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Hopkins’ 89th-minute volley seals dramatic 2-1 upset
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Bethune scores stunning free kick against top seeds
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Current to face Washington Spirit for first NWSL title
After a week dominated by a headline-grabbing stadium scheduling imbroglio, Gotham FC and the Kansas City Current finally got down to the vital business of their NWSL semi-final on Sunday afternoon, a frigid encounter at an unlikely venue on New York City’s Randall’s Island with a place in next Saturday’s championship match at stake.
Haley Hopkins delivered the knockout blow at the death, hitting an 89th-minute volley off the crossbar and in to seal a 2-1 upset that left Gotham FC’s title defense in tatters. Paired with Croix Bethune’s first-half free-kick stunner, the late winner sent fourth-seeded Kansas City past the defending champions into a championship showdown in six days against the Washington Spirit.