Morgan’s late goal lifts San Diego to Challenge Cup win over Gotham

HARRISON, N.J. — Alex Morgan scored within the 88th minute and the San Diego Wave gained the Challenge Cup with a 1-0 victory over Gotham FC on Friday night time within the National Women’s Soccer League.

Morgan began the second half in its place. She broke the stalemate on a header off a nook kick from Savannah McCaskill, who joined the Wave within the offseason from rival Angel City.

“The ball came straight to me, so I knew that I couldn’t mess it up,” Morgan mentioned.

The Challenge Cup match pitted the winner of final season’s league championship and the NWSL Shield winner. Gotham claimed the title after a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Reign, and the Wave completed with the season’s greatest report (11-7-4). The league’s common season opens on Saturday.

The Wave had a great probability within the thirty third minute, however Gotham goalkeeper Cassie Miller bought a hand on Jaedyn Shaw’s shot and the ball and it popped up and away.

After profitable the title, Gotham spent the offseason including high-profile gamers together with Crystal Dunn from the Portland Thorns, Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett from the Seattle Reign, and Tierna Davidson from the Red Stars. All 4 are U.S. nationwide crew regulars.

Among these on the match have been Douglas Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, and Sen. Cory Booker. Attendance was introduced at 14,241.