SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Rose Lavelle scored in the 80th minute and the eighth-seeded Gotham FC beat the Washington Spirit 1-0 on Saturday night to win their second National Women’s Soccer League championship. Second-half substitute Bruninha drove into the box on the left wing and sent the ball across to Lavelle, whose left-footed shot sailed past Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury into the bottom corner of the net. It is the first NWSL championship title for Lavelle, who had scored in the 2023 final when she was playing for the Seattle Reign against Gotham in a 2-1 loss. After a strong opening 10 minutes of the match for Gotham, with three shots from Jaedyn Shaw, the final began to mature into a tense affair. There were few chances and the best of the first half came when Spirit midfielder Hal Hershfelt perfectly timed a slide tackle and cleaned out Midge Purce with the follow through. Not long after the half, Trinity Rodman was brought off the Spirit bench for Sofia Cantore, bringing the crowd to its feet. The U. S. women’s national team star was on limited minutes after suffering a knee sprain in October. Even with the introduction of Rodman, the Spirit continued to struggle to create chances. They had marginally more control of the ball, 53%, but were outshot by Gotham 12-6 and finished the game without a single shot on target. Rodman had zero shots and zero chances created. The second-seeded Spirit (14-6-8) suffered a second consecutive defeat in the NWSL final, having lost last year to the Orlando Pride in Kansas City, Missouri. The Spirit reached this year’s final by overcoming Racing Louisville 3-1 in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals and then beating the Portland Thorns 2-0 in the semifinals. Gotham (11-8-9) had defied the odds to make the final, going on the road twice to defeat the top-seeded Kansas City Current 2-1 in the quarterfinal and the defending champions the Pride, 1-0. Gotham are the first eighth-seed to win the NWSL Championship. In 2023, when there were only six playoff spots, Gotham became the first sixth seed to lift the trophy. Head coach Juan Carlos Amoros has seven NWSL playoff wins in his career and two championships. ___ AP soccer:.
https://mymotherlode.com/sports/soccer-general-news/10221348/lavelles-goal-leads-gotham-over-spirit-1-0-for-nwsl-championship.html
Tag Archives: quarterfinals
Cardiff City star Callum Robinson who has 5 goals in 3 games against Chelsea reacts to facing Blues in EFL Cup quarter-finals
Cardiff City striker Callum Robinson has expressed his excitement about facing Chelsea after both teams were drawn against each other in the EFL Cup quarterfinals.
The Blues secured their place in the last eight of the competition following a nervy 4-3 win over Wolves, while Cardiff overcame Wrexham. Chelsea will face third-tier Cardiff City, avoiding Premier League opposition at this stage, as they compete for a spot in the semi-finals.
“Chelsea it is 👀👀😂😂😂,” Robinson posted on social media, highlighting his enthusiasm for the upcoming fixture.
Robinson boasts an exceptional record against Chelsea throughout his career, having represented West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United, and Aston Villa against the Blues. Remarkably, the striker has yet to taste defeat in three appearances against Chelsea, scoring five times across his various teams.
His first encounter with Chelsea came as an Aston Villa player during the 2013-14 season, although he remained on the bench during a 1-0 victory. Robinson played against Chelsea for the first time on the pitch in the 2019-20 season, scoring as Sheffield United held the Blues to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
The following season, now with West Bromwich Albion, Robinson scored a brace in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Frank Lampard’s Chelsea. He repeated this feat against Thomas Tuchel’s side—the future UEFA Champions League winners—scoring twice in a memorable 5-2 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Maresca’s Cardiff City will aim to be the first Blues team to hand Callum Robinson a defeat. The team will also face another familiar face in loanee Omari Kellyman, who could receive special permission to play against his parent club in the upcoming game.
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### 10-man Chelsea Defeat Wolves in EFL Cup Thriller
Chelsea edged out Wolves 4-3 in their EFL Cup last-16 clash at the Molineux despite being reduced to ten men.
The Blues claimed their quarterfinal spot after overcoming Premier League opposition in a dramatic encounter. Enzo Maresca’s side took an early three-goal lead thanks to efforts from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, and Estevao Willian.
However, Wolves mounted a fierce comeback with goals from Tolu Arokodare and David Moller Wolfe early in the second half. Chelsea were further challenged when Liam Delap, returning from a two-month layoff, was sent off for two bookable offences.
Despite being a man down, Chelsea found a fourth goal through Jamie Gittens before conceding again to Wolfe. They held on through a late Wolves onslaught to secure their place in the last eight of the competition.
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The upcoming clash between Chelsea and Cardiff City promises to be an intriguing encounter, with Callum Robinson eager to extend his unbeaten run against the Blues and both teams vying for a place in the semi-finals.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/news-cardiff-city-star-callum-robinson-5-goals-3-games-chelsea-reacts-facing-blues-efl-cup-quarter-finals
League of Legends Worlds 2025: Bracket, prize pool & where to watch
For the next several weeks, the best League of Legends teams from around the globe will compete in China for Worlds 2025. As the biggest esports event of the year, Worlds 2025 promises to deliver unforgettable moments as the top teams battle their way to the championship.
If you’re looking to keep up with all the action, here’s everything you need to know about League of Legends Worlds 2025.
### League of Legends Worlds 2025 Prize Pool
Worlds 2025 features a total prize pool of $5,000,000 USD. This impressive sum will be distributed among the top 17 teams as follows:
– 1st Place: $1,000,000
– 2nd Place: $800,000
– 3rd-4th Place: $400,000 each
– 5th-8th Place: $300,000 each
– 9th-11th Place: $175,000 each
– 12th-14th Place: $125,000 each
– 15th-16th Place: $112,000 each
– 17th Place: $75,000
### League of Legends Worlds 2025 Bracket
Riot Games has released the initial bracket for Worlds 2025, outlining the competition structure as teams vie for a spot in the quarterfinals. The event kicks off with the Swiss Stage starting on October 15, followed by the Quarterfinals on October 29.
Riot Games will keep fans updated with scores and standings on their official esports website. We will also update this article with the latest bracket information as it becomes available.
### Where to Watch League of Legends Worlds 2025
You can watch every match of League of Legends Worlds 2025 live on the Riot Games Twitch channel. For those who miss the live broadcasts, match replays and highlights will be available on the LoL Esports YouTube channel.
Stay tuned for more updates as Worlds 2025 unfolds!
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146350/league-of-legends-worlds-2025-bracket-prize-pool