HARRISON, NJ (Sunday, October 1, 2023) – NJ/NY Gotham FC fell 2-0 to the Houston Dash on Sunday at Red Bull Arena. Despite the result, Gotham FC still has the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot in the upcoming weeks, with two remaining matches, including the final regular season home game on Oct. 15.
The physical match was a battle from the opening whistle. Gotham FC had the first opportunity on goal in the third minute when forward Lynn Williams drove to the top of the eighteen-yard box, cut the ball back to her right foot, and fired a shot to the far post. Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell denied the shot with a diving save before Williams took another chance later in the half - this time from about 30 yards out - that was also saved by Campbell, tipping the ball around the goalpost.
In the final moments of the first half, Houston forward Michelle Alozie scored five minutes into stoppage time to give the Dash a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
Despite the scoreline, Gotham FC dominated first half possession by a margin of 64 percent to Houston’s 36 percent.
The home team entered the second half with a fierce attacking mindset, adding World Cup champion Esther González to the attacking front. The home side nearly found an equalizer in the 64th minute from a Midge Purce corner. The service found rookie Jenna Nighswonger for a first-time strike that ricocheted in traffic before landing at the feet of González, whose touch went just wide of the near post.
Then, the Dash added to their tally In the 67th minute, when Alozie converted her second goal of the match for the 2-0 scoreline.
Gotham FC’s determination to cut the lead never wavered with several chances as the match came down to the wire. In the 90th minute, González settled the ball with a smooth touch to spin her defender and quickly fired a shot, but the goalkeeper again made the save to keep the game scoreless.
Then, in the first minute of stoppage time, Gotham FC had a prime opportunity to halve the deficit. Nighswonger served in a corner that bounced around the box and off the crossbar that eventually fell to Purce, who headed the ball into goal. However, following video review, the goal was called back for offsides.
Just moments later, González put Gotham FC in yet another position to score, drawing a foul in the box, which awarded the team a penalty kick. Nighswonger stepped up to the spot and drilled a shot that hit inside the post back into play. Following ten minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle blew, resulting in a 2-0 Houston Dash victory.
Despite the loss, Gotham FC’s offensive effort was outstanding. In the second half alone, the team fired off 20 shots compared to Houston’s two, and the home side with eleven corner kicks earned. Gotham FC also controlled 72% of ball possession and outpassed Houston 168-61.
Gotham FC will look to clinch a spot in the 2023 NWSL Playoffs as it travels to play the Portland Thorns on Oct. 7 with kickoff at 5 p.m. ET.
STARTING LINEUP
Mandy Haught, Ali Krieger, Kristen Edmonds (84’ Kelley O’Hara), Maitane Lopez, Jenna Nighswonger, Nealy Martin (61’ Bruninha), Delanie Sheehan, Sinead Farrelly (84’ Ifeoma Onumonu), Lynn Williams, Midge Purce, Katie Stengel (46’ Esther González)
POSTGAME ASSETS
POSTGAME STATS
GOTHAM FC DEFENDER KRISTEN EDMONDS PRESS CONFERENCE
GOTHAM FC HEAD COACH JUAN CARLOS AMOROS PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME QUOTES
Gotham FC defender Kristen Edmonds
On playing her first game back from injury
It's fun to be back on the pitch. I feel like I've been out forever, but it's fun to get back with my teammates and help contribute on the field for sure.
On tonight’s loss
Obviously, we're disappointed because we left points out on the table, and the table is very, very close. But we try and look at all the positives, all the chances we had to score. We kind of take that, and we go back into the film room and fix those. And hopefully, we can capitalize on those in the next game. So instead of focusing on the negative, we focus on the positive because we still have a job to do.
Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós
On the positives from tonight’s match
We dominated from start to finish. Obviously, we've had a couple switching-off moments at the back where obviously they punished us. I was saying there were only two chances that they created that were kind of clear, and we missed way too many opportunities. But at the same time - the performance of the team, how they engage with the fans, the style - I'm proud of them. This is the way forward.
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