Jaedyn Shaw Gives Gotham FC Victory Over Orlando Pride
In an exciting semi-final match played at Inter&Co Stadium, Jaedyn Shaw, a key player for Gotham FC, scored a crucial goal in stoppage time, securing a 1-0 victory over Orlando Pride, the current NWSL champion. Gotham, the team with the lowest seed in this year’s playoffs, will face the Washington Spirit on Saturday in the NWSL final at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.Shaw, who shone in Gotham’s victory over the Kansas City Current in the quarterfinals, arrived in Gotham in September after a transfer of $1.25 million from the North Carolina Courage. His free kick goal dashed the Orlando Pride’s hopes of retaining the title. Marta, Pride forward, expressed her disagreement with the referee’s decision to award the free kick.“I knew I had prepared for that moment, I have worked tirelessly on my free throws. I live for these moments”, Shaw declared.
Jaedyn Shaw
Marta, who will turn 40 before the start of the next NWSL season, has not revealed her future plans. After the defeat, the six-time winner of the world’s best player award, stated that she will visit her family in Brazil. Marta still feels the passion for competing.“It wasn’t a foul. We should lose the match anyway, but not this way,” commented Marta.
Marta
In the best Pride occasion, Marta enabled Julie Doyle, whose cross was deflected by Emily Sonnett, preventing Jacquie Ovalle from scoring into an empty net. After Shaw’s goal, Pride had a free kick in the 100th minute, taken by Marta. The shot was saved by Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. If Gotham achieves a second championship in three years, Shaw’s arrival will be a key factor. Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amoros sees similarities between the current team and the one that won the title in 2023.“I’m not here to waste time. I’m still hungry. I don’t play for what I did in the past. I still feel like I can do something for this team, for my teammates, for the staff. I care a lot. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be like this, but I still care a lot, and I hope we come back next year with the same mentality, a strong mentality, the same belief, the same attitude, because this team deserves much more,” added Marta.
Marta
“Honestly, it’s very similar in that sense. Obviously, a lot of different people, but I think – and this is what we’ve been talking about internally for a long time – we have everything to win, and that depends on them. Because the key is that you can have individual talent – in this league everyone has it – but the differentiating factor is when individual talent really cares about winning not only for themselves, but for the person next to them”, declared Amoros.
Juan Carlos Amoros
