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NWSL Championship: Gotham FC avoid disaster despite keeper red card

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Gotham FC goalkeeper Mandy Haught received a red card for this play in stoppage time of the 2023 NWSL Championship. (Ray Acevedo/USA TODAY Sports)

A red card on goalkeeper Mandy Haught in stoppage time nearly spelled disaster, but the Gotham FC held on for a 2-1 win over OL Reign in the NWSL Championship.

Haught reached an arm outside the box to bat the ball away, which earned her a handball violation and an ejection for denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity after the first VAR review in NWSL Championship history. With Gotham out of substitutions, defender Nealy Martin took her place in net, donning an oversized goalkeeper jersey.

The ensuing free kick from Reign midfielder Rose Lavelle bounced off the wall of players between her and the net. The final whistle blew moments later, sealing victory for Gotham.

The action-packed match included goals from Lynn Williams and Esther González for Gotham, both off assists from Championship MVP Midge Purce. Lavelle scored the lone goal for the Reign, who played most of the match without retiring star Megan Rapinoe after she exited with a suspected Achilles injury in the sixth minute.

Just Women’s Sports writer Claire Watkins broke down the action in San Diego.