Rose is again
From her ankle boo-boo
The rain fell down
And Gotham did, too.
The return of star midfielder Rose Lavelle, meant to spark Gotham FC throughout a patchy run of league kind, as a substitute offered only a silver lining throughout a 2-1 dwelling loss to the Kansas Metropolis Present on a grey and wet early Saturday afternoon.
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It was the primary look for Lavelle — the fan favourite who had been sidelined from Gotham (3W-3D-5L) and the U.S. girls’s nationwide staff following offseason ankle surgical procedure — since final Nov. 16.
“It’s all the time powerful to be out for some time and have to look at your staff from the sideline,” Lavelle mentioned. “However I believe it’s such a enjoyable group to look at, so I used to be chomping on the bit to get again on the market with them.”
Rose Lavelle (16) tries to get previous Claire Hutton (14) throughout the second half of Gotham’s 2-1 dwelling loss to Kansas Metropolis at Sports activities Illustrated Stadium on June 7, 2025. John Jones-Imagn Photos
The cheers for Lavelle began within the thirty first minute when she rose from the substitutes bench to start warming up past the objective line.
At halftime, she shared a hug with Liberty counterpart Breanna Stewart, who joined an introduced crowd of 10,399 at what’s now generally known as Sports activities Illustrated Stadium for the staff’s annual Satisfaction match.
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Lavelle entered within the 74th minute to a sustained spherical of applause, and wasted little time getting on the ball and showcasing her trademark saucy dribbling.
Minutes later, she despatched a left-footed shot simply broad of the highest nook.
Nealy Martin (14) controls the ball as Kansas Metropolis ahead Temwa Chawinga (6) defends throughout Gotham FC’s loss. John Jones-Imagn Photos
“She’s simply such a distinct participant from everyone else you see,” Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amorós mentioned. “All of us have a sense that one thing particular can occur, and for us, to have her again on the pitch is one thing actually, actually particular.”
Lavelle additionally utilized the strain that led to a Present personal objective deep into second-half stoppage time.
“Day by day she is available in, and she or he’s there earlier than us and stays after us, working to get her ankle again to full well being,” Gotham’s Nealy Martin mentioned. “So this was actually superior to see her on the market. We’re excited for the expertise she brings to the staff, but additionally the chief and the teammate she’s been off the sphere.”
Michelle Cooper (17) celebrates together with her Kansas Metropolis teammates after scoring a objective of their win over Gotham FC. John Jones-Imagn Photos
The day of blended feelings ended with the ceremonial presentation of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup, the inaugural regional membership title Gotham received on Might 24, additional underscoring the place the staff is caught in the meanwhile.
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There’s one other trophy to be pleased with and exhibit, affirming the membership’s ambitions to be related on a global degree.
On the identical time, there’s the fact of the standings: Final yr’s NWSL semifinalists completed the afternoon in ninth place, outdoors of playoff place, and confronted the prospect of sinking as little as twelfth (out of 14) by the top of the weekend.
Geyse (10) strikes the ball previous Kansas Metropolis’s Claire Hutton throughout the second half of Gotham FC’s loss. John Jones-Imagn Photos
They’re winless of their previous 4 NWSL matches (0W-1D-3L), a stretch relationship again six weeks to an April 26 victory over the Washington Spirit.
They’ve scored simply 13 targets in 11 video games, regardless of a wealth of attacking choices, and have a objective differential of +1.
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“We do have a number of work to do. I believe now we have the instruments to get again in direction of the highest of the desk or again in playoff competition,” Lavelle mentioned. “I believe now we have the group to do it. … We’ll be again.”
Kansas Metropolis (9W-0D-2L) are the perfect staff within the league, and rapidly confirmed why, scoring twice inside 11 minutes — the primary off a foul giveaway by Emily Sonnett.
Gotham twice appeared to have pulled one again early within the second half, just for each targets to be disallowed, together with one on a doubtful offside name. Amorós repeatedly took challenge with the officiating after the sport — “It must be higher,” he concluded — and could also be listening to from the league workplace.
“We needed to have fun with three factors that I believe we deserved at present and really in all probability received,” Amorós mentioned.