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After the Kansas City Current tied Gotham FC in stoppage play to force extra time last weekend, there was a general feeling that the next goal ultimately would decide who would advance to the semifinals.
There was no room for error.
So after Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger made an impressive diving save to stop Current midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta’s quick strike aimed at the right side of the net, Emily Sonnett let her teammates know what was up.
That strike attempt was close. A little too close.
And Sonnett, the back line’s conductor, could be seen directing orders to her teammates to do their best to ensure the Current wouldn’t get another opportunity like that.
Gotham eventually pulled off the all-time playoff upset, beating the No. 1 Current on their home turf to advance to their third straight semifinals.
The goal scorers always get the praise after thrilling wins like that duel in Kansas City. But Gotham’s impressive defense, anchored by Sonnett and Berger, was just as important in ensuring the club would meet the defending champion Orlando Pride on Sunday in Florida.
Gotham approached last week’s quarterfinal with determination to shed the underdog label. They played with suffocating pressure and the intention to irritate and disrupt the Current.
While Kansas City may have outshot Gotham 16-15, including 8-5 in on-target attempts, the visitors allowed just one goal — a score that came off a rare misread by Berger.
But a lot of the best wins aren’t too pretty. And the focus this week has been on building off last weekend’s big victory.
“To be able to keep momentum is vital,” Sonnett told The Post. “It’s a new week. We have a new opponent, and keeping those routines kind of the same so we’re able to perform [is important]. That way, you’re not getting too high off a win, but you’re also not getting too low off what you can fix.”
Much has been made this postseason of Gotham FC’s worst-to-first turnaround that resulted in the club’s first NWSL championship in 2023.
It’s something the players have discussed among themselves and has been pinned as a reminder that anything can happen, especially after Gotham fell to the eighth — and final — seed for the playoffs on Decision Day nearly two weeks ago.
But Gotham FC have embraced being underrated. They’re hungry to prove the naysayers wrong.
“This team does best when our backs are against the wall and when we’re being doubted,” midfielder Jaelin Howell said.
The fact the Pride are defending their title hasn’t even crossed Sonnett’s mind this week as she and her team prepared for their next match. She’s been focused on staying present and the game’s fundamentals.
The regular season doesn’t matter. What counts is what you do with the 90 minutes on the pitch.
And Gotham are playing like they’re seeking redemption after underperforming for most of the season.
“It really does turn into a three-game season,” Sonnett said of Gotham’s approach to the playoffs. “How are you putting together some of your best performances to advance each game hopefully? I think every team is probably thinking this way to reach the final.”
The Pride, like Gotham, are a team some have been quick to write off after they finished the regular season in fourth place.
The Pride are without leading goal scorer Barbra Banda, who suffered a season-ending injury in August. That means the rest of Orlando’s supporting cast will have to step up to the challenge.
But Gotham plan to approach Sunday’s match with the same ferocity as they did against the top-ranked team.
“Coming off a win, you can look at the really positive things to keep momentum in terms of the game plan, and then where are those moments that we can find them? Can we be a little better in the final this? Can we keep in a compact shape defensively?” Sonnett said. “Understanding that they have obvious threats and they’re a good, organized team, but kind of taking that back to the basic steps so you can replicate what you did on the weekend.”
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