Gotham FC Advances on Own Goal Despite Sandy Stadium Pitch

Gotham FC advanced to the NWSL semifinals with a 1-0 win over Seattle Reign FC on Sunday in Harrison, New Jersey.

The victory at Sports Illustrated Stadium was defined by the condition of the field, which players described as sandy and unstable. The pitch featured visible brown patches only 18 hours after the New York Red Bulls hosted an MLS match on Saturday night.

Jaedyn Shaw provided the decisive play in the fourth minute when her corner kick deflected off Seattle defender Jordyn Bugg for an own goal. Gotham recorded zero shots on target in the match, becoming the first team in NWSL history to win a contest without a shot on frame.

Seattle head coach Laura Harvey criticized the decision to play a playoff match on that surface. She told ESPN that the league was aware of the field's condition the previous week. Harvey noted that the NWSL fined Gotham FC $10,000 for poor field conditions during their regular-season finale a week earlier, a penalty confirmed by ESPN. Gotham is a tenant at the venue and does not control the stadium, which also hosted a rugby match two days before the regular-season finale.

Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amoros said he felt an obligation to address the pitch because his team won. He stated that players must focus on the ball because it can bounce unpredictably on such a surface. Seattle midfielder Jess Fishlock, who played her final match before retiring, called the field atrocious. Gotham defender Jess Carter described the surface as so bad in the post-match tunnel.

The venue issues reflect a week of uncertainty for the NWSL as the league resolves availability conflicts for the 2026 playoffs. Sports Illustrated Stadium will not be available next Saturday for a semifinal television window because the Red Bulls will host Club America in a friendly. Several scenarios had the top-seeded Gotham playing at Icahn Stadium in New York City, which features artificial turf.

Washington's win over the Portland Thorns on Sunday created a path for Gotham to host the Kansas City Current in the semifinal on Nov. 15. That scheduling would force the Kansas City Spirit to relocate their semifinal against the Utah Royals because Audi Field is booked for an NCAA Division III football game on Nov. 14. If Gotham hosts at Sports Illustrated Stadium, the Red Bulls friendly is scheduled for the night before the NWSL match.