Bay FC’s big, late collapse leads to 5-1 loss to NJ/NY Gotham FC

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.

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.