Gotham cruise into playoffs with rout of Royals

Yazmeen Ryan and Mandy Freeman each scored a first-half goal to lead NJ/NY Gotham to a 4-1 victory over the Utah Royals in Sandy, Utah, on Friday night.

Gotham's Esther Gonzalez added a late-second-half brace after Utah cut the deficit to one goal.

NJ/NY (17-4-5, 56 points) beat Utah for the second time this year and ended the regular season on an eight-match unbeaten streak (7-0-1). Gotham, who are one point behind the first-place Orlando Pride, will open the NWSL playoffs at home against a to-be-determined opponent on Nov. 10.

Hannah Betfort tallied the lone goal for the Royals in the second half.

Utah (7-15-4, 25 points) saw its four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1) end. The Royals were previously eliminated from playoff contention.

Ryan opened the scoring in the 15th minute. She latched onto a cross from Ella Stevens outside the top of the 6-yard box and blasted a high shot straight down the middle to put Gotham on the board.

Freeman added to the lead in the 17th minute. She curled a right-foot blast from outside the box inside the near post to give Gotham a two-goal advantage.

The Royals finally pulled one back in the 74th minute as Betfort tracked down a long ball and beat two defenders to send it home.

Gonzalez countered in the 77th minute when she one-timed a long pass and blasted the ball past goalkeeper Mandy Haught's fingertips. Gonzalez tacked on her second goal seven minutes later.

--Field Level Media