Gotham FC blanks Portland in first game back since Olympic break

A month-and-a-half break didn’t throw Gotham FC off their stride one bit.

They picked up right where they left off in their return from the NWSL’s break for the 2024 Paris Olympics, cruising past Portland Thorns FC, 2-0, Saturday afternoon at Red Bull Arena.

And Gotham (10-4-3, 34 points) didn’t waste any time getting back to business.

Bruninha cut inside from the left flank, whipping a cross into the box that Ella Stevens only needed to glancing flick, heading past Thorns goalie Shelby Hogan to give Gotham a 1-0 lead just seven minutes into the game.

And Yazmeen Ryan finally buried her old side in the 70th minute.

The Thorns gave her way too much space in front of their box, and Ryan buried a rocket in the bottom right corner to give Gotham a 2-0 lead and some breathing room.

“Compared to last season I think we’ve grown so much in the way that we attack, because we have so many different threats in different areas of the field,” Ryan said. “That allows us to create and be unpredictable with teams. We just gotta keep on that.”

Emily Sonnett and Jess Carter were mostly in command in the back, though they did have a close call in the 52nd minute.

Sonnett’s turnover in Gotham’s box allowed Olivia Moultrie to fire on their goal, but Ann-Katrin Berger did well to save it.

Berger later had a miscommunication with Carter, who headed the ball back to her. But Berger had been charging forward, and Carter’s pass looped over her head and hit the post.

That was the closest the Thorns would come.

Entering Saturday’s clash ahead of the Thorns (8-3-6, 27 points) by three points and fourth in the table, Gotham is now tied with the Spirit in third, though the Spirit play their game in hand against the Current on Sunday.

The reigning champions were unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 games before the break after a slow start to the season, and extended that run to 12 of their last 13 on Saturday.

“I think the season is going well, but nothing changes,” head coach Juan Carlos Amoros said. “… We wanted to get to this point of the season being where we are.”

Rose Lavelle and Tierna Davidson, who both won the gold medal with Team USA at the Olympics, were subbed into the match in the 54th minute and received a raucous ovation from the crowd.

Jenna Nighswonger also won gold with Team USA, and played the entire game Saturday.

Sonnett, another gold medalist, was replaced by Davidson.

Crystal Dunn and Lynn Williams, Gotham’s other gold medalists, sat out due to injury.

Lavelle assisted Ryan’s goal and hit the post in the 86th minute.

“That connection is something that we’ve seen developing,” Amoros said. “I think the combinations are endless.”

Jessica Silva, whom Gotham signed via a free transfer from Portuguese side SL Benfica Women earlier this month, was introduced before the game, though she was not part of the matchday squad.