Gotham and Angel City play to a Draw in a Hard-Fought Affair

NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Allie Long scored her first goal for Gotham since July 2021 off of a direct free kick goal from 22 yards out, left of the goal in her side’s 2-1 win over Chicago last weekend. The goal was Long’s 36th career goal in all NWSL competitions, but her first from outside the box in her career, and it was the game-winning goal for Gotham.

Angel City has had four different goal scorers score their last five goals, with only defender Vignola finding the back of the net more than once. Forwards Claire Emslie and Sydney Leroux have scored in losses, as has Vignola, but MA Vignola and defender Paige Nielsen scored in the team’s 2-1 win over the Wave on June 17, the club’s only win since May 8 (3-2 vs. Kansas City).

Some match facts: NJ/NY Gotham FC rounds out a packed weekend as the club invites Angel City FC to Red Bull Arena for the lone match on Sunday evening. Gotham’s win against Chicago last weekend was it is the first in over a calendar month (D2 L2), while Angel City is on a two-game unbeaten run (W1 D1), with the side not yet achieving a three-game unbeaten run thus far in the regular season.

Gotham FC is currently in 5th place with 21 points after 13 games, while Angel City is in 9th place with 13 points from the same number of games played.

Angel City scored a 2-1 win over San Diego in Challenge Cup play on Wednesday and is unbeaten in its last three games (W2 D1) after losing four games straight before its current run. ACFC has conceded a goal in each of its last six wins with the team’s last shutout win in any competition coming last August against the Chicago Red Stars.

The road team has won all three all-time meetings between Gotham FC and Angel City. Gotham defeated Angel City, 2-1, earlier this season in California while ACFC scored a 3—1 victory in its lone visit to the Bat Cave in Harrison, NJ on August 28, 2022.

The Ted Lasso show’s very own Hannah Waddingham is in the house for tonight’s matchup between Gotham FC and Angel City FC. Just last week I tweeted Coach Beard asking if he will be attending the match in Gotham, it was liked and retweeted by the NWSL and today we get Hannah who plays the owner of Richmond AFC on the show.

Juan was asked by J.J. of Bad Dawg Sports: Can you speak to the two big saves by Abby, especially on the one v one? Also, can you talk about the defensive play of Yazmeen and Mana Shim who made two big blocks towards the end of the match?

“Yeah, I think they’re always dealing with the way we play; we know that sometimes those situations are going to happen. I think we got this adjustment and we’re not perfect in the line how we normally are so the player is through a lot and that’s why Abby is there outstanding. Fantastic save on that one v one. Apart from that great recovery run from Yazmeen that was really the only shot on target they have; you know in 99 I think it would be 96 or 90 for more than 100 minutes to shoot on target once I think every coach in the world would be happy with that. But that comes also from the defending you’re defending what we need Manny Freeman played right back for the first time after she was outstanding. We knew how to get to work back into the game, what a performance with Elli Jean we had to take care of to make sure that she’s you know, she’s on that process after that little injury she had a Jean again on that position leading with a dangerous player. And then when they did the sub eventually, especially on MCC’s mind start with a yellow card and just mean really big. Ah right back again. Another player hasn’t played there so we had to change center backs, but the team played to get the clean sheet thanks to everyone. So, I think the defensive work of the team is its outstanding. Again, I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but I think we’re one of the best teams in the league in goals conceded and rotating in the need that changed so many players that play in that backline. So, I think that’s also a very normal not only to the backline. But to the whole team, you know, I think you need everyone to only concede one goal and one shot against you when they cut crosses to understanding they will have to defend that need to do was outstanding so very, very happy with the team not only the back line so.”

Juan Carlos Gotham FC Head Coach

The first half saw the first 12′ as a feeling-out process between the two sides, neither side giving any good looks at the goal so far in the match, it’s been a midfield battle with the keepers just passing the ball along to keep their team’s counterattacks going.

J.J. asked Juan, just to bring it back Mana Shim as well stopped Hammond twice down in the final five. And with it being her first match, what did that mean to you?

“For Me, Mana had those moments going forward. But what really surprised me is like she’s a winner and she work’s on bringing really hard defending. She’s addressing all her tackles, she’s defending, and she really, really a player who has surprised me. And I’m very happy that her precision pass, is also very important to me for my callback, I think four or five years, also coming back after she was here last week. I see her play myself, coming back into the team coming back into this environment where every time I speak with her, she’s enjoying everything and today was a landmark for herself personally and for her career. And we’re very, very happy to have her here.”

