Gotham FC 3, Angel City 1: Second Half Comeback Turns the Tide
- Alonso Contreras
- Sep 8
- 2 min read
By Alonso Contreras
Angel City could not hold on to an early lead as Gotham FC stormed back with three unanswered goals to claim a 3ā1 victory in a physical, high-tempo clash.
The match opened in stunning fashion when Kennedy Fuller put Angel City ahead inside the very first minute. After pressure in midfield, Fuller latched onto a loose ball and fired home with confidence, giving the visitors an early shock advantage. Angel City fed off that momentum, with S. JĆ³nsdĆ³ttir and M. A. Vignola testing Gothamās defense during the opening half. Gotham, however, responded with determination, pressing high and creating chances of their own through S. Schupansky, J. Hasbo, and Gabi Portilho.
The breakthrough for Gotham came right after halftime. In the 46th minute, Portilho leveled the score with a composed finish, capping a spell of pressure that carried over from the first half. Just four minutes later, Rose Lavelle struck from distance, curling a precise shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper H. Seabert to complete the turnaround.
From there, Gotham grew in confidence. Their midfield, led by Jaelin Howell, controlled the tempo, while substitutes like Kristie Mewis and Midge Purce injected fresh energy into the attack. Angel City fought back with chances of their own, including efforts from JĆ³nsdĆ³ttir and Christen Press, but Brad Stuver and the Gotham back line stood firm.
The decisive moment came in the 67th minute when Howell herself found the net, finishing a flowing move to make it 3ā1. The goal capped an outstanding display from Gothamās midfield general and effectively sealed the match.
The closing stages saw more drama, with injuries to Gabi Portilho and JĆ³nsdĆ³ttir temporarily slowing the pace, but Gotham maintained control. Angel City pushed in stoppage time, with JĆ³nsdĆ³ttir forcing one last effort on goal, but it was too little, too late.
In the end, Angel City were left frustrated after their early strike faded into a night of missed chances and defensive lapses, while Gotham FC celebrated a comeback victory fueled by resilience and clinical finishing.
