NJ/NY Gotham One Win Away From Play-Offs After Tie With Kansas City
Just five days after a statement win in North Carolina, NJ/NY Gotham FC traveled to Legends Field in Kansas City, KS on Friday, October 22. Gotham FC and Kansas City battled to a 1-1 draw, with both goals coming in the first half.
Now unbeaten through its last six games, Gotham FC stands in fifth place at 8-5-9 and 33 points, and still with a game in hand. The squad can clinch a spot in the NWSL playoffs with a win in either of its upcoming pair of matches against Racing Louisville FC.
Both teams were without some regular players because of the international break, including both starting keepers; DiDi Haracic filled in for Kailen Sheridan, on duty with Canada, while Katelyn Rowland stepped up for KC as Adrianna Franch represents the United States.
In an end-to-end game marked by numerous close chances on both sides, Margaret “Midge” Purce netted the first goal of the match in the 23rd minute. McCall Zerboni tallied the assist after winning the ball back in the Kansas City half. Purce then took on three KC defenders and fired a low shot from the top right corner of the box, slipping it past an outstretched Rowland. It’s her team-leading ninth goal this season and fourth in the last three games.
Following the goal, Haracic made a pair of leaping first-half saves to keep the lead with Gotham FC. Then just four minutes before the half, Purce nearly doubled the lead with a header off a free kick that was ultimately snagged by Rowland.
In the 44th minute, defender Erica Skroski attempted a tackle on KC forward Kristen Hamilton inside the box, causing lead referee Alexandra Billeter to point to the spot. Kristen Edmonds stepped up and finished the PK — Kansas City’s second in franchise history — to even the score as the seconds ticked down until halftime.
As the match progressed into the second half, Gotham FC kept pushing for the lead, attempting a total of five shots on goal and holding 51% of possession. Haracic came up big again in the 60th minute to deny a close range shot from Lo’eau LaBonta. Then, Zerboni narrowly missed the left post in the 71st minute off a low ball across the box from Jennifer Cudjoe. Both teams rallied late to try and find the game-winner but were unable to break the stalemate.
Gotham FC will finish its four-game road campaign next Thursday, Oct. 28 at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Ky., before returning home to Red Bull Arena to host Racing Louisville in the last matchup of the regular season on Oct. 31. Tickets are still available and can be purchased HERE.
Lineups:
KC: 99-Katelyn Rowland, 4-Hailie Mace (16-Jaycie Johnson, 88’), 24-Taylor Leach, 7-Elizabeth Ball, 23-Kiki Pickett, 3-Kristen Edmonds, 9-Lo’eau LaBonta, 25-Kristen Hamilton, 13-Darian Jenkins, 28-Addie McCain (20-Mallory Weber, 77’), 29-Kate Del Fava
Substitutes not used: 5-Sydney Miramontez,14-Gaby Vincent,19-Michelle Maemone, 22-Maddie Nolf, 33-Abby Small, 31-Tristin Stuteville,
NJY: 28-Imani Dorsey (19-Elizabeth Eddy, 45’), 12-Gina Lewandowski, 3-Caprice Dydasco; 16-Allie Long, 7-McCall Zerboni, 9-Nahomi Kawasumi (6-Jennifer Cudjoe, 63’), 25-Ifeoma Onumonu, 23-Margaret Purce, 27-Gaëtane Thiney (4-Paige Monaghan, 64’), 8-Erica Skroski (22-Mandy Freeman, 55’), 13-Didi Haracic
Substitutes not used: 2-Brianna Pinto,11-So-Dam Lee, 15-Sabrina Flores, 17-Domi Richardson, 21-Mandy McGlynn
