Sports · Football · 17 hrs ago
Gotham and Seattle criticize pitch after NWSL playoff quarterfinal
Gotham FC beat the Seattle Reign 1-0 in an NWSL playoff quarterfinal in Harrison, New Jersey, on Sunday.
The only goal came from a Seattle own goal in the fourth minute.
Players and coaches from both teams criticized the pitch, describing it as sandy and unstable.
The NWSL had fined Gotham $10,000 before the game over the field’s quality.
The stadium is mainly used by the New York Red Bulls, who played there the night before, and it also hosted rugby the previous week.
The poor surface affected how the teams could play, Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amoros said.
Seattle’s Jess Fishlock played the final match of her career, and Gotham is due to play at the stadium again next Sunday.
Gotham FC beat the Seattle Reign 1-0 in an NWSL playoff quarterfinal on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
The teams criticized the condition of the pitch at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.
The only goal came from a fourth-minute own goal.
The NWSL had fined Gotham $10,000 before the match over pitch quality.
The stadium had hosted a rugby doubleheader the previous week and an MLS regular-season finale less than 24 hours before kickoff.
- Who
- Gotham FC and the Seattle Reign played in the quarterfinal. Coaches and players from both teams criticized the pitch.
- What
- Gotham won 1-0, with the only goal coming from a fourth-minute own goal.
- When
- Sunday, November 8, 2026.
- Where
- Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.
- Why
- The pitch appeared to have been overworked in recent weeks, and teams said its condition affected play.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sports Illustrated Stadium hosted a rugby doubleheader.
The Red Bull New York played their MLS regular-season finale at the stadium.
The NWSL fined Gotham $10,000 over the pitch quality.
Gotham beat the Seattle Reign 1-0 in the quarterfinal at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
- Result
- Gotham FC 1-0 Seattle Reign
- Only goal
- Fourth-minute own goal
- Venue
- Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, New Jersey
- NWSL fine
- $10,000
- Kickoff
- 12:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, November 8, 2026
What people are saying
I feel the obligation to almost apologize for the state of the pitch
We performed so well for this group of players to come against a team like that at home on this field, which is atrocious, just saying it out loud
Let's be real, there's no way a playoff game should be played on that shit
Obviously it's pretty sandy out there and so a little unstable
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