NWSL NJ/NY Gotham FC

NJ/NY Gotham FC Earns Back-To-Back Wins with 2-1 Victory over Chicago

July 26, 2021 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
NJ/NY Gotham FC News Release


NJ/NY Gotham FC celebrates a goal against the Chicago Red Stars
NJ/NY Gotham FC celebrates a goal against the Chicago Red Stars
(NJ/NY Gotham FC, Credit: Howard Smith / ISI Photos)

HARRISON, N.J. - NJ/NY Gotham FC was back home at Red Bull Arena to face the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday evening. The team earned a 2-1 victory after scoring in both halves with goals from Allie Long and a penalty from Margaret Purce. Makenzy Doniak salvaged a stoppage time goal in the dying seconds of the match to cut the deficit in half. With the win, Gotham FC now moves into second place behind Portland with 19 points.

The game started with a high-pressing Gotham FC team that created some dangerous opportunities within the first ten minutes. The game continued with a battle in the middle of field from both sides until the final minutes of the half when the home team was able to break the deadlock. Caprice Dydasco sent in a cross to the penalty spot for Allie Long who beat an onrushing Cassie Miller with the deftest of touches to give Gotham FC a 1-0 lead heading into half.

The second half saw a more equally balanced match in terms of possession between the teams. Gotham FC looked to build on the lead and was able to finally do so in the 70th minute. After getting a ball in the attacking third of the field, Purce made a driving run into the box between two Chicago defenders. She was taken down just inside the box and awarded a penalty kick from referee Alyssa Nichols that she converted to give Gotham FC a 2-0 lead.

Partway through stoppage time, Brianna Pinto entered the match and almost immediately found herself on a breakaway from a McCall Zerboni pass with a clear path to goal. A professional foul from Bianca St. Georges resulted in a red card and her dismissal from the match. With time winding down and a numerical advantage on the field, Gotham FC appeared poised to shut out the Red Stars for the second time not only this season, but also in all-time matchups between the teams. With second to go, Katie Johnson found Makenzy Doniak at the top of the box who spun two defenders and was able to get a low-driven shot off to the far post that spoiled the shutout. Despite Chicago's late efforts, Gotham FC took all three points at home and earned its second consecutive win.

Gotham FC Head Coach Freya Coombe on the match:

"It was good for us to be able to play through some of their sustained pressure. They were very much looking to press and force us out wide and contain our play. It took us a while to figure it out and play through that pressure, but once we were able to start switching play a little bit more and started to play a little bit longer I think that caused them a few issues in terms of being able to get enough pressure on the ball. I think it was a game of few chances for both teams. Both teams defended well and were able to stop the other team from really building momentum or creating good chances, but just really happy to come away with the three points."

Following Sunday's match, Gotham FC will be back on the road and travel to BBVA Compass Stadium on Sunday, August 1 at 7:00 p.m. ET to take on the Houston Dash. The team will return home to take on the North Carolina Courage at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, August 7:00 p.m. ET. Single and group tickets are now on sale and pricing details can be found here.

MATCH REPORT

Match: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Chicago Red Stars

Date: July 25, 2021

Venue: Segra Field; Harrison, N.J.

Kickoff: 5:00 p.m. ET

Weather: Mid 80s; mostly cloudy

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

NJ/NY Gotham FC 1 1 2

Chicago Red Stars 0 1 1

NJY - Allie Long (Caprice Dydasco) 45+3'

NJY - Margaret Purce (P) 70'

CHI - Makenzy Doniak (Katie Johnson) 90+6'

Lineups:

NJY: 13-DiDi Haracic; 3-Caprice Dydasco, 12-Gina Lewandowski, 24-Estelle Johnson, 28-Imani Dorsey (19-Elizabeth Eddy, 84'); 7 McCall Zerboni (capt.), 16-Allie Long, 27-Gaëtane Thiney (17-Domi Richardson, 79'); 23-Margaret Purce, 25-Ifeoma Onumonu (2-Brianna Pinto, 90+2), 9-Nahomi Kawasumi (18-Delanie Sheehan, 78')

Substitutes not used: 5-Nicole Baxter, 6-Jennifer Cudjoe, 14-Kenie Wright, 15-Sabrina Flores, 21-Mandy McGlynn

CHI: 38-Cassie Miller; 23-Tatumn Milazzo (22-Bianca St. Georges, 45'), 3-Arin Wright, 28-Kayla Sharples, 11-Sarah Gorden; 16-Sarah Woldmoe (15-Makenzy Doniak, 45'), 10-Vanessa DiBernardo (capt.) (24-Danielle Colaprico, 45'), 13-Morgan Gautrat (7-Nikki Stanton, 76'); 9-Mallory Pugh, 2-Kealia Watt (33-Katie Johnson, 68'), 5-Rachel Hill (4-Alyssa Mautz, 76')

Substitutes not used: 14-Zoe Morse, 18-Ella Stevens, 21-Emily Boyd

Stats Summary: NJY / CHI

Shots: 6 / 11

Shots on Goal: 5 / 3

Saves: 2 / 3

Corner Kicks: 3 / 6

Fouls: 9 / 15

Offside: 1 / 7

Misconduct Summary:

NJY - Imani Dorsey (caution) 10'

CHI - Kealia Watt (caution) 45+4'

NJY - Ifeoma Onumanu (caution) 67'

CHI - Bianca St. Georges (dismissal) 90+6'

Officials:

Referee: Alyssa Nichols

Assistant Referee 1: Salma Perez

Assistant Referee 2: Justen Lopez

4th Official: Luis Arroyo

Budweiser Player of the Match: Gina Lewandowski

Check out the NJ/NY Gotham FC Statistics




Images from this story

NJ/NY Gotham FC celebrates a goal against the Chicago Red Stars
NJ/NY Gotham FC celebrates a goal against the Chicago Red Stars
(Howard Smith / ISI Photos)		   



National Women's Soccer League Stories from July 26, 2021


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