NWSL roundup: Esther Gonzalez helps Gotham beat sinking Dash

Esther Gonzalez scored in the third minute of stoppage time and NJ/NY Gotham FC pulled out a 2-1 win over the visiting Houston Dash on Sunday in Harrison, N.J.

The match had been tied since the 17th minute. Mandy Freeman sent a pass deep into the attacking area that fellow substitute Lynn Williams corralled at the end line. She passed it into the box to Esther, who pivoted and split two defenders with her shot, scoring her third goal of the season and her first since April.

Gotham FC (11-4-4, 37 points) bounced back from a loss to Orlando last weekend. The Dash (3-11-5, 14 points) lost their fifth straight match and remain winless in league play since late May.

Gotham FC struck first in the 10th minute. Houston had a goal kick that Gotham players controlled with a few headers. The ball came to Esther, whose one-touch through ball clearing allowed Yazmeen Ryan to break away and score.

Seven minutes later, Avery Patterson's wide cross into the box found Diana Ordonez for a header goal for Houston, her fifth tally of the season.

Pride 1, Red Stars 0

Marta's clever goal in the 37th minute was all Orlando needed to defeat Chicago in Bridgeview, Ill., and remain unbeaten.

With the Pride (14-0-5, 47 points) on the attack, the ball came to Marta just outside the 18-yard line. She feigned a pass to a teammate streaking into the box and kept it for herself, firing a left-footed shot to the far corner of the net, her sixth goal of the season.

Anna Moorhouse made two saves for Orlando. Alyssa Naeher finished with just one save for Chicago (7-10-2, 23 points), which could not find an equalizer despite getting some good pressure in the dying minutes. The Red Stars' Mallory Swanson had a chip shot saved during second-half stoppage time.

--Field Level Media