Esther Gonzalez scored twice as NJ/NY Gotham FC erupted for three late second-half goals in a four-minute flurry to snap a 1-1 tie and hand Bay FC a rough 5-1 loss Saturday night.
The defeat marked the most lopsided one in Bay FC’s inaugural season. It was also the first time Bay FC allowed more than one goal in a game since Aug. 23.
Bay FC (9-13-1), though, maintained a three-point edge over ninth-place Racing Louisville FC for the eighth and final NWSL playoff spot with three matches left in the regular season.
Rose Lavelle headed in a goal for NJ/NY at the 70-minute mark to snap a 1-1 tie and triggered the scoring spree that sunk Bay FC. Two minutes after Lavelle scored, Gonzalez headed in another goal off a headed pass by Emily Sonnett. Two minutes later, Gonzalez scored yet again by right-footing a shot into the bottom left corner of the net from close range.
The four-minute collapse left Bay FC trailing 4-1, a deficit that grew to 5-1 when Cece Kizer scored from right in front of the goal 10 minutes later.
“That’s why they’re the champions. Not a good day for us. It happens,” said Bay FC head coach Albertin Montoya.
Bay FC’s lone goal came at the 18-minute mark when Asisat Oshoala, after a snaking run down the field, fired a curling strike into the right corner of the goal to tie the match at 1-1.
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The loss snapped an impressive run on the road for Bay FC, which had scored points in five of their last six road matches (4-1-1).
Another strong opponent awaits Bay FC next Saturday night when the Kansas City Current visit PayPal Park for a 7 p.m. match.