Y. Yamamoto (50)
Denver Defeats League-Leading Gotham 3-0
DENVER LINEUP: Asman, Reid, Kurtz, Sonis, Oke (64’ Means), Reagan (64’ Lynch), Heaps (64’ Flint), Sheehan, Ryan, Yuzuki (68’ Yuna), Kössler (79’ Thomas)
Unused Substitutes: Pickett, Nytes, Gaetino, Boade
GOTHAM LINEUP: Berger, Bruninha (62’ Speck), Davidson ©, Carter, Purce, Howell, Shaw (85’ Kitahata), O’Sullivan (62’ McCaskill), Reiten (77’ Torres), Kerr, Dudley (45’ Boade)
Unused Substitutes: Hogan, Sommer, Freeman, Wy
How it Happened
In front of a sellout crowd at Centennial Stadium, Denver Summit FC (8-8-6, 30 pts) earned a resounding 3-0 victory over reigning National Champion Gotham FC (13-4-6, 45 pts). The loss marked Gotham’s first since July 4, snapping a 10-match unbeaten streak for the visitors.
Entering the second half scoreless, the Summit took the lead at the 50th minute as defender Ayo Oke received a perfectly placed pass by Melissa Kössler, then sent it soaring into the path of Yuzuki Yamamoto, who served it straight into the back of the net. The tally was the second of Yuzuki’s career with the goals scored in consecutive matches.
Denver maintained control and put the game away with a late offensive surge against the NWSL leaders. Rookie forward Olivia Thomas netted her second career goal in as many matches in the 82nd minute, and Yazmeen Ryan capped the dominant team performance with her sixth goal of the campaign in the 88th minute.
With the win, Denver executed a season sweep (2-0) of Gotham, its first sweep of any opponent.
Facts & Figures
After taking home a win against Gotham in March (2-0), the Summit completed the first sweep of their inaugural season, solidifying them as the only program to do so against Gotham this year.
In what was Denver’s fifth shutout in the 2026 campaign, and first since May 29 (1-0 at Louisville), goalkeeper Kat Asman made four crucial saves against a Gotham offense that had only been shutout five times this season, securing the first shutout in her NWSL career.
The Summit has scored nine goals in their back-to-back home matches, with five players sinking the nine tallies (Ryan – 1, Yuzuki – 2, Thomas – 2, Sonis- 1, Kössler – 2, Flint – 1). In their last three home matches the squad has scored 11 total goals.
Assisting Olivia Thomas’ goal and scoring one of her own, Yazmeen Ryan closed out the match as the fifth Summit player this season to tally multiple goal contributions in a single match.
Looking Ahead
Denver Summit FC hits the road to face Angel City FC in Los Angeles for the first matchup between the two clubs this Friday at 7 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. PT. Local viewers can tune in via The Spot Denver 3, while national coverage will be broadcast on ION.