Rose Lavelle's late goal lifts Gotham past Thorns in quarterfinals

Rose Lavelle broke a tie in second-half stoppage time to lift defending champion NJ/NY Gotham FC to a 2-1 win against the visiting Portland Thorns in their NWSL quarterfinal match on Sunday in Harrison, N.J.

Lavelle took a pass from Delanie Sheehan near the spot and fired it quickly into the back of the net in the 97th minute.

Gotham advance to the semifinals on Nov. 16 or 17 to face the Washington Spirit, which edged Bay FC 2-1 in a quarterfinal game on Sunday.

After a fairly quiet first half, the action picked up in the second, and the two sides finally converted.

Tierna Davidson broke the scoreless draw to give Gotham a 1-0 lead in the 67th minute off a set piece. Lavelle served the ball into the center of the box and it landed by Davidson, who was amid a crowd of Thorns but got her foot on the ball to send a shot past the arm of goalkeeper Shelby Hogan.

It was Davidson's first NWSL goal since 2019, then with the Chicago Red Stars.

The Thorns capitalized on a free kick of their own to pull level in the 75th minute. Olivia Moultrie served a cross from the left, and Reilyn Turner jumped for header on the far side, directing just inside the right post.

Gotham controlled much of the play in the first half, working more time in the attacking third while managing four shot attempts, one on target. Portland had only one shot attempt, not on target, in the opening 45 minutes.

Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger nearly served up a golden opportunity for Christine Sinclair in the 40th minute when her attempt at midfield hit the star Canadian forward before Gotham recovered the ball in the defensive third.

Berger coming out of the box nearly bit the hosts again in the 43rd minute when Portland's Sophia Smith got to the rolling ball first and put it into the empty net, but the goal was nullified for offside.

Gotham advance to the semifinals to face the Washington Spirit, which edged Bay FC 2-1 in a quarterfinal game on Sunday.

--Field Level Media