Sinead Farrelly helps Gotham FC to fairytale NWSL final

Republic of Ireland midfielder Sinead Farrelly came off the bench to help NY/NJ Gotham FC defeat her former club Portland Thorns after extra-time and reach the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) decider for the first time.

Gotham got the breakthrough in the 107th minute when Kristie Mewis found Katie Stengel on the edge of the box and she fired a fine finish into the top corner.

It's adds another chapter to Farrelly's remarkable comeback story.

She returned to the game in March of this year with Gotham after an eight-year absence, earning a surprise call-up to Vera Pauw's Ireland squad in April and subsequently playing in all three group games at the World Cup.

In 2021, Farrelly and Mana Shim - who is also now at Gotham - went public with allegations against ex-Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley, who they played under in 2015.

The subsequent investigations finding widespread sexual abuse and misconduct in the NWSL.

Farrelly and Shim will now look to help Gotham to a first ever NWSL crown when they take on Megan Rapinoe's OL Reign in Saturday's final.

Two-time World Cup winner Rapinoe has added one final stop on her farewell tour after OL Reign beat the top-ranked San Diego Wave, for whom Ireland striker Kyra Carusa featured.

The 2019 Ballon d'Or winner bid a bitter goodbye to the global stage as the USA crashed out in the last 16 of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in August.

But the Olympic gold medallist could add one more accolade to her resume before calling time.

Saturday's face-off takes place at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

Additonal reporting: Reuters

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