Gotham FC defeats Orlando Pride 1-0 on stoppage-time goal to reach NWSL final
Jaedyn Shaw scored in the seventh minute of stoppage time, propelling No. 8 seed Gotham FC to a 1-0 victory over the Orlando Pride in the NWSL semifinal Sunday.
November 16, 2025 - 06:11 PM ET • 2 min read
NJ/NY Gotham FC, the No. 8 seed, defeated the defending champion Orlando Pride 1-0 on Sunday in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) semifinal, securing their spot in the championship game.
The match, held at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, remained scoreless through 90 minutes of regulation play. The decisive goal came in the seventh minute of stoppage time from 20-year-old forward Jaedyn Shaw.
Shaw scored off a free kick taken from the edge of the box. She curled the ball toward the net, where it took a bounce in front of Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse before settling into the corner.
"I just knew that I had prepared myself for that moment, I have been working tirelessly on my free kicks," Shaw said following the match. "I live for these moments."
The victory followed a highly defensive battle. The Orlando Pride had nearly twice as many shots as Gotham FC, and Gotham FC had not registered a single shot on goal until Shaw's late free kick. Gotham goalkeeper Anna Katrin Berger also made a crucial late save to seal the victory for the New Jersey-based club.
Gotham FC entered the playoffs as the lowest seed and continued their underdog run, which began with a 2-1 upset victory over the NWSL Shield winners and No. 1 overall seed Kansas City Current in the quarterfinals.
The team's current playoff success mirrors their 2023 championship run, where they also entered the postseason in the final playoff position before winning the title.
The defeat ends the season for the Orlando Pride, who were the 2024 NWSL champions. The Pride entered the semifinal riding a six-game unbeaten streak and were attempting to become only the third team in league history to win consecutive titles.
With the win, Gotham FC advances to face the Washington Spirit in the NWSL Championship game. The final is scheduled for Saturday at PayPal Park in San Jose, California. The team will spend the night in Orlando, and will fly to the Bay Area on Monday to prepare ahead of the game.