Gotham FC Falls 1-0 in Rivalry Match at Washington

Lucia Di Guglielmo’s second-half goal stood as the game-winner as the Washington Spirit edged the visiting Gotham FC 1-0 on a blustery Saturday in the nation’s capital.

It was Washington’s first win in two years of rivalry games against Gotham FC, snapping a five-match winless streak that included Gotham FC’s 2025 NWSL Championship win.

“We’re disappointed with the result,” said Gotham FC coach Juan Carlos Amorós. “I have to give a lot of credit to our players. They gave absolutely everything they had. [It’s] difficult coming back from everywhere, playing away, players reporting here, and they adapted to the circumstances really well. We were able to dominate possession. We definitely needed to be better at creating chances. It was probably a game that should have been a draw. Not much going on in the boxes at both ends, but they got the three points. … It's everything in our hands, and we go to Orlando and hopefully in November to come back here to win the [NWSL] Championship. But we have a lot of work to do.”

Gotham FC (16-5-7, 55 points) maintained first place atop the NWSL standings despite the result, three points clear of now-second-place Washington. San Diego, a point behind Washington, plays later Saturday with the chance to move back into second and closer to Gotham FC.

The loss tightened the race for the NWSL Shield, given to the league’s regular-season champion, with two games left. Gotham FC still has an Oct. 25 road match at Orlando and the regular-season home finale against Utah on Nov. 1 at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

In this year’s second rivalry meeting between Gotham FC and Washington, the match took a familiar shape, a physical, cagey affair that only featured one big chance and few threatening moments.

Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger made two excellent saves on Washington forward Trinity Rodman’s efforts in the first half, while Washington goalkeeper Sandy MacIver made two saves.

In the 70th minute, Di Guglielmo ran onto a deflected Mélissa Berthi cross, sliding her finish past the onrushing Berger.

Prior to the goal, Washington hadn’t scored on Gotham FC in more than 550 minutes of play across all competitions.

Gotham FC’s brightest moment came in the 83rd minute, when debutant Olivia Wingate set up Denise O’Sullivan for a right-footed shot that fizzed wide.

For Gotham FC, the focus turns to the final road match of the regular season, an Oct. 25 tilt at Orlando, returning to the site of Gotham FC’s dramatic 2025 NWSL semifinal victory that sent Gotham FC to the NWSL Championship.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET, with coverage on CBS Sports Network.

Key Match Points

• Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger made five saves, tied for her fourth-most in a match this season.
• Defender Jess Carter made her 28th regular season appearance of the season, extending the club record she shares with Jaelin Howell.
• Defender Tierna Davidson recorded 103 touches and completed 81 of 88 passes (92%).
• Defender Mandy Freeman extended her club record with her 131st regular season appearance.
• Howell made her 28th start of the season and increased her season total to 2,480 minutes, extending her own club records in both categories.
  • Howell made her 41st consecutive start, extending the third-longest streak in club history.
• Defender Leila Ouahabi made her Gotham FC debut in today’s match, earning her first start for the club.
• Forward Olivia Wingate also made her Gotham FC debut, entering the match as a substitute in the 59th minute.

Gotham FC at Washington Spirit

Saturday, October 17, 2026

12:30 p.m. ET kickoff

Audi Field, Washington, D.C.

Attendance: 19,215

Weather: 55 degrees, cloudy

Gotham FC (0, 0 – 0)

Washington Spirit (0, 1 – 1)

Scoring Summary

Washington Spirit

70’ - Lucia Di Guglielmo

Gotham FC (4-3-3): 30 – Ann-Katrin Berger (GK); 22 – Mandy Freeman (59’ 29 – Olivia Wingate), 27 – Jess Carter, 15 – Tierna Davidson (c), 4 – Leila Ouahabi (59’ 8 – Taryn Torres); 5 – Denise O’Sullivan, 7 – Jaelin Howell (90’ 13 – Savannah McCaskill), 16 – Rose Lavelle (90’ 24 – Andrea Kitahata); 23 – Midge Purce, 20 – Sam Kerr, 18 – Guro Reiten (76’ 14 – Talia Sommer)

Unused substitutes: 1 – Shelby Hogan (GK); 10 – Jaedyn Shaw, 25 – Meredith Speck, 28 – Tess Boade

Head coach: Juan Carlos Amorós

Washington Spirit (4-3-3): 18 – Sandy MacIver (GK); 13 – Lucia Di Guglielmo, 9 – Tara Rudd, 24 – Esme Morgan, 14 – Gabrielle Carle; 17 – Hal Hershfelt, 12 – Andi Sullivan, 10 – Leicy Santos (46’ 7 – Mélissa Bethi); 27 – Sofia Cantore (78’ 19 – Rosemonde Kouassi), 25 – Clara Luvanga (79’ 33 – Ashley Hatch), 2 – Trinity Rodman

Unused substitutes: 28 – Sara Wojdelko (GK); 5 – Élisabeth Tsé, 8 – Monique Ngock, 11 – Claudia Martínez, 16 – Tamara Bolt, 26 – Paige Metayer

Head coach: Adrián González

Stats Summary

GFC / WAS

Expected Goals: 0.41 / 0.92

Shots: 5 / 13

Shots on Goal: 2 / 6

Saves: 5 / 2

Corners: 4 / 7

Fouls: 10 / 12

Offside: 2 / 4

Misconduct Summary

Gotham FC

61’ - Jaelin Howell (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul)

90’+4 - Taryn Torres (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul)

Officials

Referee: Abdou Ndiaye

Assistant Referee 1: Sarah Gaddes

Assistant Referee 2: Nicholas Seymour

4th Official: MJ Tehini

VAR: Shawn Tehini

AVAR: Matthew Rodman