Skip to main content

PREVIEW: Gotham Has Sights on Top Spot Against Houston

photo by Dennis Schneidler - USA TODAY SPORTS

by Anthony J. Merced

Gotham FC have their sights set on taking over the top of the NWSL should they beat the Houston Dash on Sunday evening at Red Bull Arena. Dominant forward Esther Gonzalez made her presence felt in her first start, scoring two goals that helped carry the team to victory over the Washington Spirit. The win gave Gotham breathing room and a chance to challenge for the top of the table, just two points behind the Portland Thorns.

Gotham's win over Washington broke a three-game winless streak in all competitions and helped to solidify confidence in the backline that had surrendered three goals against North Carolina  a week prior. The inclusion of Gonzalez has also boosted the team's confidence as a starting attack of the World Cup winner, Lynn Williams and Midge Purce could prove to be what the club needs to carry them into a deep playoff run.

Houston is a team that is looking to keep their playoff hopes alive with the bottom of the table also not too far way either. A win for the Dash could see them hop into the sixth and final playoff spot. A lot rides on their performance at Red Bull Arena as well. Their last game was a 1-0 win over Louisville which kept their hopes alive heading into the final fixtures of the season.

Gotham's high hopes could be galvanized should they win and Washington lose, guaranteeing them a playoff spot in October. The standings are tight and expectations are high with the game expecting to be a heated engagement as both teams near the 2023 regular season finish line.  

Comments

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, click here t

Rumor: Dru Yearwood to be Traded to Nashville SC

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced More trade rumors are circulating as Red Bulls midfielder Dru Yearwood is linked to a move to Nashville SC according to Tom Bogert of the Athletic . What Red Bull will receive for such a trade remains to be seen. However expectations are that the move will be finalized by the end of next week. Yearwood joined New York in 2020 from Brentford in England. Along the way he has made 86 appearances for the club, including 55 starts. In 2021 and 2022 he made 18 starts, scoring three goals and three assists, his total output for the club in Major League Soccer.  In 2023 Yearwood found his position in the club to vary greatly. At times he played in a defensive midfield role next to Frankie Amaya and other times higher up the field, almost as a second forward. After the departure of Cristian Casseres Jr. earlier in the year, it appeared as if Yearwood's minutes would increase. However Daniel Edelman stepped into the role, relegating Yearwood to more

Rumor: Sandro Schwarz Set to Become Red Bulls Coach

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced Former Hertha Berlin and Mainz head coach Sandro Schwarz is rumored to become the new manager of New York Red Bulls according to the German publication BILD . The news comes after the release of head coach Troy Lesesne and the parting of ways with Sporting Director Denis Hamlett earlier this week. Schwarz has a long history, specifically in the Bundesliga where he managed the Mainz reserve team before becoming their head coach in 2017. He was with the club until 2019 when he took over at Dynamo Moscow where the team finished runner-up in the Russian Cup in 2022. From there he returned to the Bundesliga with Hertha Berlin but he was unable to keep the club in the first division as they were relegated at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. Schwarz is a German-born coach who is only 45 years old despite his significant experience. While most of it has been in Germany, we have seen such coaches transition well into other leagues around the world. Sho