Gotham FC Opens W Concacaf Champions Cup with Victory over Rayadas

The start of the 2025/26 Concacaf W Champions Cup brought plenty of excitement from the very first matchday. Gotham FC defeated Rayadas de Monterrey 2-1 in an intense clash, with the home side capitalizing on early opportunities to secure three valuable points.

First Half: Early Strike and Local Control

The game began at a high tempo, and by the 6th minute Bruninha had opened the scoring with a powerful right-footed strike into the top corner, assisted by Josefine Hasbo. The early goal boosted Gotham’s confidence, and they continued to press in Monterrey’s half.

In the 24th minute, their dominance was rewarded again as Khyah Harper extended the lead with a close-range finish following a corner kick. Monterrey responded quickly, and at the 32nd minute, Marcela Restrepo pulled one back with a header after a setup from Alice Soto, keeping the contest alive going into halftime.

Second Half: Intensity and Defensive Solidity

The second half was marked by battles in midfield and tactical adjustments from both sides. Monterrey pushed for the equalizer with attempts from Jermaine Seoposenwe and Lucía García, but Gotham’s backline and goalkeeper Shelby Hogan stood firm.

Meanwhile, Gotham created chances of their own through Gabi Portilho and Esther González but couldn’t widen the margin. As time ran out, the hosts focused on sealing their defensive shape and successfully closed out the match.

A Statement Win

With this 2-1 victory, Gotham FC takes an early lead in their group and shows clear intent in the continental competition. For Monterrey, the narrow defeat leaves them with work to do, but there’s still time to bounce back in the group stage.