Gotham FC silences Courage with shock win and Purce's epic comeback | OneFootball

Gotham FC notched its first 2025 NWSL win in emphatic style. At Sports Illustrated Stadium, the team beat the North Carolina Courage by 3-1 and put an end to a disappointing start to the season. The club was already showing promising signs in the previous rounds, creating chances, generating volume, but not converting them into goals and wins.

That did not shift against the Courage. Gotham had 21 shots, posted 2.32 xG, and restricted the opposition to a mere nine attempts and 0.44 xG. The Courage for the first time in 59 matches were behind possession to their opponents. Those numbers make it clear why the result felt so critical.

Esther González gets the game underway and sets the tone

Spanish forward Esther González was key to reversing the score. She netted her season's first two goals midway through the first half, just six minutes, the second goal came after the first. Both were the result of the team build-up, the first on a pass from Ella Stevens, who also notched her first assist of the 2025 season.

Gotham needed someone to take advantage of the opportunities it had been creating, and she did so precisely. Her goals gave the halftime lead and allowed the team to play more calmly in the second half.

Lilly Reale's goal seals Gotham's grip on the game

Early in the second half, Lilly Reale opened the lead 3-0. The game began with Bruninha, scoring her first assist of the season. It also was Reale's first professional goal. The defender has been catching up in the rotation, and the scoreboard was not showing what was happening out on the field, Gotham seemed systematic, possession with purpose and clever movement.

The win was hardly put under pressure near the finish, with the Courage only scoring a consolation. At this time, however, the match was well in their firm grip. The team remained centered, though keeping to an overarching edge.

Midge Purce back from a year-long stint of absence

One of the bright spots of the day was seeing Midge Purce back in the field. The 2023 NWSL Championship game MVP donned the Gotham jersey again after more than a year of rehabilitation for a torn ACL. She came on in the second half and helped in creating the attacking pace.

She was accompanied by Geyse, who also made her first appearance of the season. Both are important players for the team and add depth to Gotham's offense as they move into the next few rounds. Having those players back on the field may be able to keep the team at the level of play that it showed against the Courage.

Amorós stresses method and consistency

Head coach Juan Carlos Amorós was candid when he assessed the game. For him, what prevailed was following the process. "The most significant aspect of winning this game was doing it the correct way," he said. "At the end of the day, for us, what matters is how we do things, always listening for details we need to pay attention to improving on, without losing our minds."

Amorós also mentioned that the team must continue to highlight individual strengths within a team system. The win was vindication for the strategy he's been preaching since the start of the season.

Gotham also recorded three or more goals in a match for the 10th time in team history. They did so last on November 1, 2024, when they beat the Utah Royals 4-1. In the Courage, the team also extended its home winning streak over this team to four matches.