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NWSL NJ/NY Gotham FC

NJ/NY Gotham FC Moves to the Top of the Eastern Division in Thrilling Win over North Carolina Courage

April 21, 2021 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
NJ/NY Gotham FC News Release


NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Evelyne Viens celebrates the game-winning goal
NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Evelyne Viens celebrates the game-winning goal
(NJ/NY Gotham FC)

MONTCLAIR, N.J. - NJ/NY Gotham FC rallied to beat the North Carolina Courage in a wild 4-3 goal fest in front of home fans on Tuesday night at Montclair State University Soccer Park. With the win, Gotham FC moves to the top of the table in the East.

The first half saw four goals scored in a span of eight minutes. Midge Purce found the back of the net in the 18th minute to open the scoring floodgates. The lead was short lived though when just moments later midfielder Debinha sliced a shot past DiDi Haracic to even up the score. Debinha would score again in the 24th minute on an assist from Jessica McDonald to put the Courage up momentarily. Gotham FC leveled the match just minutes later when Paige Monaghan made a drive into the box and crossed the ball across the face of the goal that Midge Purce was able to tap home. Captain Carli Lloyd joined in with a goal of her own in the 32nd minute on a through ball from Imani Dorsey to take a 3-2 lead into the half.

North Carolina made three substitutions at the half and came out the aggressor. Just minutes into the second half, Jessica McDonald beat Haracic on a lobbed ball into the box that she was able to head into the net to level up the match at 3-3. Midge Purce nearly earned herself a hat trick in the 60th on a ball into the box from Paige Monaghan, but just missed the finishing touch. For the remainder of the game, each team wrestled to score again, but it was in the final minutes of extra time that Gotham FC sealed their victory. It was another key pass from Ifeoma Onumonu, who assisted the game winner against Orlando Pride, that saw substitute forward Evelyne Viens win the match in the late hour.

The hard-fought victory places Gotham FC at the top of table in the East. The team travels next week to take on the Washington Spirt at Audi Field on April 27. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.

Gotham FC Head Coach Freya Coombe

"I think it was a very exciting one for fans, for neutrals. We knew it was going to be a moment where we could look to counter-attack and we could look to build up our possession. With the return some players from international duty, we knew we could put out a more attacking front line and then also have really good depth for the game changers to come in and they did make a big difference."

MATCH REPORT

Match: North Carolina Courage vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC

Date: April 20, 2021

Venue: MSU Soccer Park; Montclair, N.J.

Kickoff: 6:00 p.m. ET

Weather: Low 70s; sunny

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

NJ/NY Gotham FC 3 1 4

NC Courage 2 1 3

NJY - Midge Purce 18'

NCC - Debinha (Hailie Mace) 22'

NCC - Debinha (Jessice McDonald) 24'

NJY - Midge Purce (Paige Monaghan) 26'

NJY - Carli Lloyd (Imani Dorsey) 32'

NCC - Jessica McDonald (Meredith Speck) 50'

NJY - Evelyne Viens (Ifeoma Onumonu) 90+2

Lineups:

NJY: 13-DiDi Haracic; 3-Caprice Dydasco (25-Ifeoma Onumonu 77), 12-Gina Lewandowski, 22-Mandy Freeman (24-Estelle Johnson 55), 28-Imani Dorsey; 6-Jennifer Cudjoe, 11-Sodam Lee (17-Domi Richardson 77), 9-Nahomi Kawasumi (19-Elizabeth Eddy 68); 4-Paige Monaghan (20-Evelyne Viens 68), 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.), 23-Midge Purce

Substitutes not used: 21-Mandy McGlynn, 5-Nicole Baxter, 8-Erica Skroski, 15-Sabrina Flores

NCC: 1-Casey Murphy; 4-Carson Pickett (20-Lindsay Agnew 82), 15-Schuyler DeBree (7-Diane Caldwell 46), 21-Cari Roccaro (3-Kaleigh Kurtz 46); 8-Denise O'Sullivan, 10-Debinha, 11-Merritt Mathias (13-Ryan Williams 82), 16-Hailie Mace (23-Kristen Hamilton 46), 25-Meredith Speck; 9-Lynn Williams, 14-Jess McDonald (capt.)

Substitutes not used: 0-Katelyn Rowland, 2-Taylor Smith, 6-Abby Erceg, 29-Rylee Baisden

Stats Summary: NJY / NCC

Shots: 15 / 15

Shots on Goal: 6 / 5

Saves: 2 / 2

Corner Kicks: 5 / 7

Fouls: 7 / 13

Offside: 5 / 0

Misconduct Summary:

NJY - Jennifer Cudjoe (caution) 86'

Officials:

Referee: Laura Rodriguez

Assistant Referee 1: Meghan Mullen

Assistant Referee 2: Tom Felice

4th Official: Joshua Encarnacion

Saker Shoprite Player of the Match: Midge Purce

Forward Evelyne Viens celebrates game winning goal

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NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Evelyne Viens celebrates the game-winning goal
NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Evelyne Viens celebrates the game-winning goal
   



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