Gotham FC now have two wins in Group B of the 2025-26 Concacaf W Champions Cup after defeating Alianza 2-0 in El Salvador. The Bats are now unbeaten in their last four matches in all competitions, coming into this matchup with a win over Monterrey in Game 1 of the group stage, a draw against the Utah Royals, and a much-needed win against the Orlando Pride.

A 62nd-minute penalty from Geyse and a stoppage-time goal from Kayla Duran brought Gotham out of their slow start in the first half, when they took seven shots yet placed none on target. Alianza wasted no time in neutralizing Gotham's attacking forwards, limiting chances while forcing the front line into awkward passing positions. Despite early hesitations and the absence of several key players in the lineup, Gotham managed to secure and put themselves in a good position to advance to the semifinals.

Next up in the competition will be Vancouver Rise Academy on September 16.

1. Mak Whitham makes first Gotham start

Teenager Mak Whitham made her first competitive start for the club as she joined Geyse and Khyah Harper in the attacking three. The 15-year-old made waves a little under two years ago when she became the youngest player ever to play in a Gotham FC match at just 13. She continues to make history, becoming the youngest player to start for Gotham as she stepped onto the field in El Salvador. She came on as one of nine changes made by head coach Juan Carlos Amorós after Friday's win in Orlando.

It's a lot of pressure to put on a player so young, but Whitham looked at ease on the pitch. She's come on in regular league play as a sub for Gotham, usually within the last 10 minutes, but the environment in El Salvador was something else entirely.

While certainly lacking experience, it's games like these when Whitham can thrive. Quick passes and even quicker feet gave her an advantage over veteran Alianza defenders, although there were few opportunities in the first half to score. Whitham played for the first 45 minutes before being subbed off for Katie Stengel at the half. There's no doubt, after playing under this pressure that there are major things ahead for this teenager.

2. Scrappy starts

It wasn't the prettiest, but Gotham somehow pulled off the win. There were times of incoordination while pushing from the midfield, possibly due to the synthetic field, or the fact that Gotham were playing with a young front line. The Bats went for bigger, gutsier set pieces, although a majority taken as headers missed the goal entirely.

Alianza's performance was nothing to scoff at, with captain Priscila Ortiz disrupting quite a few potential chances by Gotham. The Bats appeared a bit lost near the middle of the first half as they struggled to find each other amid an aggressive defensive strategy implemented by Alianza's backline. Sticking one defender on an attacker while they're in the midst of passing on the run is already difficult; sticking two makes the play even more complicated. Somehow, Alianza made it work.

3. Much-needed penalty

After a rough first half, Gotham needed a breakthrough.

It came in the form of a penalty. Alianza's Linda Guillén collided with Sofia Cook while attempting to head away a deflected shot off a fellow teammate. Geyse eventually stepped up to take the penalty, and what a penalty it was.

Straight, narrow, and right into the back of the net. The momentum of putting a point on the board was just what Gotham needed to get their heads back in the game before letting the match slip from their fingers. Passes became sharper, defending became stricter, and attempts were taken more deliberately.

4. Late-night finish

As if a 1-0 finish wasn't enough, Duran decided to bless Gotham fans with a stunner.

A beautiful corner kick from Sarah Schupansky flew into prime position for Duran to take it out of the air and nail a header into the bottom right corner of the net. It was such an unexpected move that all Alianza goalkeeper Roxana Vega could do was watch as it sailed past.

Alianza had more than enough shots to take when they had the chance to score. However, hesitation and uncertainty made it all the harder as Gotham's backline tried to retake possession of the ball.

It's what makes Duran's header all the more special. Almost no one on Alianza's side saw her coming, running from her position further up the pitch to catch the ball at precisely the right moment to nail the header.

Gotham relishes these late finishes, and it's even better when they end the night with a stoppage-time goal. The 2-0 win puts Gotham at the top of Group B as they await the outcome of the Washington Spirit's match against Vancouver later today