Match Recap: Gotham FC Extends Unbeaten Streak to Eight Games
LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, June 15, 2024) - On Saturday afternoon, NJ/NY Gotham FC extended the club’s unbeaten streak to eight games with a 2-0 road win over Racing Louisville at Lynn Family Stadium. Midfielder Yazmeen Ryan netted her first goal of the season, while forward Ella Stevens scored her career-high tying fifth goal of the 2024 campaign. With the result, Gotham FC has now won its last four straight matches.
Gotham FC started on the front foot, finding space in the attacking third early in the match. The club’s first opportunity came in the eighth minute when defender Mandy Freeman played a diagonal ball into the box, where forward Katie Stengel connected on a header. However, Stengel redirected the ball just wide of the goal.
Gotham FC continued to push forward throughout the early minutes of the half. In the 17th minute, Stevens received the ball at the top of the box, where she then cheekily back-heeled a ball to midfielder Rose Lavelle. The Cincinnati native fired a shot, but Racing Louisville goalkeeper Katie Lund tipped it over the crossbar.
The club broke through and found the first goal of the match in the 21st minute, Stevens got a touch to play to forward Crystal Dunn in the middle of the pitch. Dunn then played the ball to Ryan, who drove towards the top of the box, and as she was pushed off the ball, Ryan fired a shot into goal.
Going into the half, Gotham FC out-possessed Louisville 66% to 34%, while also holding Louisville to zero shots and zero corner kicks.
Louisville started the half by firing off their first shot of the match. Louisville forward Emma Sears took a shot, but Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger parried the ball away to keep Racing Louisville scoreless.
The club doubled the lead in the 53rd minute. After building up the field and keeping possession in Louisville’s half, Freeman received the ball on the right flank and drove a ball to the back post. Stevens made a first-time volley to place the ball back across the goal into the bottom right corner.
Gotham FC’s backline held strong against a late push forward from Racing Louisville. Despite Louisville’s five shots in the second half, Gotham FC kept a clean sheet to close the game and secure a 2-0 win.
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POSTGAME QUOTES
Gotham FC Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger
Overall thoughts on the game...
I think the game was really good. We were more clinical. We really wanted to focus on that because I think that it is quite tough to keep clean sheets in this league, so I think that we know that we had to score more goals to be a little more composed and on the ball at the end of a game. And I think we executed that really well. We were smart enough at the last 15 minutes to just keep the ball because of the heat and everything. I think we were really calm and collected.
Gotham FC Midfielder Yazmeen Ryan
On leading the team in assists, but scoring her first goal of the season...
I'm honestly just very relieved. I think, with all the chances that have been created from the team and how many times I've been in front of goal. I'm very happy. And really to finally put this one in.
On how the team connected and gelled with some new personalities in different positions...
I think that everybody did their role and executed, especially in the first half, with how much space we had. The game plan was to exploit that space and find the weak side, and I think we did just that, which led to the goal in which opened it up for me to drive. And so, I think that's what's important. What's key about having depth and why we have the players that we do is so we can rotate and we can have multiple people in different spots. And then the game plan is still the same. And so, I think we executed that perfectly.
Gotham FC Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós
Thoughts on the game overall...
I think it's definitely a game where the players deserve a lot of credit. The performance they put on from the start to literally the last minute of the game, it was outstanding. I think they executed the game plan with, I wouldn't say perfection, but in a way that it deserves a lot of praise on and off the ball.
On utilizing a lot of players...
I think the team was really good. And one thing that we knew today is that we were going to need everyone. Whoever was on the bench needed to step in, and they all did and helped the team. We had players again, playing really out of their natural positions and the way they performed, I think just deserves a lot of credit from back to front. I think we limited their chances and took control of the game.
On the goals...
The goals were fantastic, and I think from every single one of them, this helps to enjoy this win, because it was a very difficult place to come to keep a clean sheet and to perform how they did, I think. Fantastic job, no? I hope the fans are happy today, because the players really gave it all in very difficult conditions.
On looking ahead to next match at home...
I think at the moment, we're gonna focus now in obviously, San Diego. For us playing at home, it's always a privilege because the environment the fans are creating is incredible. I hope the people in that watch party enjoyed the game.
POSTGAME ASSETS
Key Match Notes
- Gotham FC extended its win streak to four matches, the club’s longest in the regular season since a run of six in a row fromJuly 31, 2014 and April 12, 2015.
- The club is undefeated in its last eight matches. The club record for the regular season is nine matches, set between September 4, 2021 and May 1, 2022.
- Gotham FC shut out its opponent in the first half for the ninth time in 12 regular season games, the most in the league
- Gotham FC became the first NWSL team to record five shutouts this season.
- Gotham FC has scored in its last five road matches and its last eight regular season matches overall. The latter streak is the club’s longest run since eight in a row between June 17, 2017 and August 4, 2017. The club record is 12 matches between July 3, 2015 and April 24, 2016.
- Gotham FC is now 7-0-1 this year when scoring first and has either won or tied in 21 straight matches when scoring first. That includes a 4-0-1 record on the road this year when getting the first goal.
- The club is now 5-0-1 when leading at the half this season.
- Gotham FC’s 530 pass attempts are a season high.
- Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger extended her unbeaten run in goal to eight matches, breaking Kailen Sheridan’s 2021 club record (7).
- Berger posted her fourth shutout of the season, tied for the third-most in club history for a single season. Berger also moved into a tie with Abby Smith for fourth in career club history in regular season shutouts. The win was her sixth for the club, tying her with Smith and Caroline Casey for fourth in ca-reer regular season club history.
- Crystal Dunn picked up her 25th regular season assist, becoming the ninth player in league history to reach that plateau. It was also her first assist for Gotham FC.
- Mandy Freeman assisted on a goal for the first time since April 30, 2017, her third professional game.
- Yazmeen Ryan scored her first goal of the season and fourth of her regular season career. She also went over 5,000 career minutes in all NWSL competitions.
- Katie Stengel made her 100th career regular season appearance.
- Ella Stevens tied her career high with her fifth goal of the season and has scored in her last three away games.
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MATCH SUMMARY
Racing Louisville vs. Gotham FC
June 15, 2024 – Lynn Family Stadium
Goals by Half 1 2F
Racing Louisville 0 0 0
Gotham FC 1 1 2
Scoring Summary:
GFC: Yazmeen Ryan (Crystal Dunn) 21’, Ella Stevens (Mandy Freeman) 53’
Misconduct Summary:
LOU: YC: Taylor Flint 22’, Maddie Pokorny 90+5’
GFC: YC: Katie Stengel 5’, Maitane 90+5’
Lineups:
LOU: Katie Lund, Carson Pickett, Abby Erceg ©, Arin Wright, Lauren Milliet, Marisa DiGrande, Taylor Flint (Jaelin Howell 74’), Kayla Fischer (Parker Goins 67’), Savannah DeMelo, Emma Sears (Maddie Pokorny 86’), Reilyn Turner (Elexa Bahr 66’)
GFC: Ann-Katrin Berger, Emily Sonett, Tierna Davidson ©, Mandy Freeman (Sam Hiatt 78’), Nealy Martin (Maitane 78’), Rose Lavelle, Jenna Nighswonger, Ella Stevens (McCall Zerboni 68’), Yazmeen Ryan, Katie Stengel (Delanie Sheehan 62’), Crystal Dunn (Bruninha 62’)
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