Gotham Dropped from…

In a significant performance, Club América forward Scarlett Camberos netted a hat trick on Wednesday, driving her team to a 4-1 victory over Gotham FC in the semifinals of the Concacaf W Champions Cup.

Gotham suffered a setback when starting goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was injured and had to be stretchered off to the hospital.

After winning the Liga MX Femenil Clausura title just days prior, América will now face Washington Spirit for their first-ever international title and a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. The NWSL team advanced by narrowly defeating Pachuca 1-0 in the other semifinal, with Claudia Martinez scoring late to prevent an all-Liga MX final.

Camberos started the scoring for América in the 21st minute and struck again in the 57th minute. The San Diego-born Mexico international completed her hat trick from the penalty spot near the end of the match.

“We are experiencing very heightened emotions and powerful thoughts about what we can and want to achieve,” said Club América coach Ángel Villacampa.

Gotham’s challenges extended beyond the defeat. Berger’s injury occurred when she attempted to challenge Camberos for the ball just before halftime. As Gotham pushed forward looking for an equalizer, they lost possession, leading to a counterattack.

Berger rushed off her line to deny América a second goal but received medical attention for several minutes before being taken off the field on a backboard.

Having played a crucial role in Gotham’s NWSL Championship and Concacaf W Champions Cup victory last spring, Berger’s loss is a significant blow. Following the match, coach Juan Carlos Amoros confirmed she was taken to the hospital but lacked further details. He also expressed frustration over the absence of video review in this competition.

“Right now, we don’t know anything,” he remarked. “It’s frustrating to play in a tournament this well-organized without VAR. There were moments in the game that could have been avoided—if Ann had been better protected in that first play, this injury might not have happened.”

After Berger’s exit, goalkeeper Shelby Hogan stepped in to guard the goal for Gotham at the start of the second half.

Brazilian forward Geyse played a pivotal role in América’s win, assisting all three of their goals against her former club. Geyse had previously been on loan at Gotham in 2025, where she contributed to their Concacaf semifinal win over América with a goal.

Spanish forward Esther González managed to equalize for Gotham just three minutes into the second half.

Despite that momentum, Gotham struggled defensively during transitions. Camberos reclaimed the lead for América just nine minutes after Esther’s goal, followed by Aylin Avilez’s third goal in the 70th minute.

“We had a tough first half; they played better,” Amoros admitted. “We started strong in the second half with the equalizer, but they exploited our defensive errors on counterattacks.”

The winner of the forthcoming match between América and the Washington Spirit will not only claim the title but also earn entry into the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup and qualify for the inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup in 2028. Gotham has already secured their spot for the 2028 tournament by winning last year’s Concacaf title.

Villacampa commended his players for their efforts on short rest after clinching their league title just three days prior.

“Football fundamentally hinges on mentality,” he shared. “That determination brought us to this moment. Achieving today’s result was anything but easy. I am incredibly proud of these players.”

Report contributed by ESPN’s Cesar Hernandez.