Gotham FC win NWSL, while Liga MX Femenil reaches SF stage

MIAMI, Florida – The domestic league seasons around Concacaf are reaching their final stages, with some champions already celebrating their victories after a great year of women’s football.

On Saturday evening, NJ/NY Gotham FC were crowned as NWSL Champions for the first time in the team’s history. In front of 25,011 fans, the largest crowd that has witnessed a Championship, Gotham downed OL Reign 2-1.

The game started with high emotions when in the fourth minute legendary OL Reign FW Megan Rapinoe, who was playing her last professional match, had to be subbed out due to injury.

The first goal then came from the now-champions when MVP FW Midge Purce got past three defenders and assisted Lynn Williams in the area to find the back of the net in the 24’.

OL Reign didn’t hold back, with MF Rose Lavelle putting her team back in the game in the 29’ when she eluded Gotham's defense, got past GK Mandy Haught and scored to make it 1-1. The winning goal came from a header by World Cup Champion Spanish FW Esther Gonzalez in the 45+2’, when she won the ball via a corner kick taken by Purce.

The last minutes of the game were full of emotions, as Haught saw a red card in the 90+7’ trying to stop FW Elyse Bennett outside the área. MF Nealy Martin had to cover the goalkeeper position until the final whistle, including on an OL Reign free kick.

Gotham held on to become Champions for the first time, as captain Ali Krieger was able to lift the trophy in what was also her last professional match.

Liga MX Femenil

The Liga MX Femenil is down to its final four teams that will compete in the semifinals for the ticket to Final of the Apertura 2023.

Club America, Guadalajara, Tigres UANL and Monterrey made the final four after the quarterfinals games this past Sunday and Monday, showing dominance and why all of them have won the league at least once.

Reiging champions Club America kept their late season momentum going against Pachuca, winning the first match 6-0, with Kiana Palacios, Alison Gonzalez, Katty Martinez, Natalia Mauleon and captain Andrea Pereira serving as the goal scorers for the evening. In the second match, they downed Las Tuzas again 3-2, getting the first ticket to the semifinals.

The second team who secured a semifinal spot was Chivas, with an aggregate victory of 5-1 against Toluca. Five-time champions Tigres faced Pumas UNAM, getting a winning aggregate score of 5-2. Rayadas was the last team who clinched their spot after topping Club Tijuana 8-4 on aggregate.

Liga Femenina Costa Rica

The Torneo de Clausura 2023 of Costa Rica returned, with the teams still fighting to get as many points as possible.

The Clasico Nacional took place on Saturday evening, as LD Alajuelense and Saprissa FF faced each other to see who could climb up the table. Even though both teams left everything on the field, their defensive lines held every attack, blocking every opportunity, as the game ended in a 0-0 draw, leaving them in second and third place, respectively.

CS Herediano got back to their feet after the international break and defeated Municipal Pococi 1-0 on Saturday evening. The only goal of the evening came from the boots of MF Veronica Prieto in the 8’. The result allowed Herediano to remain in the first division of Costa Rica.