4': Attempt blocked. Brittany Ratcliffe (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
105'+5': First Half Extra Time ends, Washington Spirit 1, Gotham FC 1.
105': Second Half Extra Time begins Washington Spirit 1, Gotham FC 1.
105': Substitution, Washington Spirit. Annaïg Butel replaces Esme Morgan.
107': Foul by Cece Kizer (Gotham FC).
107': Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
108': Attempt missed. Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
108': Attempt blocked. Brittany Ratcliffe (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
108': Attempt blocked. Gabrielle Carle (Washington Spirit) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
109': Attempt saved. Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Casey Krueger.
109': Foul by Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit).
109': McCall Zerboni (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
112': Attempt blocked. Esther González (Gotham FC) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
114': Attempt saved. Esther González (Gotham FC) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Jéssica Silva with a through ball.
114': Corner, Gotham FC. Conceded by Aubrey Kingsbury.
115': Attempt saved. Esther González (Gotham FC) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Jenna Nighswonger with a cross.
115': Corner, Gotham FC. Conceded by Aubrey Kingsbury.
116': Attempt saved. Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jenna Nighswonger with a cross.
116': Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
116': Foul by McCall Zerboni (Gotham FC).
116': McCall Zerboni (Gotham FC) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
119': Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
119': Foul by Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC).
119': Attempt blocked. Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lena Silano with a cross.
120': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Nealy Martin.
120': Fourth official has announced %injmins% minutes of added time.
120'+1': Attempt saved. Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Makenna Morris with a cross.
120'+1': Second Half Extra Time ends, Washington Spirit 1, Gotham FC 1.
120': Penalty Shootout begins Washington Spirit 1, Gotham FC 1.
120': Goal! Washington Spirit 1(1), Gotham FC 1. Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
120': Penalty saved. Esther González (Gotham FC) right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
120': Goal! Washington Spirit 1(2), Gotham FC 1. Lena Silano (Washington Spirit) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
120': Penalty saved. McCall Zerboni (Gotham FC) right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
120': Goal! Washington Spirit 1(3), Gotham FC 1. Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
120': Penalty saved. Jenna Nighswonger (Gotham FC) left footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
120': Penalty Shootout ends, Washington Spirit 1(3), Gotham FC 1.
0': Match ends, Washington Spirit 1(3), Gotham FC 1.

Statistics

GFC		WAS
23	Fouls	19
4	Yellow Cards	2
1	Red Cards	0
4	Offsides	2
3	Corner Kicks	9
9	Saves	4
46.3	Possession	53.7
14	SHOTS	27
5	ON GOAL	10
0.4	On Target %	0.4
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
276	Accurate Passes	333
404	Passes	457
0.7	Pass Completion %	0.7
7	Accurate Crosses	9
15	Crosses	32
0.5	Cross %	0.3
100	Long Balls	61
37	Accurate Long Balls	20
0.4	Long Balls %	0.3
3	Blocked Shots	10
18	Effective Tackles	15
27	Tackles	25
0.7	Tackle %	0.6
18	Interceptions	15
43	Effective Clearances	18
43	Clearances	18

Game Information

Competition: NWSL

Venue: Audi Field
Location: Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Attendance: 19,365

Line-Ups

Washington Spirit (4-2-3-1)

No.	Name
1	Aubrey Kingsbury (GK)
24	Esme Morgan
9	Tara McKeown
3	Casey Krueger
26	Paige Metayer
10	Leicy Santos
22	Heather Stainbrook
17	Hal Hershfelt
33	Ashley Hatch
19	Rosemonde Kouassi
2	Trinity Rodman

Washington Spirit Substitutes:

Brittany Ratcliffe, Kate Wiesner, Gabrielle Carle, Annaïg Butel, Jenna Butler, Lena Silano, Nicole Barnhart, Courtney Brown, Makenna Morris.

Gotham FC (4-1-4-1)

No.	Name
30	Ann-Katrin Berger (GK)
15	Tierna Davidson
6	Emily Sonnett
14	Nealy Martin
22	Mandy Freeman
27	Jess Carter
17	Delanie Sheehan
16	Rose Lavelle
13	Ella Stevens
18	Yazmeen Ryan
9	Esther González

Gotham FC Substitutes:

Bruninha, Lynn Biyendolo, McCall Zerboni, Jenna Nighswonger, Cassie Miller, Cece Kizer, Sam Hiatt, Maitane , Jéssica Silva.

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