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Gotham FC draws against Spirit in second Challenge Cup game

Featured, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Professional, Soccer

March 27, 2022

For the second game in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Challenge Cup, NJ/NY Gotham FC split the points with the Washington Spirit, finishing 1-1. Gotham performed better as a team compared to their last game against the North Carolina Courage. Gotham's Kristie Mewis and Ifeoma Onumonu returned to the squad after missing the last game due to injury.

Gotham came out on the right foot with a strong attack gaining a corner. The next few minutes had shots produced by the Spirit but many were off-target leaving Gotham with time to recuperate. In the 22nd minute, Spirit forward Trinity Rodman fouled Margaret Purce in the box causing a penalty. Mewis took the penalty and scored giving Gotham the lead and her first goal for the club.

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— NJNY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) March 26, 2022

In the following minutes, three Spirit shots were blocked by Gotham players, and an Amber Brooks header was saved by Ashlyn Harris. In the 37th minute, Brooks drew a foul and picked up the first yellow card of the game. Later in the 42nd minute, Spirit rookie Tinaya Alexander sent a cross to Ashley Sanchez, but it was saved by Harris. The rest of the half saw fouls from both sides and a few shots on goal.

Coming back from halftime, Gotham subbed in Paige Monaghan for Mewis to limit minutes and prevent a new injury from occurring. The half started off slow with no chances from either side. In the 55th minute, Rodman picked up a yellow card after a soft challenge on Caprice Dydasco. In the 59th minute, Sanchez took a right-footed shot to the top center of the goal but it was saved again by Harris. The Spirit had the upper hand in the half having a strong attack on offense.

In the 61st minute, the Spirit was on the board with a goal from substitute Ashley Hatch. Gotham left Hatch wide open in the box to allow for an easy finish from the forward. Four minutes later, Brooks fouls Purce to pick up her second yellow card of the game resulting in a red card. This leaves the Spirit with 10 players on the field with 25 minutes left in the game.

Gotham made two substitutions around the 67th minute, bringing on Kumi Yokoyama and Gina Lewandowski for Ifeoma Onumonu and Ali Krieger. Both players made an immediate impact in the game as Yokoyama drew a foul and Lewandowski held down the defense. In the 74th minute, McCall Zerboni sent a cross into Purce in the box but it was saved by Aubrey Kingsbury as her first real challenge of the night. Both Hatch and Rodman had another shot of goal each, but both were saved well by Harris. The rest of the game saw fouls and shots off-target from both sides resulting in the 1-1 tie.