NWSL NJ/NY Gotham FC

Gotham FC Cliches NWSL Playoff Spot to Continue Captain Ali Krieger's Farewell Celebrations

October 15, 2023 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
NJ/NY Gotham FC News Release


HARRISON, NJ - In the final regular season match of global soccer icon Ali Krieger's professional soccer career, the Olympian, two-time World Cup champion, and Gotham FC captain and her team battled to a 2-2 draw against the Kansas City Current on Sunday at Red Bull Arena. With the draw, Gotham FC clinched its third playoff appearance in club history and completed the 2023 regular season with 8-7-7, doubling their win total from last season.

Gotham FC came out firing from the start, as the home side opened the scoring in the sixth minute of play. Midfielder Delanie Sheehan found forward Midge Purce inside the eighteen-yard box. Purce took a prep touch and drilled the ball into the back of the net for her 25th NWSL regular-season goal of her career. It also marks her 16th, tying for second-most in club history with former Gotham FC midfielder and U.S. Soccer legend Carli Lloyd for.

Gotham FC gained a two-goal lead in the 15th minute, when midfielder Yazmeen Ryan skillfully weaved through four defenders inside the box before striking the ball off the far post and into the far side netting.

In the 26th minute, Kansas City forward Alexa Spaanstra scored in the top corner.

Krieger prevented a potential equalizer in the 33rd minute, when the captain sprinted into goal for a sliding save to help extend her career another match. However, a Gotham FC own goal brought the score level at 2-2 in the 36th minute heading into halftime.

Gotham FC continued to push in the second half, looking to cement a playoff spot. Forward Lynn Williams fired a shot from just outside the box towards the far post, but Current goalkeeper AD Franch made a diving save to tip the ball out for a corner kick.

The club continued to pour on the shots and create chances in the attacking third. Gotham FC dominated the second half on the offensive end, outshooting Kansas City 11-2, with five on frame. Sheehan had an opportunity in the 61st minute, when she launched a first-touch shot from 25-yards out that ricocheted off the crossbar.

Despite the onslaught of chances, Gotham FC finished in a draw that was enough to secure the final playoff spot.

Gotham FC will travel to play the North Carolina Courage in the quarterfinals of the 2023 NWSL Playoffs on Sunday, Oct. 22 (7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports).

POSTGAME QUOTES

Gotham FC Defender Ali Krieger

On playing her last regular season NWSL match

Honestly, it's been so overwhelming in the most positive way. I'm honestly speechless because you don't realize how much you've impacted all of these people. It's so rewarding to see all the positive feedback, and just the love that I've received from me playing the sport that I love and the human being that I've tried to be all these years. And then the performance tonight - I'm so happy and proud of us.

On her feelings towards the future and growth of the NWSL

It's been a positive and healthy growth forward, and we have the momentum now to move into a phase where we're really getting what we deserve. We're setting standards a lot higher in each club, and [each] organization is really trying to see what the others are doing and how to really create a space for players to feel safe, seen, heard, and then also rewarded with all the work that we put in.

Gotham FC Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós

On making the NWSL playoffs

[I'm] very, very happy. And for me, I tried to enjoy that moment seeing [their] faces, how much they cared about it, how they really wanted this. And they got it. Yeah, we wanted our home game, [but] It has to be away. But, what's more important is that our name is there.

On their upcoming playoff matchup against the North Carolina Courage

Oh, North Carolina, for me, [is] one of the best teams in this league, no doubt about it. That's why they won the Cup, that's why they are the way they are. They have a very clear style of play. They're playing at home. They have a lot of things going in their favor, and they're a very dangerous opposition. So, they are a very good side, but I think that we are too.

MATCH SUMMARY

Gotham FC (8-7-7, 31 pts) vs. Kansas City Current (8-2-12, 26 pts)

Oct. 15, 2023 - Red Bull Arena (Harrison, NJ)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Gotham F.C. 2 0 2

Kansas City 2 0 2

Scoring Summary:

NJ/NY: Midge Purce 6' (Delanie Sheehan)

NJ/NY: Yazmeen Ryan 15' (Kristen Edmonds)

KC: Alexa Spaanstra 26' (Alex Loera)

KC: Jenna Nighswonger (OG) 36'

Misconduct Summary:

Yellow Cards: Kristen Edmonds 45+1'. Jenna Nighswonger 90+3'

Lineups:

NJ/NY: Mandy Haught, Esther Gonzalez, Lynn Williams ('28 Katie Stengel), Ali Krieger, Kristen Edmonds, Nealy Martin, Delanie Sheehan (33' Sinead Farrelly), Yazmeen Ryan, Midge Purce, Jenna Nighswonger, Maitane Lopez

Substitutes Not Used: GK Michelle Betos, D Bruninha, M Allie Long, M Mana Shim, D Ellie Jean, D Mandy Freeman, F Ifeoma Onumonu

TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Williams - 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Williams - 2); FOULS: 16 (Sheehan - 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 1

KC: GK Franch, D Del Fava, D Ball, D Costa, D Rodriguez, M Loera, M LaBonta, M Debinha, F Cooper (85' Larrson), F Hamilton (72' Curran), F Spaanstra (84' Lavogez)

Substitutes Not Used: Rylan Childers, Croix Soto, Addisyn Merrick, Cassie Miller

TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Hamilton - 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Hamilton - 2); FOULS: 9 (Debinha, Curran - 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 2

Referee: Alyssa Nichols

Assistant Referees: Maggie Shor

Fourth Official: Kenneth Rojas

VAR: Kevin Broadley

Weather: 52 Degrees, Partly Cloudy

Check out the NJ/NY Gotham FC Statistics



National Women's Soccer League Stories from October 15, 2023


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