Skip to main content

Gotham FC Closes Out Challenge Cup Group Stage with a 1-1 Draw

photo from Gotham FC

New Jersey/New York Gotham FC returned to Red Bull Arena for the final match in the group stage of the 2022 Challenge Cup. With six points and a -3 goal differential in the group stage, Gotham will have a chance to regroup before the regular season begins in May.

Power from the Start

Both teams roared out of the gate with advances on goal in the first five minutes of the match. An early injury for Orlando Pride's Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir paused the game. Undeterred, Jónsdóttir scored the opening goal of the match in the 10th minute. Her glancing header from a corner kick blasted past Gotham GK Ashlyn Harris. Another corner in the 17th minute was cleared by the Gotham defense. Forwards Paige Monaghan and Ifeoma Onumonu made runs on goal, but to no avail. When Monaghan was brought down in the box in the 40th minute, an emphatic crowd demanded a call from the head referee. Calls were answered for a different takedown just before stoppage, which led to Kristie Mewis converting from the spot to open the scoring for the home team. Onumonu and Monaghan nearly paired up for the go-ahead goal in stoppage time, but the teams went to the tunnel on level terms.

Dominant but Incomplete

Gotham FC came out ready to battle for all the points at the start of the second half. They maintained possession, stringing together passes and forcing turnovers. Nearing the hour mark, the Gotham attack went into high gear, putting Orlando ‘keeper Kaylie Collins to work. Collins was credited with three total saves on the night. Although the Pride were able to make a threat on goal, Harris was able to make the block. Gotham continued to keep things in their favor, with the ball staying in the attacking third, with Monaghan, Onumonu and Kumi Yokoyama each threatening a goal. Midfielder Caprice Dydasco shone in the right channel, breaking up play and sending the ball forward. But the barrage of shots, 16 total, were largely off frame. The Gotham bench as well as the crowd groaned when the likes of Mewis, Cameron Tucker, and Delanie Sheehan could not find the back of the net. The final whistle blew, and the scoreline was still level. 

Three Takeaways

  • There is still nothing like a live match. Every time Gotham thundered down the field, the crowd swelled. The person watching at home can’t possibly get that. 

  • It can be frustrating to see a team unable to finish their chances. But there is clear potential for Gotham FC to clean up any issues in front of goal. Then the standings will look very different during the regular season.

  • Both Gotham FC and the Orlando Pride are done with the Challenge Cup. They will both be able to use what they learned when they meet again for the regular season May 1st.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Red Bulls Announce Fan Experience Improvements

by Garry Redman On top of the theme nights announced this season, something new has been added the next time the season ticket holders and supporters step inside The Cathedral... The state-of-the-art LED lighting system at Red Bull Arena will provide higher on-field light levels for enhanced visibility and safety and introduce new entertainment features that heighten the overall experience for spectators.   Built around Musco's Total Light Control—TLC for LED™ technology, the new system is designed to provide exceptional playability and uniformity while minimizing glare. Cleaner, whiter light will elevate the broadcast quality for fans watching around the world.  Color-changing fixtures and Show-Light® Pro entertainment technology will allow the Red Bulls to wash the stadium in different colors and synchronize light shows to music, heightening the fan experience during goal celebrations, player introductions, and other big moments. If you have no idea what this means, cl...
Post a Comment
Read more

Quotes: Red Bulls Show Promise, But More Work Need To Be Done

photo by Matt Kremkau Sixty seconds in a ninety-minute match. That’s all it took for Sporting Kansas City to ruin the Opening Day festivities at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night. The supporters in attendance saw crisp passing and a stout defense that kept the visitors at bay, despite not having striker Alan Pulido in the starting lineup. But significantly, the supporters were buoyed by a return to that press that has last seen since Jesse Marsch was in charge. But that was the first 45 minutes. In the second half, things turned for the better and then, shockingly, worse for the home side that evening. Midfielder Caden Clark, who scored the opening goal, spoke about the match as a whole: I’ve kept that in the back of my mind, actually, not scoring at home. I really wanted to do that in front of the supporters, and it was great to do that in front of the few that were here tonight who brought the noise. When I scored that [goal] the place was shaking, and you feed off of that and gai...
1 comment
Read more

Editorial: New York Red Bulls are Fun to Watch

photo by Matt Kremkau by Daniel Feuerstein The New York Red Bulls 2024 season starts off and running. In their first three matches, they have looked different from their last five to six seasons of doom and despair when trying to attack or have a lapse in judgment on the defensive end. The two big editions for the club are undoubtedly the imports from Sweden in Centerback Noah Elle & attacking midfielder Emil Forsberg. Two players who are a part of the Swedish National Team have started off well in Major League Soccer. We all knew what we were getting right away from Forsberg. A high-energy creative and attacking midfielder who was already bought in from day one, when Director of Sport Jochen Schneider went to Leipzig and brought him over. He was already committed to making the trip to the United States to play his brand of soccer, and so far he hasn't disappointed. Even though he has come close three times off of free kicks, hitting the crossbar twice and being saved by the ke...
Post a Comment
Read more