Gotham FC Left Frustrated in Scoreless Draw with Utah
Published on August 23, 2025 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
NJ/NY Gotham FC News Release
Gotham FC left Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday frustrated by a 0-0 draw against the Utah Royals, earning a point that nudged the hosts back into playoff position but feeling dissatisfied that none of its 18 shots broke through over 90 minutes.
Utah Royals goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn, who helped Gotham win the 2023 NWSL championship, made seven saves to keep the visitors in the match, while Gotham posted its seventh shutout of the campaign, good for second-best in the league.
"We need to play better than what we did in that first half," said Gotham FC coach Juan Carlos Amorós. "The second half shows who we are, but you cannot play only half of the games at your best apart from scoring. At the end, very good job - again, we created enough chances to win the game in the second half, but we didn't. We need to look at that part of the finishing, and then we need to look at the first half in general because I think we are better than that performance. We've played three games in six days - it's demanding - but we are better than that first half."
Gotham FC (5-6-6, 21 points) retained eighth place with help from results elsewhere, but the draw extended its winless stretch since NWSL play restarted after the league's mandatory July break. Amorós's team quadrupled Utah's entries into the opposition box (44-11), won 11 corners and put seven shots on target. The Eureka moment just never came.
"We're a little disappointed - we didn't come out strong in the first half, although we picked it up in the second," Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle told ION in a postgame interview. "We know we need to clean some things up and be more clinical in the final third. Overall, we just have to be better, and we know that."
Up next, Gotham FC returns to the road for the first time since early August, visiting reigning NWSL champion Orlando Pride on Aug. 29 at Inter&Co Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, with coverage on Prime Video.
Key Match Points
Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger tied the club career shutout record with her 14th in her 38th game, joining Brittany Cameron (45 games played for GFC) and Kailen Sheridan (80 games played for GFC),
Gotham FC held Utah without a shot on target in the first half, marking the second straight match the club has done so.
It was also the third time in four matches Gotham has accomplished the feat.
In total, Gotham allowed just one shot in the entire match.
Midfielder Jaelin Howell won the ball 11 times, the most for either team
Defender Jess Carter had a game-high five interceptions.
Gotham FC vs Utah Royals FC
Saturday, August 23, 2025
7:30 p.m. ET kickoff
Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, New Jersey
Attendance: 4,446
Weather: 75 degrees, sunny
Gotham FC (0, 0 - 0)
Utah Royals FC (0, 0 - 0)
Gotham FC (4-3-3): 30 - Ann-Katrin Berger (GK); 22 - Mandy Freeman (C) (77' 3 - Bruninha), 6 - Emily Sonnett, 27 - Jess Carter, 4 - Lilly Reale; 7 - Jaelin Howell, 11 - Sarah Schupansky (77' 8 - Taryn Torres), 16 - Rose Lavelle (77' 21 - Sofia Cook); 18 - Gabi Portilho (86' 34 - Khyah Harper), 9 - Esther González, 28 - Katie Stengel (55' 10 - Geyse)
Unused substitutes: 1 - Shelby Hogan (GK); 5 - Josefine Hasbo, 14 - Nealy Martin, 19 - Kayla Duran
Head coach: Juan Carlos Amorós
Utah Royals FC (4-2-3-1): 1 - Mandy McGlynn (GK); 28 - Imani Dorsey, 8 - Kate Del Fava, 18 - Kaleigh Riehl, 14 - Nuria Rábano; 33 - Aria Nagai (59' 22 - Dana Foederer), 10 - Caludia Zornoza (83' 17 - Ana Tejada); 13 - Brecken Mozingo (59' 24 - Cloé Lacasse), 11 - Mina Tanaka, 4 - Paige Monaghan (C) (76' 53 - Bianca St-Georges); 30 - Aisha Solorzano (59' 7 - Janni Thomsen)
Unused substitutes: 23 - Mia Justus (GK); 5 - Lauren Flynn, 16 - Madison Pogarch, 19 - KK Ream
Head coach: Jimmy Coenraets
Stats Summary
GFC / UTA
Expected Goals: 1.14 / 0.38
Shots: 18 / 5
Shots on Goal: 7 / 1
Saves: 1 / 7
Corners: 11 / 2
Fouls: 13 / 14
Offside: 3 / 4
Misconduct Summary:
Gotham FC
90+4' - Juan Carlos Amorós (Yellow Card - Dissent)
Utah Royals FC
61' - 24 - Cloé Lacasse (Yellow Card - Reckless Offense)
79' - 14 - Nuria Rábano (Yellow Card - Reckless Offense)
90+1' - 8 - Kate Del Fava (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul)
Officials
Referee: Gerald Flores
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Rodman
Assistant Referee 2: Nicholas Seymour
4th Official: Gary Gutierrez
VAR: Laura Rodriguez
AVAR: Tom Felice
National Women's Soccer League Stories from August 23, 2025
- Gotham FC Left Frustrated in Scoreless Draw with Utah - NJ/NY Gotham FC
- Gotham FC Left Frustrated in Scoreless Draw with Utah - NJ/NY Gotham FC
- McGlynn Records Second Straight Shutout in Road Draw against Gotham - Utah Royals FC
- Bay FC Makes History with Sellout Crowd at Oracle Park - Bay FC
- Spirit Defeats Bay FC 3-2, Earns Sixth Away Win of the Season - Washington Spirit
- Amorós Sticks with XI for Utah Matchup - NJ/NY Gotham FC
- Bay FC Sets New NWSL Attendance Record with Oracle Park Sellout - Bay FC
- Houston Dash Look to Extend Unbeaten Streak as They Host Seattle Reign FC on Sunday - Houston Dash
- Portland Thorns FC Acquires Forward Julie Dufour Through Trade with Angel City Football Club - Angel City FC
- Houston Dash Sign Goalkeeper Nadia Cooper to Short-Term Contract - Houston Dash
- What to Watch for as Racing Hits SoCal to Face San Diego Wave - Racing Louisville FC
- Orlando Pride Forward Barbra Banda Placed on Season Ending Injury List - Orlando Pride
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