Reign FC winning streak ends with 2-0 loss to Gotham FC

With a three-match winning streak on the line and very much in a crowd of teams trying to claim a playoff spot, Seattle Reign FC hosted the defending NWSL Champions Gotham FC on Monday night.

The first half saw Seattle struggle to move across the field as Gotham's pressing made it difficult to move the ball up, limiting touches for forwards Tziarra King and Ana-Maria Crnogorčević.

Gotham's Delanie Sheehan opened the scoring in the 41st minute off a counter created by the pressing Gotham had been doing on Seattle in one of the rare probes they made into Gotham's defensive third.

Seattle came out in the second half with far more energy and activity in Gotham's half as they hunted for an equalizing goal. While part of their three-match winning streak came from showing resilience and coming back from conceding first, they weren't able to find that magic against the champs, and an 85th minute goal from Esther sealed the win for Gotham FC over Seattle, 2-0.

WHAT WORKED: HANNA GLAS DEBUT

With Sofia Huerta in Lyon, Hanna Glas made her Reign debut tonight, going 86 minutes, perhaps the only bright spot on the evening for Seattle. Given that she's only been in Seattle for no more than two weeks, she had a decent outing, confirming what Seattle Reign head coach Laura Harvey said in her pre-match presser.

"I thought she did well. She's up against a tough opponent, Ella (Stevens) has had a fantastic season, you take her off and you bring on Lynn Williams. I felt we kept them quiet on the left hand side of the field for majority of the game. I think Rose (Lavelle) was the only one who caused us a problem on the left when she was there, so yeah, I think Hanna did great," said Harvey on Glas' debut.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK: NO HUITEMA, NO FISHLOCK

While she was listed as Questionable on the Availability Report, Seattle was without forward Jordyn Huitema due to illness, and midfielder Jess Fishlock was ruled out with an unspecified leg injury. Had either or both players been available to play, Seattle would probably have a much better first half – being able to shake off Gotham's press and move the ball up more, as well as have more options in the attack.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK: TURNOVER HURTS SEATTLE

Despite a schedule of three matches in six days for Gotham, the defending NWSL champs were persistent in pressing Seattle whenever they had the ball in the first half. This caused some wonky touches by Seattle, creating turnovers that flirted with dangerous moments for Gotham. Their work paid off in the 41st minute when Gotham forced a turnover in their defensive third and moved the ball up the field in the blink of an eye, resulting in Sheehan's goal.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK: THE BACK-BREAKING SECOND GOAL

This season is Claudia Dickey's first as the starting goalkeeper. She did miss some games due to a knee injury, and understandably there will be growing pains in the first season in which you're penciled in as the starting goalkeeper. That said, Seattle still technically had a chance to equalize and grab a point for their playoff push until Esther's goal in the 85th minute. It's a ball that Dickey must do better in securing. She knows it too, obviously, but it was the knockout blow for the night.

"The next three games are the most important"

Laura Harvey had alluded even in her pre-match press conference that tonight against Gotham wasn't a "must-win," and that getting points would have been a bonus. So if there is a loss they can afford to have at this point of the season, it would be this – IF they win their next three matches, with two of them against teams directly above them in the standings and hunting a playoff spot.

Harvey said of the team's performance tonight, "We looked lethargic, reactive, I didn't think our quality wasn't good enough. When we won the ball back, we had moments where we could play our way bit out of trouble and then give the ball away, and they'd be back on us. It was a tough night. Our motto is always 'Stay in the game,' and I felt at one-nil, we were staying in the game, but the second goal was a killer. From pretty much nothing too."

Oddly enough, the loss doesn't hurt Seattle's chance to claim a spot in the NWSL Playoffs given that they already knew the standings going into tonight's match. They remain five points away from the final playoff spot, currently held by Bay FC, whom they will host in two weeks' time.

However, before that, Seattle boards a plane to Texas for their next match to face last-place Houston Dash. The match is scheduled for a 5:30 PM PT kickoff on Saturday, September 21. The match will be broadcast on NWSL+, and fans in the Puget Sound region can also watch it on local network KONG TV.