Juan Carlos Gotham FC Head Coach

A lite rain starts to fall in the 13′ the referee stops the match due to a head injury to MA Vignola, she had to be subbed out in the 17′ due to the injury. (Possible concussion or other head injury type will ask post-match for an update.)

What a save by Gotham FC goalkeeper Abby Smith in the 28′ stopping the breakaway chance by S. McCaskill from 8 yards out 1 v 1, Smith came out to challenge the shooter and stoned her ice cold to keep the score tied at zero apiece. Gotham sends Yazmeen Ryan in on goal from the left side, she beats her defender, gets inside 10 yards and her shot is saved by Haracic, the rebound goes across the goal mouth, but Svava is not quick enough to run onto the ball, and hit the open net, Angel City clears the ball from danger, and we stay 0 – 0 in the 30′.

The center calls a stop to play for a hydration break. The match has been chippy between the two sides, both had a golden opportunity at the goal from point-blank range and couldn’t convert their chances.

The fourth official who has been busy tonight indicates a minimum of 6′ will be played in the first half of play.

Look for Juan to make some changes tactically if not with the lineup to start the second half, way too many missed opportunities out there tonight for the home side. The defense has stood tall but the offense without Lynn “Bat” Williams is just anemic.

Juan Carlos goes to the bench and brings on Midge in the 46′ for Svava, all eyes will be on Midge in just her second appearance since returning from injury.

Mana Shim and coach Juan Carlos are on the bench talking tactics in the 60′ she appears to be getting ready to enter the match for Gotham FC.

Yazmeen Ryan just misses a header opportunity wide of the 2nd post off a feed from Midge.

In the 62′ Mana Shim makes her return to the NWSL, she entered the match for Ali Krieger. The teams also take a hydration break after the substitution was completed. The Bat Cave is coming alive in Harrison.

Midge denied from 7 yards out from the first post, another big save by Haracic for Angel City in the 67′.

Delanie Sheehan went for all the glory in the 70′ passing up a wide-open Midge who had a tap in if the pass is made. Delanie sent her shot well wide of the far post for a goal kick. We stay at 0 – 0 and that missed opportunity could be as big as the saves we have seen tonight.

The center referee is getting an ear full, from everyone in New Jersey in the 71′ after a horrible no foul call at midfield when Yazmeen Ryan got mugged from behind 25 yards from the goal, and to call that dive a foul just seconds after. One of the worse calls this season by the referees, there is no justification for the no-call and giving a blatant dive a foul call over it. When will we get a match where the center doesn’t make the match about themselves?

Angel City with another player down appears to be Hammonds who is getting treatment. The trainer is focusing on the knee area during treatment, she can walk off just fine after the referee whistle to call players back to their positions for the restart.

Shim shuts down Hammond on the goal line with a beautiful slide tackle in the 80′ then gets up and clears the ball out to try and start a counterattack. Big moment and Mana Shim showed she can still play at a high level.

Midge turns the ball over in the final third and Angel City is on the attack, Yazmeen Ryan with a big tackle in the 80′ to deny the chance for Emslie at the top of the box. Midge has been shaky in her return to play, especially tonight. She has had some moments of brilliance and some sloppy/costly play as well. She is putting in the effort and hopefully, the results will start to come for her.

Endo goes for a homerun attempt at the goal in the 84′ from 65 yards away and misses the goal short by 20 yards and an easy save in the box for Abby Smith.

Midge misreads the line and is called offside in the 87′ killing the chance at goal, the pass was made by Martin who also misread the positioning.

Ali tries to send Midge in all alone, but the pass is picked off by Nielsen at the last second before it can run, for Midge to run onto and be 1 v 1 with Haracic. The fourth official indicates a minimum of 5′ to be added to the match.

Will the Bat Cave see some last-minute heroics in Gotham tonight?

Midge with an amazing spin move in the box and a great ball played to Sheehan, but Nielsen gets just enough to stop the chance at the goal in 90’+3′. Then Jenna Nighswonger missed a golden shot from 2 yards out when she fell in the box just seconds after the attempt by Sheehan.

That’s the match, a hard-fought affair by both teams and the first time the road team didn’t walk away with all three points in the team’s series. Juan will probably be happy with the defensive effort of his team; on the offensive side he will be left disappointed to some degree as yet again they created many chances and failed to capitalize on them. With the result, Gotham will stay put in 5th place now 2 points behind Washington in 4th place. Angel City will stay in 11th place and a point ahead of Chicago.