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Esther eyes history as Gotham fights to end home skid against struggling Bay

She’s chasing her 10th goal while both teams need a win before the long NWSL break
ByIzabelle Franca|
Gotham FC forward Esther Gonzalez (9) celebrates with midfielder Jenna Nighswonger (2) and midfielder Emily Sonnett (6) following a second half goal against Bay FC
Gotham FC forward Esther Gonzalez (9) celebrates with midfielder Jenna Nighswonger (2) and midfielder Emily Sonnett (6) following a second half goal against Bay FC | John Jones-Imagn Images

Gotham FC welcomes Bay FC this Saturday at Sports Illustrated Stadium with a real chance to solidify their turnaround in the table. The team is coming off a 3-0 road win over the Utah Royals that snapped a four-game winless streak. They look to repeat the feat at home and finish the first half of the 2025 NWSL season on 18 points. The game is also the final one before a five-week break for international play. League-leading goal scorer Esther González remains Gotham's best bet up front.

Home record is unreliable

The home form has been abysmal for the team. The team has a victory, a draw, and three losses in five matches, with four goals scored and six conceded. Gotham demolished Bay FC 5-1 at home last season, scoring four second-half goals, two of them by Esther. Now they have the challenge of doing that again and ending a three-match winless streak at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Esther at her best

Esther González is in her best shape of the campaign. She leads the NWSL Golden Boot standings with nine goals. She had four goals in the victory over Utah, tying a record for goals in a game in the league. The forward is also the league's leading scorer over recent meetings with Bay, and her input becomes even more crucial in this weekend's game.

Bay FC seeks away response Bay FC is also on 15 points but has not done well on the road. They have collected a mere five points from six road games. They lost 1-0 to Orlando Pride in their previous game, even though they dominated the game. They outshot the opposition 20-7 and had the lion's share of possession. The goal was a quick restart that caught the defense flat-footed. The performance was superior to the result, but costly errors plagued them.

Gotham has an advantage

Recent form is firmly in Gotham's direction. The two teams clashed two times in 2024 and the New Jersey team took both, by a combined score of 7-1. The latest win was on the very field where this Saturday's game is to be played. That head-to-head margin gives that psychological edge, with the two teams tied on the table.