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González, Gotham win NWSL championship after Megan Rapinoe's career ends with an injury
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OL Reign forward Megan Rapinoe, right, embraces NJ/NY Gotham defender Ali Krieger as Rapinoe comes off the field after an injury during the first half of the NWSL Championship soccer game, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in San Diego. - photo by AP Photo/Gregory Bull
SAN DIEGO (AP) — World Cup winner Esther González scored the go-ahead goal on a header in first-half stoppage time and Gotham FC survived a wild finish to beat OL Reign 2-1 on Saturday night in a National Women's Soccer League championship match that was in its first few minutes when Megan Rapinoe hobbled off the pitch in a heartbreaking end to her career. Following a VAR review in stoppage time, Gotham goalie Mandy Haught was issued a red card for denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and sent off, giving the Reign a chance to tie it. With defender Nealy Martin taking over in goal, the Reign's Rose Lavelle took a free kick just outside the box but it bounced off a Gotham player along the wall.