On September 2nd, NJ/NY Gotham FC traveled to Cary, North Carolina for the final time in the regular season to face off against the North Carolina Courage. Gotham has remained undefeated against the Courage in all competitions this year with two wins and one draw. The team would continue this streak after bouncing back from a two goal deficit in the second half to a 3-3- draw, securing an important point away from home in the push to secure a playoff spot.
The last time these two teams met was on April 23rd in the fourth game of the National Women’s Soccer League season, where Gotham won 1-0 at home thanks to a late Lynn Williams goal in the 80th minute.
Coming into this match, head coach Juan Carlos Amoros made two changes into the starting XI from their last match against Racing Louisville. Lynn Williams received the start and replaced Yazmeen Ryan on the left wing, who was not available in this match due to card accumulation. Sinead Farrelly replaced Kelley O’Hara in midfield. Amoros kept the same 4-3-3 formation as he did in the previous game.
A Tough First Half for Gotham
North Carolina get their first chance of the match in the 5th minute, Ryan Williams dishes a pass into the box, finding Tess Boade who then passes it to Kerolin for a shot but goes straight into the hands of Mandy Haught.
Gotham get a chance of their own in the 8th minute when Bruninha takes the corner for Gotham and sends it into the box. The ball finds Maitane Lopez who headed the ball to find an open Ifeoma Onumonu in front of goal for a tap in, but sent the ball over the bar.
The Courage opened up the score line in the 18th minute. Building up from the back, Malia Berkely passes it to Ryan Williams before passing to Kerolin, who takes on Jenna Nighswonger on the right side, blitzing past her to get into Gotham’s final third. She finfs Narumi Miura in the center who takes a shot with her right foot and puts the ball in the bottom left corner to make it 1-0 for North Carolina.
Just before the end of the first half, North Carolina bags their second goal of the match. Sydney Collins gives the ball to Kerolin on the left, passing it off to Haley Hopkins who gives it back to Kerolin. She cuts through Gotham’s defense and gets into a one on one with Haught before taking a shot with the side of her right foot, putting it past Haught to make it 2-0 for the home team.
Despite Gotham having more opportunities than North Carolina in the first half with 6 shots compared to their 4 shots, none of Gotham’s shots were on target. North Carolina meanwhile had 3 of their 4 shots on target, having the better looks at goal. Gotham had to make changes in the second half if they wanted to have a chance in getting back in this match.
A Different Gotham Emerges in the Second Half
North Carolina get their first chance of the second half in the 53rd minute. Tess Boade dribbles the ball on the left side then passes it off to Haley Hopkins who takes a shot from 40 yards out. It deflects off of a Gotham player and Haught is forced to make a save.
North Carolina continued to apply pressure on Gotham’s defense in the 55th minute, forcing Lynn Williams to make a risky pass which ends up in Kerolin’s possession. Hopkins makes the run on the left hand side, running into the box and takes a shot with her right foot, which just misses its mark on goal.
The 60th minute comes and Gotham gets on the attack, Kristen Edmonds dribbles the ball towards North Carolina’s final third, giving it to Nighswonger for a quick 1-2 pass, Edmonds gets the ball again before being taken down in the box. The referee blows the whistle to call a penalty for Gotham. Nighswonger steps up to take the penalty and sends the ball into the bottom left corner and scores to cut Gotham’s deficit by one.
In the 67th minute, North Carolina created a great team play which resulted in an amazing goal for the home team. They started by building up passes from the back before sending a long ball to Kerolin, causing Haught to clear the ball, which Boade ends up getting. She dibbles past two Gotham defenders then passes it to Kerolin, who then passes it to Hopkins and fires a shot with her right foot inside the box, sending the box into the top right corner to score North Carolina’s third goal to make it 3-1.
Gotham tries to respond back with a chance of their own in the 70th minute but the post was not having it. Gotham builds up from the back starting with Bruninha sending a long ball to Gotham’s newest signing Esther González. She gives it off to Lynn Williams, passing it to Delanie Sheehan then to Bruninha, who takes a shot at goal and forcing Casey Murphy to make a save. The ball ends up in front of Esther who takes a shot but hits the post.
The comeback is on for Gotham as they get themselves another goal in the 72nd minute, Maitane Lopez scored from inside the box with a great one touch to cut Gotham’s deficit back to one and makes it 3-2.
Gotham responds nine minutes later with their third goal of the match. Haught sends a long ball to Kristen Edmonds who runs down the left side and sends a ground pass to Lynn Williams inside the box. Williams gives the ball off to Midge Purce who scores to tie the game at 3-3.
A scary moment happens in the 83rd minute where Gotham defender Edmonds gets taken down in the air after colliding with North Carolina’s Tyler Lussi. Edmonds was down on the floor for nearly seven minutes which required the paramedics to be involved. She was put on the stretcher, but gave a thumbs up to show that she was okay. Edmonds posted an update the next day on social media, showing that she was okay and thanking the medical team for doing a great job.
Gotham gets another good look at goal during extra time in the 91st minute. Purce makes a great run, dribbling into North Carolina’s final third and takes a shot with her right foot but it hits the post.
With one last attempt at goal in the 100th minute, Gotham goes on the attack, Purce once again made a run with the ball, going past defenders and giving the ball off to Esther on the left, dribbling the ball with her right foot and taking a shot but it went straight to the hands of Murphy.
What’s next for Gotham?
Gotham FC’s next match will be on Saturday, September 16th where they return home to take on the visiting Washington Spirit in Week 19 of the NWSL. For more information, visit GothamFC.com.