On a hot Sunday afternoon at Lynn Family Stadium, Gotham FC visited Racing Louisville for their 12th game of the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League season. Despite having the better numbers on the stats sheet, they fell 0-2 to Louisville. Even with the loss, the team maintained its 6th place spot in the NWSL table with 18 points.
Although the team created plenty of chances, predictable play throughout the game made it nearly impossible for Gotham to find the back of the net. On the defensive end, Gotham struggled on the counter attack and conceded two goals due to marking issues.
This is the first meeting between the two sides this season. The last time these two teams met was in the 2022 NWSL season where Gotham came out victorious in a 1-2 away win at Lynn Family Stadium with goals from former Gotham FC player Paige Monaghan and Taylor Smith.
Coming into this match, head coach Juan Carlos Amorós made changes to the starting XI from the team’s last match. The team swapped out both center backs, Kristen Edmonds and Ali Krieger, for Mandy Freeman and Ellie Jean. In midfield Kristie Mewis was swapped out for McCall Zerboni, who made her 200th NWSL regular season appearance.
First Half
Racing Louisville got things started in the 7th minute with a cross coming from Savannah DeMelo from the midfield, finding Thembi Kgatlana who dribbled the ball upwards from the left wing to find herself one-on-one with Gotham goalkeeper Abby Smith. Kgatlana took a shot with the side of her right foot but Smith extended her foot out to clear the ball out to prevent a Louisville goal.
Gotham got their first chance of the match in the 17th minute. Jenna Nighswonger gave a short pass off to Allie Long, who found Bruninha outside the box. Bruninha cut inside to find a better look at goal and performed a great backheel pass to Yazmeen Ryan. Ryan shot with her right foot but the ball went straight into the hands of Racing Louisville goalkeeper Katie Lund.
Louisville would score their first goal of the match in the 22nd minute. DeMelo passed the ball off to Kgatlana who goes for a cross from the left wing. Smith dives in to block the cross, but the balls falls back to DeMelo, who attempted to take a shot but was successfully blocked by Nealy Martin. The ball rolled in front of Wang Shuang who took a shot which looked like it hit Martin’s arm and appealed for a handball. No call was made but the ball ends up in front of DeMelo, who got up and took a shot past Smith to put Louisville up 1-0.
Although Gotham would have more chances before halftime, the team was unable to find the back of the net and entered the half down by one.
Second Half
Racing Louisville got down to business immediately in the second half and scored their second goal within 20 seconds. Kirsten Davis received a pass from her teammate on the left wing, running with the ball as Kgatlana made an overlapping run into the box and took a one time touch with her right foot. Abby Smith got her hand on the ball but there was too much power on the shot which put Racing Louisville up 2-0.
The home team kept pressuring Gotham FC. In the 53rd minute, Kgatlana received a long pass from her teammate, dribbling and outrunning Mandy Freeman to get in a one on one with Abby Smith, and used the side of her left foot to shoot the ball which just missed its target.
Gotham’s best chance of the night came in the 59th minute from a corner kick. Kristie Mewis sent the ball into the box to find Kelley O’Hara, who headed the ball into the post, denying Gotham a potential goal.
Gotham kept pushing for their first goal of the match, receiving corner kicks in both the 62nd and 65th minutes, but both of attempts were saved by Katie Lund.
Gotham get one last attempt in the 82nd minute from Mewis taking a long shot from outside but Lund collected the ball with ease.
Gotham FC’s next match will be on Sunday, June 25th where they return home to take on the visiting Chicago Red Stars in Week 13 of the NWSL. For more information, visit GothamFC.com.