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NWSL NJ/NY Gotham FC

Gotham FC Advances to NWSL Playoffs Semifinals with 2-0 Postseason Win Over North Carolina Courage

October 23, 2023 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
NJ/NY Gotham FC News Release


CARY, NC - In only the third NWSL Playoffs appearance in club history, NJ/NY Gotham FC defeated the North Carolina Courage 2-0 in the quarterfinals on Sunday night on the road at WakeMed Soccer Park. Sunday's playoff match marked several milestones for the club and its players, including Gotham FC's first-ever postseason win and first-ever playoffs shutout. Additionally, seven of Gotham FC's starting eleven players made their NWSL Playoffs debut.

From the opening whistle, Gotham FC came out with its signature fast-paced, high-press style of play. Immediately following a missed opportunity by the Courage, Gotham FC had its first look on goal in the 32nd minute. Defender Bruninha chipped the ball over the backline to forward Lynn Williams, who drove to the endline and played a ball across the face of the goal to forward Midge Purce. However, Purce was unable to get a clean shot on goal.

Gotham FC continued to press North Carolina before the end of the first half, which resulted in the club earning a corner kick in the 39th minute. The ball was played in and bounced around until it fell to Gotham FC midfielder Yazmeen Ryan at the top of the box, where she laid the ball off to Rookie Jenna Nighswonger for a first-time shot that went just over the crossbar.

In the 45th minute, Gotham FC found the back of the net for the club's first playoff goal in NWSL history. Gotham FC maintained possession in the attacking third and eventually swung the ball over to Bruninha, who found midfielder Delanie Sheehan inside the box on the right flank. Sheehan took a heavy touch and toe poked it past the diving goalkeeper to give Gotham FC the lead. The goal also marked Sheehan's first professional career goal.

With a one-goal lead, Gotham FC pushed forward in the second half in search of a second score. Sheehan received the ball near the middle of the field and quickly played a diagonal ball to Purce on the left flank. The forward took on a Courage defender and fired a low shot to the near post, but it was saved by goalkeeper Casey Murphy.

Shortly after in the 58th minute, North Carolina countered and found forward Tyer Lussi, who drilled a shot on goal, but Gotham FC goalkeeper Mandy Haught made a diving save to the bottom corner that denied Lussi and preserved the shutout.

Gotham FC continued to push forward with a counter attack in the 85th minute. Purce dribbled down the center of the pitch and led Ryan into the box with a pass. The midfielder took on the defender and cut the ball back to her left foot and tried to curl a shot into the far post, but Murphy just tipped the ball away from goal.

A few minutes later, Ryan had another opportunity to seal the game, and she converted. The play began when Nighswonger played a long ball to Williams, who ran onto the ball behind the North Carolina defense. Then, Williams found an open Ryan, who buried her first playoff goal to send Gotham FC onto the semifinals of the playoffs.

Gotham FC will face the Portland Thorns in the semifinals of the 2023 NWSL Playoffs at Providence Park on Sunday, Nov, 5 (7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network).

POSTGAME QUOTES

Gotham FC midfielder Yazmeen Ryan

On the win...

This team is so amazing. To celebrate with them and to keep going with them is everything I could ask for. I am so proud of us and it's onto the next.

On carrying this momentum into the next round...

I think for us the playoffs started whenever we played Kansas because it was deciding whether or not we were going to be in this position. From then, knowing that we should have, honestly, been in a higher spot, we were that much more motivated to show that we deserve this and that we are going to work and fight no matter what. And, I think that we'll definitely carry this momentum into the next game and it is just going to be even more. Our team is one of a kind in the way we play. I definitely think with the energy of the team and the staff and how they approach each game is going to keep us moving.

Gotham FC defender Maitane López

On the playoff format in the United States...

I think it is completely different. Here it is very physical, like pushing and bodying. It's hard to play here. But I think us - Esther and I - we are just growing and becoming better players here playing for Gotham.

On being paired with Ali Krieger at center back...

As you can imagine, playing with Ali Krieger is a dream for me. I have been talking about this with her. It's amazing to be next to her on the pitch. She always helps me; she always helps the team. She's the mom of the team. She's always helping us in pushing to be better. I think she deserves more than anyone to advance to the next round and to, hopefully, fight for the trophy.

Gotham FC Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós

On the match...

The team is very happy because they've been rewarded for all the hard work and the football they played. We are very, very proud. I think that today we've been talking about the last few games where we were doing a lot more and those results were showing. And coming here - and, for me, playing the best in the league, in terms of all playing with the ball, they have so many tools - and neutralize their play. And being able to dominate almost every offensive aspect of the game and on top of that finish it with two goals, which shows our character, our personality.

On Lynn Williams' performance...

I think there's been a lot of talk about Lynn lately because she hasn't scored goals. But, she's been amazing. She provided an assist in the Washington game. She provided an assist that almost won us the game last week. And today, I think that goal shows who she is. Everyone thinks that she is a difference maker to score those key goals, but she can roll those sleeves up and work. The way she fought for that ball at the end of it was what we spoke about the first ball of the game and the last one, and she did that. And on top of that, she wasn't selfish - she provided a fantastic assist.

MATCH SUMMARY

Gotham FC (8-7-7, 31 pts) vs. North Carolina Courage (9-7-6, 33 pts)

Oct. 22, 2023 - WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, NC)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Gotham F.C. 1 1 2

North Carolina 0 0 0

Scoring Summary:

Delanie Sheehan (Bruninha), 45'

Yazmeen Ryan (Lynn Williams), 90+1'

Misconduct Summary:

Yellow Cards:

Maitane López (14'), Nealy Martin (34'), Kelley O'Hara (90+7')

Manaka (47'), Brianna Pinto (81')

Lineups:

NJ/NY: GK Mandy Haught,D Jenna Nighswonger (Kristen Edmonds, 90+6'), D Maitane López (Ellie Jean, 90+6'), D Ali Krieger, D Bruninha, M Nealy Martin (Allie Long,), M Delanie Sheehan, M Yazmeen Ryan, F Midge Purce (Kelley O'Hara, 90+2'), F Esther Gonzalez (Sinead Farrelly, 83'), F Lynn Williams

Substitutes Not Used: GK Michelle Betos, M Mana Shim, F Ifeoma Onumonu, F Katie Stengel

TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Nighswonger, Ryan - 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Ryan - 2); FOULS: 11; OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 4

NC: GK Casey Murphy, D Emily Fox, D Malia Berkely, D Kaleigh Kurtz, D Ryan Williams, M Narumi Miura (Mille Gejl, 79'), M Denise O'Sullivan, M Tess Boade (Rikke Madsen, 79'), F Brittany Ratcliffe (Haley Hopkins, 64'), F Manaka Matsukubo (Brianna Pinto, 63'), F Tyler Lussi

Substitutes Not Used: Sarah Clark, Sydney Collins, Frankie Tagliaferri, Kiki Pickett, Katelyn Rowland

TOTAL SHOTS: 6 (Lussi - 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Pinto - 2); FOULS: 9; OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 4

Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva

Assistant Referees: Joe Suchoski, Jennifer Garner

Fourth Official: Karen Callado

VAR: Kevin Broadley ###

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from October 23, 2023


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